Wilson as leader: 1964-70 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the key to Wilson’s image?
A
He was a moderniser and an everyman
2
Q
What about the conservatives made Wilson’s image even more effective?
A
Their leader, Alec Douglas-Home was an aristocrat, so Wilson appealed to the everyman
3
Q
How did Wilson’s view on science help him win?
A
He spoke confidently about Britain catching up with the “White Heat” of technological and scientific change
4
Q
I) Who was Hume’s replacement?
II) What was he like?
A
I) Edward Heath
II) Awkward and Dull
5
Q
What was the Labour Majority in 1964?
A
4 Seats
6
Q
I) When did Labour call another election under Wilson?
II) What was the result?
A
I) 1966
II) The majority increased to 98
7
Q
I) Did Wilson support Gaitskell or Bevan?
II) What shows this?
A
I) Bevan
II) He resigned over prescription charges when Bevan did
8
Q
What was Wilson’s view on CND?
A
He supported having Nuclear Weapons
9
Q
What was Wilson’s view on the Unions?
A
He thought that they had exceeded their power, and he tried (unsuccessfully) to reform them
10
Q
What was Wilson’s view on his own cabinet?
A
He was an anxious leader, especially because there were many heavyweight politicians in his cabinate
11
Q
Who were some of the key cabinet member’s Wilson was anxious of?
A
Gaistskell, Jenkins and George Brown
12
Q
What is a key example of Wilson’s anxiety?
A
“The Kitchen Cabinet” of advisors who were not cabinet members nor civil servants
13
Q
What were two key disadvantages of “The Kitchen Cabinet”?
A
These advisors made him more anxious of the rest of the party, and Wilson was unapproachable
14
Q
What was the biggest problem in Wilson’s government?
A
The Economy
15
Q
I) What was a key issue with Labour’s desire to technologically modernise?
II) What are two key examples of this?
A
I) Most of the cabinet were inexperienced
II) Jenkins as aviation minister and Cousins as Technology minister
16
Q
How much of a government deficit did Wilson inherit?
A
£800 Million
17
Q
What did Wilson not want to devalue the pound? (2)
A
I) Atlee had already done so in 1949; did not want a reputation as the party of devaluation
II) It makes England look weak on the world stage
18
Q
What are the positives of Devaluation?
A
I) Exports become cheaper
II) Imports become more expensive; encourages buying British which can bolster the economy
19
Q
I) What did Wilson do to try and break out of Stop-Go?
II) Who did Wilson place in charge?
A
I) Set up the DEA
II) George Brown
20
Q
Why was George Brown a controversial figure?
A
He was inconsistent, and there were rumours that he was an alcoholic
21
Q
What were the two main issues the treasury clashed with the DEA on?
A
I) They did not like a new upstart department having power over them
II) Chancellor Jim Callaghan did not like Brown’s level of influence in this area
22
Q
What did Wilson do to try and Combat the issues between the DEA and the Treasury?
A
He moved Brown to the Foreign Office in 1966
23
Q
Why did Wilson need to give Brown a prominent position in government?
A
He was popular in the party and very experienced. The DEA was arguably the wrong role
24
Q
When was the DEA shut down?
A
1967
25
What did Wilson set up to keep wages and prices at a reasonable level?
The Prices and Incomes board
26
What did the call for wage restraint lead to? (2)
I) 1966 Seamen strike
| II) Cousins resigns over "increased pressure" on the unions
27
What would be an internal issue for Wilson following the call for wage restrain?
He became unpopular with the left of his party
28
When was the Devaluation crisis?
1967
29
What effected British Oil Prices?
The war in the Middle East
30
I) What was the problem with exports in 1967?
| II) What did this lead to?
I) The dock strike of August 1967
| II) Another balance of payments crisis and the eventual devaluation of the pound
31
How much did Wilson devalue the pound against the dollar?
14%
32
What, aside from devaluation, did labour do in 1967 which they did not want to do?
Use deflationary tactics
33
What was the effect of the 1967 EEC application?
It was rejected
34
What was Jenkins' major success as chancellor?
He achieved a balance of payments surplus in 1969
35
What was inflation at in 1969-70?
12% (very high)
36
When was Roy Jenkins appointed as home secretary?
December 1965
37
What was Jenkins predominant political stance?
liberal
38
In the early 60s, what percentage of people polled had a positive view of the unions?
60%
39
What appointment shows Wilson's support of, and closeness to, the unions?
Frank Cousins as Minister of Technology
40
I) What were the "Wildcat" strikes?
II) Who carried these out?
III) When?
I) Unofficial strikes
II) The seamen and dockers
III) 1966-67
41
What did the Wildcat strikes show?
