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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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New style gov by Harold Wilson |
Harold Wilson's commitment to new style modernist state - run by professional managers and planners Promised to propel Britain into new age of 'white heat of technology' Investment in science + better educational provision would ensure growth of econ - + end stop-go cycle Science, planning, management, professionalism + socialism =basis for wilsons new gov |
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Attitudes towards modernisation and social change |
New gov = not helped by lack of expertise Roy Jenkins later admitted difficulty in understanding briefings bc of non-scientific mind Minister of Tech (Frank Cousins) had little knowledge + interest 1966 -Tony Benn took over Ministry + department performed rather better Wilson tried to encourage cabinet to discuss tech - but it met a mixed reception Anthony Crosland called it as a 'dreary discussion on computers lasting an hour + a half' |
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Successful scientific developments as result of Wilson |
List of post-war Nobel Prize winners Britain led the way in computer tech the Harrier vertical take off jet, fuel injecion for car engines and hovercraft (1966) Concorde's first flight (1969) Colour TV |
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Strengths of Wilson in combating economic issues |
Department of Economic Affairs set up George Brown placed in charge tried to establish a voluntary agreement about wages + prices - in conjunction w/trade union leaders + civil servants He set grown targets + devised national system of 'economic planning councils' |
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Weaknesses of Wilson in combating economic issues |
1. Inherited £800 million debt + devaluation seemed like only way forward 2. Pound grew weaker bc of war in Middle East - oil supplies were restricted + a national dock strike pushed Wilson to deval 3. Labour made defence cuts, introduced hire purchase restrictions + higher interest rates 4. Despite devaluation, inflation still running at 12% by 1970 |
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Failures of labour gov to compromise with trade unions |
Barbara Castle dismayed that labour gov should face trouble from trade unions - + produced new set of proposals in 'In Place of Strife (1969) This suggested radical change in industrial relations = allowing state intervention + outlawing wildcat strikes HWVR had to be withdrawn bc of unionist outcry |
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Successes of wilson creating a 'new style' gov |
Its members were more working-class + liberal in outlook Wilson himself made a point mixing in w/pop stars, fashion designers and footballers Gave Labour an air of 'fashionability' Gov education's policies such as comprehensive skls, expansions of HE and Open uni - seen as attempts to break down old class barriers New ministries such as the Ministry of Arts under Jennie Lee provided gov funding for the Arts Council + British Film Institute - showed concern to broaden cultural opportunities for all Wilson's gov favoured use of 'expert witness' + tech and rational approach to alterations in law Gov tried to address problems of racial discrim -w/establishment of Race Relations Board |
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Limitations of Wilson's attempt to create a new style gov |
Labour didn't set out with a 'liberalising' agenda Their manifestos made no mention of moral issues -yet took credit Wilson + Brown = conservative on moral issues - & many working-class labour MPs remained suspicious of change Attempt at wilson's economic reform failed -proposed reform of house of lords + industrial relations fell by the wayside Attempt to enter EEC was abandoned wilson = not in touch w/youth culture of his day |
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Reasons for Heath's success in 1970 general election
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Harold Wilson had lost a lot of support with the unions Publications of some economic statistics turned the tide of public opinion Edward Heath was a middle-class leader which changed the party's image He was a man of great integrity and a bachelor whose interests were music and sailing He also believed in moderation, managerialism and compromise He was a pro-business politician |
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What did Heath promise to fulfil in government? |
Offer people a new type of Conservative gov Take britain into EEC Reduce taxes and allow more economic freedom Reduce union power + cut down on 'wild cat' strikes |
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What were Heath's successes? |
He was able to show British people that a Conservative government could be as 'down to earth' and 'modernist' as Labour He promoted middle-class people to high office - Among them Margaret Thatcher He ran his cabinet in a business-like manner He created new conglomerate ministries i.e. Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment He spent much times setting up comittees, consulting professionals, industrialists and workers to widen gov involvement Heath successfully took Britain into the EEC in 1973 |
