Ch. 5 Labour and Conservative governments 1964-1979

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1964 election

Harold Wilson beats Douglas-Home (Conservative) by a majority of only 4 seats

Why did Labour win the 1964 election?

• Wilson's leadership
• Conservative image
• revival of the Liberals
• social changes in the 1950s

Labour won the 1964 election due to Wilson's leadership

Harold Wilson succeeded Gaitskell at 47 years old

Labour won the 1964 election due to Conservative's poor image

Voters associated the Tories with the economic problems that were growing in the 1960s: rising unemployment

Labour won the 1964 election due to the revival of the Liberal Party

The Liberal Party attracted many middle-class voters who wanted to protest against the Tories

Labour won the 1964 election due to social changes in the 1950s

The rise in living standee people more independent

How successful was Labour in government 1964-1970?

• social reforms
• foreign policy
• economic policy
• industrial relations

Labour's social reforms

• race relations
• education
• Roy Jenkins 'the civilised society'

Labour's social reforms: race relations

1968 Commonwealth Immigrants Act tightened the restrictions that the Tories had introduced in 1962.
The Race Relations Acts of 1965 and 1968 were both largely unsuccessful as they were difficult to enforce

Labour's social reforms: education

From 1965

Labour's social reforms: Roy Jenkins

Roy Jenkins introduced several radical social reforms

Labour's foreign policy

• The Vietnam War 1965
• Southern Rhodesia 1965
• Europe (EEC) 1967

Labour's foreign policy: the Vietnam War 1965

Wilson believed that a close alliance with America was key to Britain's strength and so wanted to appear supportive

Labour's foreign policy: Southern Rhodesia 1965

in 1965

Labour's foreign policy: Europe 1967

Gaitskell had opposed Britain joining the European Economic Community (EEC)

Labour's economic policy

• Britain's economic difficulties
• deflation 1964
• the National Plan 1965
• devaluation 1967

Labour's economic policy: Britain's economic difficulties

In 1964

Labour's economic policy: deflation 1964

James Callaghan negotiated foreign loans to prevent a run on the pound

Labour's economic policy: the National Plan 1965

Wilson created a new department

Labour's economic policy: devaluation 1967

the 1966 seamen strike for higher pay damaged Britain's exports and threatened another run on the pound. As well as this

Labour's industrial relations

• conflict between the government and trade unions
• 'In Place of Strife' 1969

Labour's industrial relations: conflict between gov + unions

the economic problems of the 1960s weakened the relationship between the government and trade unions
Wilson believed that unions' strikes for higher pay were harming productivity.
Any strikes in nationalised industries could cause nationwide disruption

Labour's industrial relations: 'In Place of Strife' 1969

principal policies:

• Employees would have a legal right to join a trade union
• Workers who were unfairly dismissed would be entitled to compensation or to get their jobs back
• The government could order a ballot to be held before a strike if it believed there was a serious threat to the national interest
• In an unofficial dispute the government could order a return to work for a 28-day 'cooling-off' period
• Disputes between unions could be referred to an industrial commission whose decision would be legally binding. There would be financial penalties if the commission was not obeyed

The TUC and left-wing MP's were outraged by Barbara Castle's proposals

1970 election

Edward Heath (Conservative) wins the election against Wilson (Labour)

Why did Labour lose the 1970 election?

• Wilson's complacency
• the disillusionment of Labour support
• the failure of 'In Place of Strife'

Labour lost the 1970 election due to Wilson's complacency

Labour's campaign and slogan 'a safe pair of hands' hardly presented them as bringers of radical change.
The opinion poll before the election which put Labour firmly ahead of the Tories made Labour supporters complacent and overconfident.

Labour lost the 1970 election due to the disillusionment of Labour support

Many Labour supporters were disillusioned by Wilson's government which they saw as too right-wing. They felt that Britain's foreign policy had been too supportive of Vietnam and that too much had been spent on defence instead of welfare and regeneration. This view was reflected in Labour's membership

Labour lost the 1970 election due to the failure of 'In Place of Strife'

Wilson's failed attempt to implement 'In Place of Strife' made him look weak

Why did Conservatives win the 1970 election?

• policy proposals
• Heath's leadership
• the 'Powell effect'

The Conservatives won the 1970 election due to policy proposals

The Conservatives had used their six years in opposition to develop a clear set of policies which appealed to voters

The Conservatives won the 1970 election due to Heath's leadership

Edward Heath

The Conservatives won the 1970 election due to the 'Powell effect'

In 1968