The union bosses were loosing their grip to an extent
42
What was Wilson's view on the unions following these strikes?
That there should still be unions but that they should be more regulated?
43
What did Wilson's view that the Unions needed greater regualtion lead to?
In Place Of Strife
44
I) Who published the plans for In Place Of Strife
| II) When was it published?
I) Barbara Castle
| II) January 1969
45
What was Castle's view on the Unions?
The same as Wilson; she supported them, but thought the unofficial strikes needed dealing with
46
What did the In Place of Strife document stipulate? (4)
I) A 28 day "Cooling off" period
II) The proposal of Strike Ballots
III) The proposal that government could impose a settlement where two Trade Unions were in dispute with each other (demarcation disputes)
IV) The creation of an industrial relations court to prosecute those who break the laws
47
What was the general public opinion on In Place Of Strife?
They were in support
48
Give one other key labour politician (not Wilson or castle) who supported In Place of Strife?
Roy Jenkins (he was Chancellor by this point)
49
Who was the major opposition against In Place of Strife outside the Labour party?
Jack Jones, a powerful union boss (secretary for Transport and General Workers Union)
50
I) How many labour MP's opposed In Place of Strife?
| II) Who was the leader of this movement?
I) 50
| II) Jim Callaghan
51
Why was Wilson a "centrist" leader?
He was a middle ground between Bevan and Gaitskell by the time of both of their death. This united the party at the start of his Term
52
What key figures did Wilson fear leadership challenges from?
Brown, Callaghan and Jenkins
53
Who did Wilson defeat for Party Leadership after Gaitskell stepped down?
George Brown. He took this very badly
54
Aside from his leadership defeat, what else frustrated Brown?
He was passed over for the role of Foreign Secretary in 1964
55
How did Wilson try to mitigate Brown's ability to usurp him?
Kept a file of his embarrassing incidents
56
I) What was Wilson's primary reason for distrusting Jenkins?
II) Why were Jenkins liberal reforms a point of conflict between him and Wilson
I) He was a Gaistkellite
II) Wilson was more focused on the economy and did not see the need to focus so much on these reforms. He was not strongly against them, however
57
What political idea did Wilson see as a leadership ploy from Jenkins?
Jenkins desire to devalue the pound. Wilson though this was a plan to embarrass him on the world stage, thus forcing his resignation
58
Who was Callaghan's major conflict with in the Party under Wilson?
Roy Jenkins
59
```
What was Callaghans stance on:
I) The EEC
II) Liberalising reforms
III) Devaluation
IV) Union Reform
```
I) Against
II) Against
III) Against
IV) Against, and even led the opposition
60
What side of the Party were Callaghan, Jenkins and Brown on?
The Right
61
What side is Wilson's major criticism coming from?
The Left. They felt he was stepping away from socialism
62
When did Ireland become 2 countries?
1922
63
I) When do tensions rise in Northern Ireland Under wilson?
| II) What displayed this?
I) 1968
| II) Loyalists attacked civil rights marches in 1968
64
What did the Civil Rights marches claim after the 1968 attacks?
The RUC (the police) had failed to protect them and evidenced this as discrimination
65
What action in 1969 shows further tension
The Loyalist Apprentice Boys annual march in Derry was attacked by nationalists in the Catholic Bogside area
66
What was the fallout of the 1969 attacks?
2 days of rioting and the RUC failing to regain control. Videos emerged of the RUC beating Catholic protestors
67
I) What did the Northern Irish parliament say they would do in response to the riots?
II) What was the fallout of this?
I) Tackle housing and electoral boundaries
| II) The Loyalists claimed that this was the government giving in to Catholic violence, and they rioted
68
What did the Loyalist rioting lead Wilson to do in 1969?
Send in the British Army to restore calm
69
Were the nationalists for or against British rule?
Against
70
What were two events in the 50s which made people question the establishment?
The Suez Crisis and the Profumo affair
71
Did Wilson want to push for social change upon his 1964 election win?
No, he was more focused on the economy and scientific change
72
What was a free vote and why was it important?
The party members were allowed to vote from their conscience, not the party line. This led to greater social change
73
How did much of the liberalising legislation begin?
As private members bills. They were put forward by backbench MP's
74
Why was Jenkins still instrumental in the success of these private members bills?
As a leading politician he made sure there was enough time to discuss the issues
75
What case was especially influential in the campaign against capitol punishment?
The Ruth Ellis case 1955
76
When did the government reduce the number of offences carrying the death penalty?
Homicide Act 1957
77
Which Labour MP campaigned for the abolition of hanging for 5 years?
