British History 1970-79
1970 Election
Conservative Leadership: Edward Heath
Viewed as quite dull overall
A stiff campaigner
Hard working and an image of competence
Strong role in EEC negotiations under MacMillan
Labour Leadership: Harold Wilson
Able to manipulate his image
Tied to the devaluation his party had denied many times
Called the election earlier than necessary
‘Pound in your pocket’ speech and ‘In place of Strife’
Economy
1967 devaluation
The failure of the DEA
Balance of payments crisis
IMF loan
Conservative Policies
Seldon Manifesto ‘A better tomorrow’
Clear programme of new ideas
Powell
Drew some votes away towards the Conservatives due to his views on immigration, high profile despite being sacked
February 1974 Election
‘Who governs’ election > won by Labour with a minority government, Conservatives get more votes, Labour more seats
Trade Union Power
Three day week
Industrial Relations Act ultimately failure
Mismanaged the miners strike and led to a state of emergency
Wilson’s record with unions not much better (In place of strife)
Labour Leadership: Harold Wilson
Conservative Leadership: Edward Heath
Economic U-turns unpopular
Three day week and mishandling of unions
Timing
Should have maybe held in early January instead of waiting
Economic Record
Barber Boom
Unemployment reached a million
U-turns on manifesto
Arab Israeli conflict sent prices soaring
As Andrew Marr said, “It’s hard to think of a greater failure of economic modernisation than a country lit by candlelight”
Labour
Viewed as somewhat competent, Wilson an experienced leader
Promised to attempt to end the industrial disputes
October 1974
Heath’s Leadership
Harmed by the ‘who govers’ election
Poor performance in campaign
Record of Conservatives
Three day week Industrial
Soaring oil prices
Poor industrial relations
U turns
Did join the EEC
Labour
Wilson appeased the unions which did end the state of emergency
Repealed 1971 industrial relations act
New social security benefits > increased old aged pension, improved tenants rights
The Economy
1970-74 under Heath and the Conservative Party
“It’s hard to think of a greater failure of economic modernisation than a country lit by candlelight” - Marr
Industrial Disputes/Unions
1971 the government passed the Industrial Relations Act in an attempt to end wildcat strikes, it was opposed by the unions CBI and Labour
Miners negotiated a pay increase which the year after they demanded again
The government declined and the NUM held a national strike
In 1972 most days lost to strikes since the great strike of 1926, 24 million days
Due to the oil crisis and miners strike a state of emergency was called. There was a three day week, fuel rationing, all speed limits lower, curfew on TV.
After 7 weeks a pay deal was negotiated and accepted
1974 election around ‘who governs’
Economic Policies/ U-turns
Barber Boom - created rapid rises in inflation and unemployment with no growth (stagflation)
Selsdon Manifesto U-turns > lame duck industries nationalised e.g. Rolls Royce and upper Clyde shipbuilders
Unemployment rose reaching around a million
Balance of payments crisis
Barber’s dash for growth, increased pensions, reduced taxation, lowered unemployment to around 500,000
Arab Israeli War 1973 led to a huge oil crisis, by march prices had risen nearly 300%
1970-79 Society
Women
1971 Birth Control available through the NHS for all women
1975 Equal Pay Act - wages rose from 59% to 70%
1976 Domestic Violence Act
1970 women made up 4% of H of C, 1979 this fell to 3%
Race Relations
Race Relations Act 1976 - extended act to housing and employment
1974 London council elections only 10 non white councillors elected
1978 Viv Anderson first Black player to be picked for the England team
1971 immigration act restricted immigration
1976 only 70 black officers out of 22,000 in the met police
1976 Nottingham Hill carnival hostility erupted into a riot
Environment
1974 Water Act 1976 Endangered Species Act
Green peace 1977
In 1979 election the peoples party put up 53 candidates
Youth Culture
1975-76 Punk movement
Skinheads
Sex Pistols ‘God save the Queen’
Male homosexuality legalised
1970-79 Foreign Policy
Heath and Europe
Heath was a committed European, his maiden speech in the commons focused on Europe and he was MacMillan’s chief negotiator
Labour were internally divided over Europe, Wilson offered a rebate and an election over it
Powell was against joining
In January 1973 Britain joined the EEC, the vote was supported by 69 rebel Labour MPs voting with the Conservative Party
Labour and the EEC
1975 Wilson held a referendum over memebershiip
To keep the party united he let them campaign on whatever side they wanted and didn’t personally align himself with one side or another
The press and big businesses were in firm support of ‘YES’
The left like Castle and Foot were against this whilst Jenkins, Heath and Thatcher were for it
The ‘YES’ campaign won
Special Relationship (Heath)
Heath was the least committed to America
Got on well personally with Nixon
Relations worsened during the 1973 Yom Kippur war when Britain refused to let US use NATO bases in Europe
Special Relationship (Labour)
Both Wilson and Callaghan were pro the Atlantic alliance
Carter gave Britain trident nuclear weapons at a lower cost
United in aim to keep communism at bay
Completed withdrawal from east suez
China & USSR
Some visits made to China
SALT and interbalistic missile treaty
Helsinki agreement
CND less active
Northern Ireland 1970-79
Heath
1971 policy of internment was introduced, 95% of those interned 1971-75 were catholic and it was said that ‘internment was among the best recruiting policy the IRA ever had’
30th January 1972 Bloody Sunday, protestors in Londonderry were fired upon by soldiers claiming they had been shot at first. Killed 13 people. Widgery Tribunal reported Heaths government was right at that the soldiers were defending themselves after being shot at first, this was considered a whitewash by many
After Bloody Sunday the British embassy in Dublin was burnt down
IRA support grew
Secret meetings between Willy Whitelaw and NI Secretary of State,
1973 diplock courts created
1973 Sunnigdale agreement > power sharing executive, PR, council of Ireland > ultimately failed
Wilson
Strike in 1974 led to Wilson declaring a state of emergency and reimposing direct rule
1975 internment was officially ended
Northern Ireland Constituent Convention > elections held in may 1975 using PR. It was an elected body to determine the future of Northern Ireland. It ultimately failed and was dissolved 1976
Callaghan
1976 Special category status removed from all prisoners
Blanket protests that later escalated into dirty protests
IRA assassinated 19 prison officers
Economy 1974-79
When they came to power the economic situation was dreadful, three day week, oil crisis etc.
Introduced new social security measures e.g. improving tenants rights and increasing pensions
Subsidies on food and housing
Repealed Conservatives Industrial Relations Act
Surge in inflation due to wage increases
April 1975 budget imposed steep tax rises and cut public spending
Pound undervalued, had to ask for IMF loan, Britain viewed as the ‘sick man of Europe’
‘Goodbye Great Britain it was nice knowing you’ - Wall Street journal
North Sea oil mean inflation fell to 10%, IMF crisis was well handled and the economy recovered
Labour Governments record
1975 EEC referendum
Wave of industrial disputes led to the winter of discontent, imagery of rubbish piling up on the streets, ‘crisis what crisis’
Callaghan was viewed as experienced and a safe pair of hands
Lib-lab pact was created to stop a vote of no confidence and in return Callaghan agreed to start the process of devolution, both failed
Debates over education held, may have influenced the creation of the national cirriculum in the 1980s