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What were Heath's failures? |
He was dogged by economic probs + related probs of industrial relations He cut public expenditure, abolished the National Board for Prices and incomes + reduced taxes in attempt to increase investment -HWVR this led to inflation + unemployment accelerating + Britains growth rate slowed down Forced to reverse policies + introduce regulation Within months of taking office - faced w/dock strike -- led to power cuts + postal workers strike Industrial relations Bill provoked angry backlash - many unions refused to cooperate w/scheme |
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What was the Industrial Relations Bill (1970) and what was it's impact? |
It laid down the following: System of registration of unions - registered = full legal status Statutory right to belong to a union + be protected against unfair dismissal Illegality of sympathetic strikes and industrial action by an unregistered union This provoked an angry backlash + most trade unions refused to cooperate w/it Unions refused to register -- As result 32 unions suspended Feb 1971 - 100,000 trade unionists demo'd in London March - 1.5 million engineering workers staged one-day strike 1972 - highest number of days lost in strike - 23.9 million |
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What happened with the Pentonville Five? |
Dockers who were jailed for 5 days for defying the Industrial Relations Act |
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What happened during the miner's strike of 1972? |
Miners had cause to feel bitter - coal industry was in decline + workforce had fallen -- fom 593,000 (1960) to 280,000 in 1972 Miners were left behind in pay negotiations - + its members felt no one cared Miners presented a pay demand of 4.3% - National Coal Board quick to refuse it Miners began overtime ban in Nov - called strike in Jan 1972 when talks broke down 3/4 of British electricity had come from coa-burning power stations - thus strike came at time it would hurt |
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Why did the miners' strike of 1972 happen? |
1/ Miners knew they could disrupt industry and saw striking as their most effective method of forcing change in attitudes - OPEC also increased oil prises after outbreak of Arab-Israeli war 2/ the determination not to co-operate with the Industrial Relations Act 3/Long-standing animosity between the union movement and a conservative government. |
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Industrial disputes in Heath's time |
Industrial dispute still continued despite Heath's Act which established national agreement October 1973; fire service began unofficial strikes November 1973; electrical power engineers banned out-of-hours work Miners banned overtime Threat of miners came at time of world crisis Heath tried to negotiate + announced immediate emergency measures -BUT miners proved obstinate + resulted in snap election Unionists refused to transport coal + oil to power stations Union action created a lot of hostility towards strikers - particularly Tory strongholds in south Some allege a 'communist conspiracy' about the deputy of the mine workers |
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Why did Wilson win the 1974 general election? |
Wilson could claim that Labour had a better relationship with the Unions - + could deal more effectively w/their troublles He was able to substantiate this claim just b4 the election -when he intervened to stop a series of one-day strikes by British Rail drivers Poor trade figures arrived during campaign - and a mistake by pay board was revealed to show that miners were relatively less well-paid -- than formerly believed Surge in support for Liberals Enoch Powell decided to quit Tories + urged his supporters to vote Labour |
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Labours return in 1974 |
A pay board was set up to investigate the miners' claims - miners returned to work w/29% pay rise National plan for coal including big investments in new coal fields - in return for increased production = agreed Wilson revoked the Industrial Relations Act Set up the Advisory and Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Persuaded unions to moderate wage claims in return for legislation - to increase social and legal rights Wilson's tactics appeared promising From 1974-5, No. of days lost through strikes halved Sept 1975 - TUC promised a voluntary wage restraint |
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Continuations after Labour's return |
When Wilson retired in 1976 - Britains economic probs + industrial relations = far from solved Labour gov = forced to introduce high taxation - 83% a the top rate - 98% for unearned income Talk of further controls and selective nationalisation Long boom was over + from 1974 living standards would go into decline Problem of unemploymnent was back + optimism that bred the 'Swinging 60s' had gone |
