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Wilson and the Labour govt 60s Flashcards

1
Q

When did Labour win the gen lec?

A

1964

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2
Q

When were Labour re-elected?

A

1966

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3
Q

When was the devaluation crisis?

A

1967

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4
Q

When was Britain’s application to join the EEC rejected?

A

1967

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5
Q

When was the Wilson govt defeated in the gen lec?

A

1970

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6
Q

What were the pros of deflation?

A

It would support the pounds value and it would prevent inflation

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7
Q

What were the cons of deflation?

A

It was a return to Conservative ‘stop-go’ approach which Labour were desperate to avoid and it could have prevented Labour from meeting its manifesto commitment to spend more on welfare and technology

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8
Q

What did the DEA want to achieve?

A

It tried to set growth targets and establish voluntary agreements about wages and prices with industrialists, trade union leaders, and civil servants

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9
Q

Was the DEA successful?

A

No, its proposals came to nothing as Brown didn’t have united govt support so the DEA (and Brown) were almost in competition with the Chancellor, Callaghan, and the Orthodox economists at the Treasury

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10
Q

What was the working world like for women?

A

Most women were underemployed in low skilled jobs with little chance of promotion. In 1958, women were paid less than 2/3 of a man’s salary for the same work

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11
Q

What approach did Wilson initially want to take to fix the economy?

A

Careful management and planning

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12
Q

What were views of trade unions in the early 60s?

A

Nearly 60% of people viewed them favourably

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13
Q

What were criticisms of Wilson’s kitchen cabinet?

A

It reinforced his suspicions of party rivalries and prevent ministers from having access to him

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14
Q

What was Jenkin’s position from 1964-1965?

A

Minister of aviation

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15
Q

What was Jenkin’s position from 1965-1967?

A

Home Secretary

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16
Q

What was Jenkin’s position from 1967-1970?

A

Chancellor

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17
Q

What did Jenkins say about his lack of expertise?

A

That he struggled to understand briefings because he had a ‘non-scientific’ mind

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18
Q

When was In Place of Strife published?

A

1969

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19
Q

What was Wilson’s ideology?

A

He was left of Labour and a Bevanite however in some ways he was more right as he supported Britain’s nuclear deterrent and wanted to reform trade unions

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20
Q

What did the Wilson govt implement instead of using the DEA’s suggested policies?

A

A prices and incomes policy to keep down inflation, which was implemented by a prices and incomes board

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21
Q

Pros of devaluation

A

Made imports more expensive, which made British goods cheaper thereby helping the balance of payments crisis

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22
Q

Cons of devaluation

A

Made Britain look weaker globally, and in reality, as Britain were forced to scale back its international activities. Labour could also gain the reputation as the party of devaluation as they had already devalued the pound under Attlee in 1949

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23
Q

What was Britain’s economy trapped in after the Post War Boom?

A

A cycle of stop go economics with bursts of prosperity leading to inflation, runs on the pound, and regular balance of payments crises.

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24
Q

What was the core aim of the 1964 Wilson govt?

