Why did Conservatives win in 1970?

Question 1

Results of the 1970 election?

Answer 1

Conservative 46.4% + 330 seats

Labour 43% + 287 seats

Question 2

Wilson’s complacency

Answer 2

• 51% approval rating
• Conservative Edward Heath had 28%
• Wilson was confident but too relaxed.
• Publification of poor trade figures released just before election day dented Labour’s claim that the economy was on the mend.

Question 3

Disillusionment of Labour supporters:

Answer 3

• Richard Crossman (senior cabinet minister) thought that the party was defeated in 1970 because too many Labour supporters did not vote.
• Barbara Castle ‘sensed an undercurrent of detachment among our own activists and party audiences’
• Party membership fell from 830,000 in 1964 —> 680,000 in 1970.

Question 4

Labour had been too right wing:

Answer 4

• Foreign policy too supportive of USA over Vietnam
• Too much money spent on defence and not welfare, education and economic regeneration.
• Policy of maintaining value of sterling benefited only City of London and Americans.
• Working class poorer.
• Abandoned commitment to socialism and interests of working class –> ‘In Place of Strife’

Question 5

Who did Labour government attempt to win support of in 1970?

Answer 5

• working women (1970 Equal Pay Act)

Question 6

Conservative policy proposals:

Answer 6

• Industrial relations law removed to reduce no. disruptive strikes and inflationary pay settlements.
• Less state intervention in industry.
• Attempts to control prices and incomes by law would end.
• Apply to join EEC

Question 7

Edward Heath’s leadership?

Answer 7

• Attacked economic record of labour government.
• Inflation, measured by Retail Price Index, rose by 33% and unemployment by 200,000.
• Daily Express praised his ‘guts and leadership’

Question 8

Weaknesses in Edward Heath’s leadership?

Answer 8

• Sacked Enoch Powell in 1968 from shadow cabinet.
• Powell was against Commonwealth immigration and race relations legislation.
• April 1868 made speech predicting race riots. –> ‘the River Tiber foaming with much blood’
• Popular among white working class –> Heath received letters of criticism.
• Tory MPs supported heath