Wilson 2nd 1974-76 Flashcards
October 1974
called for a second election and Labour seats increased to 319 (42 more than the Tories) Wilson explained that there would be no beer and sandwiches to solve disputes and people noticed he was not as jolly when returning to Number 10.
Labour in opposition: move to the left
1970s labours membership was collapsing, it continued to dwindle around 600,000 by 1979 as the leader (tony Ben) advocated for a wider state ownership, unilateral disarmament, withdrawal from the EEC, Abolition of the House of Lords and a Greater democracy within the party.
Labour in opposition: Militants
The party was valuable to militants, bu the beginning of the 1980, local labour parties became associated with ‘unpopular’ causes involving feminism, homosexuality and republications in Northern Island.
Labour party in opposition: right of the party
Labour looked like an ageing party in this period as it was more internally divided than ever before. The government was failing to regenerate the economy or promote economic growth.
Labour party in opposition: Labour looked backwards
Wilson now needed an inert figure, he had the unceritian achievement of the so-called ‘social contract’ and negotiated with Vic Feather of the TUC (trade union congress) He ended Benns plan to nationalise 25 Major companies, accepted by the left-led NEC, by 1973 Labour looked more like a nostalgic party than a forward looking one.
EEC
Wilson made a point of incorporating right wing por-Europeans like Roy Jenkins and left critics like Barbra Castle. Wilson agreed to a referendum, so in 1975 the referendum happened and the government £125,000 from the public funds for pro and anti campaigns. 67% of the population voted in favour of membership
Repeal of the Industrial relations Act
Foot (employment Secretary) helped restore relations between the government and unions. first the coal strike was ended by buying off miners, he honunred the agreement made with the unions in 73 while he was in opposition, the Heaths pay Board was abolished. Industrial earnings which had give up by 15% in 1973 went by 19% in 1974and then 23% in 1975.
trade unions, wage increases and inflation
wage continued to be demanded, increasingly within the TUC itself, alarm began to be felt as one 20% wage increase followed another. the social contract was now clearly worthless. it showed an awareness from the unions that excessive wages ruin the economy and cause rising inflation and unemployment.
Government attempts to curb inflation
The government realised that wage inflation was a key issue, by 1975 Healey realised that curbs on public spending were needed to reduce inflation from over 20% to his target of 5-7% by 1977.
sex discrimination
there were further moves to end discrimination against women under Wilson. Heath had presided over legislation to ensure husbands were liable for maintenance (the attachment of Earnings Act) and to ensure women had a joint responsibility with men over the bringing up of children (the Guardian of children act) Wilson took this further by passing the 1975 sex discrimination act which made it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds on sex in the fields of employment or in educational facilities, housing and goods and services.
Northern Island
the Catholic community in Ireland, after Bloody Sunday, no longer thought that the army would protect them.This opened a new phase in the troubles with the IRA, this opened. Labour inherited a strike in Northern Ireland in protest over the Sunning dale agreement.
Wilson resignation
in April 76, he resigned during a short break in economic chaos, he thought he would get out while at the top, Callaghan had long been regarded as the likely successor, on the second ballot, Callaghan won.