A

Breaking the cycle of stop-go economics

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25
What deflationary policies did Wilson use?
He made defence cuts, introduced hire purchase restrictions and raised interest rates
26
How long was Wilson the Labour leader for?
From 1963 to 1976
27
When was Wilson PM?
From 1964 to 1970 and then from 1974 to 1976
28
What strengths was Heath not given credit for?
He was hardworking, conscientious and was competent, even if he was admittedly seen as dull
29
What was the Aberfan disaster?
In 1966 a colliery spoil tip collapsed onto a small Welsh village, killing 144 people. There was public uproar when the Wilson govt took £150,000 from the ADF to pay for the removal of the remaining colliery tips
30
When were the sterling crises
There was a crisis in 1965, 1966, then 1967
31
What caused the 1966 crisis?
It was partly caused by the Seaman's strike
32
What caused the 1967 crisis?
It was caused by the war outbreak in the Middle East which affected the oil supplies and was caused by a major national dock strike which affected the balance of payments
33
When was Callaghan Chancellor?
1964-1967
34
When was Callaghan Home Secretary?
1967-1970
35
How did Callaghan improve the economy after the EEC rejection?
He began to use deflationary policies
36
What was Barbara Castle's white paper called?
In Place of Strife
37
Who was Jack Jones?
Head of the TGWU
38
What was the Rivers of Blood speech?
Made by Enoch Powell in 1968, warned against further immigration
39
What trade union action caused problems for the govt in 1966 and 1967?
Strikes by seamen and dockers, and wildcat strikes
40
When was Labour re-elected with a majority?
1966
41
What deficit did Labour inherit in 1964?
£800 million
42
What did people criticise Wilson for?
That he was an opportunist
43
What were Wilson's meetings with his trusted advisors known as?
His kitchen cabinet
44
What department did Wilson set up?
The Department of Economic Affairs in 1964
45
Who won the 1964 gen lec?
Power changed hands to Labour under the leadership of Wilson
46
What was a key symbol if the scientific and technological progress of the 60s?
The Concorde
47
Who was Hume replaced by?
In 1965 Heath became the new Conservative leader following their general election defeat
48
What came of Castle's white paper?
A face saving compromise that was really a humiliating climbdown for the govt
49
What was the national plan?
Labour's National Plan for economic development launched in August 1965 by George Brown
50
What hindered the efficacy of Wilson's technological development?
A lack of expertise and some economic problems
51
What were the repercussions for Powell after the rivers of blood speech?
He was sacked in 1968 and Heath refused to let him take part in the election campaign
52
What was public opinion of the repercussions Powell suffered?
Some thought Powell did in fact attract voters but others thought that Heath's response made him appear strong and principled
53
What was arguably Wilson's most effective campaign speech?
In 1963 when he promised Britain would keep up with the 'White Heat' of technological change
54
What was the level of inflation from 1969 to 1970?
12%
55
Who won the 1970 gen lec?
Power switched hands to the Conservatives under the leadership of Heath
56
What made Wilson's government's economic policies look futile?
The second EEC rejection hard on the heels of the devaluation crisis
57
What showed the relationship between Labour and trade unions breaking down?
Many on the left were shocked by Wilson's critical approach to the Seamen who went on strike. In the aftermath of the incomes policy, trade unionist, Frank Cousins, even resigned from the Cabinet
58
What were the signs that the post war consensus was breaking down?
The consensus didn't solve Britain's economic problems. Trade unions were uncooperative and tried to force Labour towards reforming industrial relations. Labour left were unsatisfied by moderate policies which failed to end social problems like poverty. Conservatives identified the need for trade union reform and questioned wether the state should have such a large role in planning the economy and ensuring full employment.
59
What did Frank Cousins say about his lack of expertise?
He had little interest in technological development
60
What were Wilson's successes?
He successfully linked Labour to modernisation in contrast to the wasted years of the Conservative govt
61
When did Jenkins achieve a balance of payments surplus?
By 1969
62
How were trade unions involved in the Post war consensus?
Maintaining full employment and keeping unions happy was seen as essential by all
63
Who did Wilson make Minister for Trade in 1964?
The Trade unionist Frank Cousins
64
Who supported Castle?
Voters and the Chancellor Jenkins
65
Who didn't support Castle?
Trade unions and the Labour left
66
Was Heath a match for Wilson?
Wilson was a better political tactician and skillful performer who portrayed a more attractive image to voters, as a down to earth moderniser whereas Heath seemed to lack personality
67
What was Wilson like in private?
He was anxious and insecure about his leadership so sought to balance out potential rivals to remain unchallenged.
68
Who did Wilson rely on?
He relied heavily on a personal team of trusted group from outside govt and civil service
69
What were usual solutions to the problems of the British economy?
Deflation or devaluation
70
Why was Wilson's position so weak by 1969?
He alienated unions along with dozens of his own backbenchers and even some of his closest colleagues. Tangible sense of disillusionment and defeatism amongst his cabinet. Govt had collapsed into near anarchy with the Home Secretary in open revolt and other ministers united only through their contempt for Wilson
71
What deflationary methods did Jenkins use?
He raised taxes and tightened up govt spending in all areas of the economy, priortitising improving the balance of payments
72
How did the public respond to Jenkins' deflationary policies?
They made the govt unpopular but were effective as by 1969, the govt was in a balance of payments surplus
73
How much did Wilson devalue the pound?
By 14% to 2.40 US dollars
74
What did in place of strife propose?
A 28 day cooling off period. Govt could impose a settlement in demarcation disuptes. Strike ballots were imposed. Industrial relations court could prosecute anyone who broke the rules.
75
What was Castle's position in the Wilson govt?
Secretary of state for employment
76
What was the ideological division in Northern Ireland?
It was a controversial partition with unionists supporting the union with Britain and nationalists supporting a United Ireland
77
What was dominated by Protestant unionists?
The Stormont Parliament and the whole socio economic system in Northern Ireland. By the 1960s there was mounting evidence that Catholics were discriminated against in employment and housing and the occurence of gerrymandering with electoral boundaries being drawn up to prevent Catholics from being elected. There were also accusations that the Royal Ulster Constabulary was biased against Catholics
78
How did the troubles escalate?
Loyalists feared the Irish republican army would start a new campaign so they began to set up paramilitary organisations to defend the union. Civil rights marches were held in 1968 to protest against discrimination and were attacked by loyalists. In 1969 the situation deteriorated with the Battle of the bogside, footage broadcast on TV showed RUC officers beating Catholics

History (10 decks)

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