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britain 1964-1970 > wilson and the labour governments > Flashcards

wilson and the labour governments Flashcards

1
Q

wilson’s history with the labour party

A

originally a bevanite, resigning in 1950 over prescription charges

served in gaitskell’s cabinet#

challanged gaitskell for the leadership in 1961

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2
Q

critics of wilson

A

said he didnt seem to be of the left
- supported nuclear detterent and reform to trade unions

just an opportunist

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3
Q

wilson’s modern image

A

seen as classless

first PM educated at a state school

smoked a pipe

skillful performer on TV

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4
Q

wilson in private

A

anxious and insecure about his leadership

conscious of his rivals

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5
Q

kitchen cabinet

A

wilson relied on a personal team of advisers outside the government

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6
Q

modernisation of the british economy

A

key priority of the labour government

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7
Q

britain’s economy in 1964

A

it was widely accepted that britain was lagging behind west germany and japan

trapped in stop go

inherited a deficit of £800 million

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8
Q

deflation

A

would support the value of the pound and prevent inflation

would continue the old stop go approach

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9
Q

devaluation

A

would make imports more expensive and help exporters by making britain look weaker

labour would gain the reputation of the party of devaluation - atlee 1949

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10
Q

department of economic affairs

A

led by george brown

set growth targets

devised a system of economic planning councils

attempted to establish a voluntary agreement about wages and prices with TU

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11
Q

was DEA successful

A

NO

did not have united government support

in competition with the chancellor

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12
Q

why did economic reform fail

A

brown was impulsive and inconsistent

wilson tried to keep key personalities happy (brown) instead of picking right people for the job

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13
Q

prices and incomes

A

government brought in a prices and incomes policy to keep down inflation

implemented by prices and incomes board

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14
Q

sterling crisis

A

1966

caused by a long and bitter strike by the national union of seamen

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15
Q

aftermath of seamen strike

A

gov defeated the strike

trade unionist frank cousins resigned from cabinet over incomes policy

relationship between government and unions was starting to break down

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16
Q

devaluation 1967

A

outbreak of war in middle east affected oil suplies
major national dock strike in august

both affected the balance of payments

gov devalued the pound by 14% to £1 = $2.40

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17
Q

consequence of devaluation

A

made labour look so weak

had tried so hard to avoid devaluation

18
Q

2nd EEC application

A

rejected a few weeks after devaluation

application was on economic grounds

governmenrt economic policies looked futile

19
Q

economic improvement

A

roy jenkins new chancellor

deflationary methods used eg. raised taxes/decrease government spending

by 1969 there was a BOP surplus

BUT inflation still 12% in 1970

20
Q

opinion of TU in 1960s

A

polls showed 60% had a favourable view of trade unions

21
Q

frank cousins

A

trade unionists

wilson put him in his cabinet 1964

22
Q

deteriation of industrial relations

A

1966 and 1967 strikes with seamen and dockers

seemed to demonstrate old-style union bosses were losing control

a lot of strikes were wildcat strikes started by local activists

23
Q

in place of strife proposals

A

28 day cooling off period

gov could impose a settlement when unions were in dispute with each other

strike ballots could be imposed

industrial relations court would be able to prosecute those who broke the rules

24
Q

opinion on in place of strife

A

supported by voters
supported by many labour MPs

unions and left of labour hated them
storm of protest from union leaders and labour MPs

25
Q

was in place of strife successful

A

NO

row went on for 4 months

wilson eventually gave in

the TUC negotiated a compromise

26
Q

why was government hindered on modern agenda

A

ministers had lack of expertise
(roy jenkins aviation minister)

ministers had lack of interest
(frank cousins as tachnology minister)

27
Q

labour domestic policies overshadowed

A

overshadowed by economic problems and research was too costly

America too powerful

28
Q

success in modernisation

A

projects like Concorde with france

29
Q

how did wilson unite the labour party

A

concentration on the Labour party as the party of technological modernisation

minimised tensions over clause 4

30
Q

personal rivalries between wilson and his cabinet

A

wilson feared he might face a leadership challenge from brown, callaghan or jenkins

brown was resentful he lost the leadership and dissapointed he was not made foreign secretary

31
Q

jenkins

A

wilson suspicious of jenkins as he was a gaitskellite and didnt support his liberal agenda or pro-european stance

Jenkins supported devaluation after the 1966 seamen’s strike and critical of the government when they did not devalue

32
Q
A
33
Q

wilson and the left

A

did not face any obvious challenge from the left of the party

BUT those most left wing in unions, local government and young people were often frustrated by his government

34
Q

who dominated Stormont

A

protestant unionists

35
Q

discrimination against catholics in NI

A

mounting evidence
in employment, housing and electoral boundaries

Royal Ulster Constabulary (NI police) was biased against catholics

Civil rights movement in NI started to challenge this

36
Q

IRA

A

irish republican army

nationalists

37
Q

civil rights marches

A

1968

attacked by loyalists

catholics complained that the RUC failed to protect them

38
Q

loyalist apprentice boys

A

organisation to annually commemorate the closing of the gates to the city of Derry in 1688

went ahead with their annual march 1968

attacked by nationalsists in the Bogside

RUC tried to storm bogside but held back in 2 days of rioting

TV showed RUC beating catholics

39
Q

consequence of loyalist apprentice boys 1968

A

riots spread to other towns and cities

stormont offerent concessions on housing and electoral boundaries - sparked rioting from loyalists

wilson government sent british troops to attempt to keep the peace

40
Q

end of post-war consensus

A

economic problems not solved by PWC

trade unions more uncooperative

left of labour dissatisfied by modern labour

social problems and poverty not ended

conservatives starting to doubt the key elements of PWC

questions on role of the state

41
Q

why was conservative victory 1970 surprising

A

wilson government apparently come through its difficult times

jenkins credited with economic and financial stability

wilson seen as a master campaigner, more experienced that heath

42
Q

enoch powell

A

made his ‘rivers of blood’ speech in 1968 warning against further immigration

although heath sacked powell from shadow cabinet, many beliebe powell attracted voters

britain 1964-1970 (2 decks)

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