Sydney Silverman
78
I) When did the 5 year trial period for the abolition of hanging begin?
II) When was hanging abolished completely?
I) 1965
| II) 1969
79
When did Jenkins end corporal punishment in prisons
1967
80
What change did Jenkins make to the jury system?
Made it majority verdict (10-2 instead of unanimous)
81
When was the divorce reform act passed?
1969
82
What did the divorce rate go up to?
10 in 1000 from 2 in 1000
83
What, other than the act, is argued to have effected divorce rates?
Growing independence for women
84
How many illegal abortions happened per year before 1967?
100,000-200,000
85
How many women died from abortions between 1958-60?
83
86
Who campaigned for abortion reform?
The Abortion Law Reform association
87
I) Which MP introduced a Private Members bill to reform the law?
II) What party was he part of?
I) David Steel
| II) Liberal
88
When was the abortion act passed?
1967
89
What did the number of abortions per number of live births increase to by 1975?
from 4 to 17.6
90
When was Homsexual relations decrimanalised?
1967
91
Who pushed for the comprehensive school system?
Tony Crosland
92
I) When was the Circular 10/65 issued?
| II) What did it stipulate
I) 1965
| II) It was a request for the LEA's to convert to the tripartite system, though it was not legally binding
93
What change in 1966 made the Circular 10/65 more popular?
Crossland made funding for more school buildings contingent on adherence to the 10/65
94
What fraction of students were educated in the Comprehensive system by 1970?
1/3rd
95
What did Wilson claim the comprehensive system would promote?
Grammar school education for everyone
96
I) What was the Robbins Committee?
| II) When was it set up?
I) A committee set up to evaluate the higher education system
II) 1961
97
What did the Robbins Committee find?
That higher education was neglecting science and technology in favour of the arts and humanities. This was following the belief that England's higher education as falling behind
98
I) What new institutions did Wilson set up
| II) How were they different from universities?
I) Polytechnics
| II) focus on teaching instead of teaching + research
99
How many colleges of advanced technology became universities under Wilson?
9
100
How many polytechnics and universities were there by 1968
30 polytechnics
56 universities
101
Who helped make the Open University a reality?
Jennie Lee (Minister of the Arts
102
I) When was the Open II) University officially open?
| When did courses start?
I) 1969
| II) 1971
103
What was the open universitie's major goal?
Offer higher education to those who may not have been able to access it previously
104
How many open university students were there by 1980?
70,000
105
I) What event in 1968 showed the threat of the USSR?
| II) What did this re-inforce to Wilson?
I) The Prauge Spring
| II) How important the atlantic alliance with the USA was, with a focus on protecting the west of Europe
106
When did the US enter Vietnam?
1964
107
Which president called for support from overseas?
President Johnson
108
Who in the commonwealth sent troops?
Australia
109
What was Wilson's compromise on the Vietman War?
He endorsed it but did not send troops
110
Why was Vietnam an economic conflict in England?
Sending troops was expensive, but the UK needed US funding
111
What was the political dilema around the Vietnam war?
Wilson wanted to keep the USA happy but the war was hugely unpopular in the UK
112
Why was the "moral support" a total failure
The labour left were annoyed that Wilson endorsed the war, whereas the USA were unhappy with the lack of commitment
113
I) Who was the major opponent to the EEC?
| II) Why?
I) Gaitskell
| II) He was worried about Europe would become "the united states of Europe"
114
Why were the left of labour like Castle and Benn against the EEC?
They viewed it as a capitalist club
115
Which key labour members supported the EEC?
Brown and Jenkins
116
Were the unions for or against the EEC?
Against
117
What was Callaghan's approach to the EEC?
He did not like it, mainly due to his links with the unions
118
When was the second EEC application authorised?
October 1966
119
Why did the '66 EEC application seem seem doomed from the start
Labour seemed half-hearted in their application, and De Gaule had not seemed to change his mind
120
When was the second EEC application get denied?
1967
121
Why was decolonisation a key part of Wilson's foreign policy?
He believed in decolonisation, and Macmillan had pledged it would happen
122
What was the main goal of Minister for defence Denis Healey?
Bring the defence budget under £2 Billion
123
What policy did Healey plan to use to reduce defence spending?
"East of Suez"
124
What commitment did Wilson make in 1967 regarding defence?
Updating the Polaris missle system
125
What cuts led to the speeding up of "east of suez"
Jenkins 1968 spending cuts
126
What was the main difficulty in regards to decolonisation?
Rhodesia
127
What was the main issue in Rhodesia?
The white minority regime
128
How many parts of Rhodesia split into in 1963?
3
129
How many parts of Rhodesia become independent in 1964?
2
