Wilson's time in charge

What had Wilson promised?

Bright new future - end class conflict and economic misery, and a technological revolution

What did Wilson's parliamentary colleagues think of him?

Reputation of a canny master of self-promotion

Slippery opportunist, with a good nose for being in the right place at the right time

Why was the Post Office tower and iconic building of the 1960s?

Tallest tower in Britain - represents stone age to space age. Smells of the future.

How was Wilson able to hijack the idea of the Post Office tower?

Used it as an example of Labour's white hot heat, although it was planned and built by the conservatives.

What city was supposed to represent Wilson's new modern Britain? How did it represent this vision?

Birmingham. It had motorways, flyovers and shopping centres.

What was the economic situation that Wilson's first government inherited

Crippling national debt of £800m national debt

Why did Tory Chancellor Reginald Maudlin said "Good luck old cock. Sorry to leave things in such a mess" to the new labour chancellor

Tories had been papering over the cracks to cause an economic crisis

Why did Wilson want to avoid devaluing the pound.

Because they would have to retreat from military bases as they wouldn't be able to afford them. Purchasing power would be way lower.

What DEA? Who was in charge?

Department of Economic Affairs. One of his arch rivals, George Brown.

What was Wilson's strategy to deal with his two rivals of Brown and Callaghan?

He was going to reduce the chancellor's powers and therefore the DEA was going to get more power

How did Brown try and control the economic problems? What were the problems

Produced a plan for Britain. Limited wages to combat inflation. Problems were class war and there was a strike for 17% pay rise. Wilson did not back down.

How was British society conservative in the first half of the 1960s

Older generation was still somewhat in control, and nearly all being Conservatives, it meant society was largely conservative

When was abortion legalised?

1967

Who led the liberalising agenda?

Roy Jenkins

What other reforms were included

Divorced easier, homosexuality allowed for 21+, no more hanging.

What was the name given to this new liberal society?

Age of Aquarius

What was Wilson's attitude to the Vietnam War

He wouldn't condemn the war and shared intelligence, yet didn't send any troops to Vietnam. This was to keep money coming in from America.

How did the left view Wilson's attitude to the war?

Abhorrent, calling him a murderer for not condemning the Vietnam War.

What event represented the left's view of the war?

Battle next to US embassy of Police and 'Radical Left'

What Wilson quote sums up why Wilson didn't condemn the war

'Because we can't kick our creditors in the balls'

What did the treasury inform the government on 3 November 1967

That it was all over. Britain was on the verge of economic collapse. Callaghan resigned

What was Wilson forced to do?

To devalue the pound

What impact did this have on Wilson?

His staying put had a great impact on his reputation

Why was the Commonwealth immigration bill passed? What were some of the public attitudes to immigration

Kenyan Asians were fleeing, but the public didn't want refugees, so the bill made sure too many refugees didn't come in freely from the Commonwealth

What was the impact of Powell's rivers of Blood speech?

3 days after, 1,000 labour supporter dockers marched in the street. 43,000 letters and telegrams backing him, but also full police protection to save him from the death threats he received.

What was the trade union situation in 1969?

A lot of striking

Who did Wilson chose to take on the unions?

He used Barbara Castle, the darling of the left

What White paper was published on 17th January 1969

'In Place of Strife'

What was the strategy?

Settlements imposed on strikes - an outright assault on trade unions.

How was the strategy viewed by the unions?

Angered them, leading them to march against Wilson

Why was the white paper defeated?

Trade union leader said they'll never accept the gov as law. If he keeps pressing he might be finished.