Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
1970 Election |
-Wilson's undistinguished economic policies and the failure to control the unions cost him the elections. -Enoch Powell's "Rivers of Blood" speech gained Conservatives 2.5million votes. |
|
|
'Selsdon Man' |
-"New style of government" ->Intended to reduce the rise in prices, increase productivity and reduce unemployment. -Differed from Wilson as he intended to break with the consensus -Consensus: State intervention in economic and social matters -Selsdon Man: ''New Right''. -> Abandon incomes policy; government would NOT impose salary freeze. Markets would determine that. |
|
|
Industrial Relations Act 1971 |
-Extension of 'In Place of Strife'. ->Restricted the right of workers to strike
-Strikes had to be validated -Wouldn't bail out the 'lame ducks' -Cut down in government spending -Tax cuts -Withdrawal of free milk in schools |
|
|
Heath's U-turn |
-Inflation risen to 15% by the end of 1971 -1972: Gov. went back on their word and introduced measures to control inflation and prices. -Rolls-Royce was bailed out. Gov. nationalised it in 1971 thus contradicted itself about ''Lame Ducks''. -Subsidies provided to help companies in difficulties. One instance: Upper Clyde Shipbuilders were granted £34million. |
|
|
Mounting problems with the Unions |
-Unions suspicious and hostile of the pro-Bourgeoisie government (Industrial Relations Act of 1971) -1972: National Union of Miners (NUM) threatened by the pit closures went on a strike, led by Arthur Scargill. This led to the 3-day week as fuel and electricity supplied had reduced. |
|
|
The three-day week introduced, 1973
|
-Heath initially did not give in to the miners -December 1973, 3-day week introduced for big complexes -Didn't work out as expected and the gov. had to give in. -NUM workers gained a 21% wage increase (Figure 3x bigger than what they asked for initially!) -NUM went on strike again in 1974 in pursuit of further wage demand. -Heath called an immediate election on the issue of who ran the country, miners or the government. He didn't expect a negative answer. |
|
|
Local Government Reforms 1972-3 |
-Local Government Act 1972, 1973: Destroyed many historical administrative landmarks. -Whole areas were subsumed into newly created regions and many place names disappeared. -Some protests ''attack on local identity'' |
|
|
Britain's Entry into Europe 1973 |
-De Gaulle retired in 1969 -> EEC invited Britain to reapply
-Britain joined on New Year's day 1973 -Britain's economic position made it difficult for the EEC to view Britain as a gues but rather a beggar -EEC held all the cards as they knew Britain couldn't withstand on its own. -Commonwealth food and goods would no longer enter Britain on preferential terms. -No transition stage |
|
|
Advantages of Britain joining the EEC |
-Access to European Markets -Benefited from the final end of wartime antagonisms -As part of European block, attracted global businesses -British regions entitled to European development grants -British workers had the right to work in other EEC countries -Greater opportunity of movement for British people within Europe |
|
|
Disadvantages of Britain joining the EEC |
-No longer able to buy cheap food from the Commonwealth -Higher contributions to the EEC budget than it received in grants from Europe. (Paying 20% of revenue raised by EEC but receiving only 8% of the expenditure.) -CAP led to the destruction of UK's fishing industry -VAT on British consumer goods. In 1973 at 8%, then increased to 17.5% |
|
|
The international oil price rise 1973 |
-October 1973, OPEC limits the supply of oil to Europe -Between 1973 and 1980, the price of oil per barrel increased from 2 dollars to 35! EFFECTS: -Balance of payments deficit rose to £1 billion -Annual inflation rate rose to 16% -Value of the pound dropped from 2.00 dollars to 1.57 -Interest rate raised to 15% -UNEMPLOYMENT BETWEEN 1974-76 went up to 1.44 MILLION. |
|
|
The February 1974 election and the reasons for defeat |
-Marginal defeat -Rapid inflation -Decline in growth due to strikes -Unemployment in 1972 - highest figure for joblessness since the depression of 1930's. -Three day week -Support for both Labour and Conservatives dropped. (Labour lost 6% of popular vote) -Liberals gained over 4 million votes. |
