Social/Domestic Policy under Heath

Industrial Relations Act 1971

Aimed to reduce the power of TUs and reduce Strike Action.

Created the National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) to oversee disputes.

Widely opposed by unions, TUC instructed members to ignore it.

Seen as a failure; contributed to Heaths downfall

The Miners’ Strike - 1972 Strike

First national miners’ strike since 1926 which led to power cuts across Britain.

Saltley Gate Confrontation - Mass picket at Birmingham fuel depot 15,000 strong which forced closure.

Led to Wilberforce inquiry granting miners a 27% pay rise.

The Miners’ Strike - 1973-74 Strike

Miners banned overtime following government’s Stage 3 pay policy. Heath declared a “State of Emergency” introducing the 3-day week (Jan 1st 1974) to conserve electricity.

Strikes were orchestrated and led by Arthur Scargill.

The Miners’ Strike - Social impacts

Strikes targeting the government disrupted daily life with many people struggling to heat their homes due to the lack of fuel. Also the 3-day week meant people were suffering from little work, money, fuel, and food.

Housing Finance Act 1972

Introduced means-tested rent rebates; was widely unpopular as it often increased rents

Education expansion

Mrs Thatcher as Education Secretary oversaw the expansion of comprehensive schools whilst cancelling free school milk for over-7s.

Earnt her the title ‘Milk Snatcher’

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Internment, 1971

Introduction of internment without trial for suspected terrorists.

Widely criticised as it was applied to Nationalists and Provisional IRA ‘members’.

It actually increased P.IRA recruitment.

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Bloody Sunday, 1972

30th January 1972: British paratroopers shot 28 Civil Rights marchers in (London)Derry, killing 14.

Massive international outrage with the British embassy in Dublin burned.

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Widgery Tribunal, 1972

April 1972: A tribunal that discovered the British Army acted in self-defence against the protesters, but seen as a whitewash.

The Saville Enquiry (set up by Blair in 1998) reported in 2010 and fount that the deaths were ‘unjustified and unjustifiable’ and the government issued an apology.

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Direct Rule, 1972

Heath imposed control directly from Westminster, suspending Stormont (NI Parliament).

Lasted until 1998 and the GFA.

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Sunningdale Agreement

Introduced a power-sharing executive between unionists and nationalists with a Council of Ireland proposed.

Opposition from extremists on both sides who saw it as a sell out.

Collapsed after Ulster Workers’ Council strike in 1974 (under Wilson)

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Unionist and Loyalist Parties/Groups

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) - Only major unionist party until the Troubles; ruled 1921-72

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - Formed in 1971 by Rev. Ian Paisley and more extreme then UUP. Paisley remained leader till 2008

Alliance - Formed in 1970 and aimed to get support from Catholics and Protestants, was more neutral about NI’s future

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) - Formed to defend against P.IRA, responsible for >400 deaths, abolished in 2000 (40,000 members)

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) - Formed to fight the P.IRA, responsible for >500 deaths.

The Troubles in NI, 1970-74 - Nationalist and Republican Parties/Groups

Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) - Formed in 1970 by John Hume to fight for Catholic Civil Rights in NI. Rejected using violence to achieve this

Sinn Fein - Republican party dating back to 1905, split in 1970. The new Sinn Fein supported the P.IRA, excluded from any negotiations.

Irish Republican Army (IRA) - Split between Official and Provisional in 1970. Provisional most active domestic terrorists

Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) - Formed out of the Official IRA in 1974, wanted to create a socialist republic including all of Ireland (100 fighters)

Race and Immigration, 1970-74

1971 Immigration Act - Restricted the right of people from the new commonwealth, they had to have a guaranteed job and at least 1 grandparent born in Britain.

Early 1970s - Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin expelled the Ugandan Asians, many had UK passports. Made exceptions with 28,000 arriving.

1974 - 1 million NCW immigrants had come to the UK, settling in areas with familial and cultural networks (Ldn, Leicester, Bradford)