British History 1964-70

1964 Election

BB - The 1964 election victory for Labour marked the end of the Conservatives successive political dominance and signalled the beginning of change

F - 1) Leadership 2) Economy 3) Policies

A - The main reason for the Labour victory was the declining economy under the Conservatives and the strong leadership of Wilson compared to Eden

1966 Election

BB - Due to the small majority gained in the 1964 election the Labour government knew that a second election would be necessary

F - 1) Leadership 2) Policies 3) Economy

A - The main reason for the second Labour victory was the leadership of Wilson and his ability to appeal to the working class voter

1964-70 Economy

BB - By 1964 the consequences of the Conservatives stop go economics had finally come to light, leaving a damaged economy with Conservative chancellor Mauldling even allegedly stating ‘sorry to leave it in such a mess’.

F - 1) The DEA 2) Devaluation 3) The unions

A - Wilson’s economic record was largely unsuccessful but not disastrous

1964-70 Society

Women

  • 1967 Abortion Reform Act

  • 1967 Family Planning Act - female contraception could now be provided to all women

  • 1969 Divorce Reform Act

  • 1970 Equal Pay Act (did not come into effect until 1975)

  • By 1970 only 28% of women were in higher education

  • Women at the Dagenham plant were being paid 85% of men’s wages

  • 1964 election only 29 female MPs

Race Relations

  • 1965 Race Relations Act - Outlawed discrimination, excluded housing and employment

  • Majority of complaints made to the race relations board were dismissed

  • 1968 second commonwealth immigration act - further restricted entry to UK

  • 1968 Enoch Powell’s racist ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, 75% of the population allegedly supported what power said

  • Notting Hill carnival became an annual event

  • 1968 race relations act banned discrimination in housing and employment but the police were excluded

Other Liberalising Legislation

  • 1965 Death Penalty Act (for 5 years initially)

  • 1967 Homosexuality Act

Societal Changes ‘permissive society’

  • Education - polytechnic universities, comprehensive schools (crossland)

  • Satire - TW3, Private Eye

  • ‘Kathy come home’ - play about homelessness

  • Catholic Church remained hostile ‘the pope the pill and the people’

  • Mary Whitehouse ‘Clean up TV campaign’

  • Dangerous Drugs Act - illegal to possess drugs such as cannabis and cocaine despite reports suggesting it should be legalised

  • Skin head

  • Pirate radios

  • Crime increases

Foreign Policy 1964-70

Rhodesia

  • MacMillan winds of change speech

  • Rhodesia and Nyasaland broke into three separate entities

  • South Rhodesia not given independence until it had majority rule

  • 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence, directly challenged labour government

  • Oil sanctions imposed but ultimately failed, South Africa continued to trade, big oil companies ignored the policy, Rhodesia cut of supplies to Zambia leading to an international aid to help

  • Meetings on the HMS tiger and HMS fearless, nothing really came from either meeting, just left Smith feeling stronger

Relations with the US (Vietnam)

  • Vietnam strained relations, Australia sent troops, Britain did not, Wilson did not condemn the war ‘you can’t kick your creditors in the balls’

  • Wilson attempted to be a peace broker Phase A/Phase B

  • Johnson didn’t want him to broker a ceasefire and the two did not have a good relationship

The EEC

  • Application made due to economic realities, Rhodesia situation caused strain on commonwealth and Vietnam on US relations.

  • Wilson toured the country in order to gain support believing it went well

  • Labour left hostile, brown and Jenkins supported it

  • De Gaulle’s veto - the UKs economy Uk ties to US and Commonwealth

  • Gaulle told Wilson to detach himself from special relationship which he did not

  • Labour not united so half hearted application

Decolonisation

  • Callaghan wanted a speedy withdrawal to avoid economic issues

  • 1967 Healy’s white paper set up a timetable for withdrawal from areas in the Middle East

  • Independence was to be given to those that wanted it and could sustain it

  • No serious debate about giving up nuclear deterrent

  • Drastic spending cuts after devaluation meant there needed to be a quick withdrawal as Britain could no longer afford to keep overseas military bases

  • America wanted Britains continued presence in suez as they could not afford to due to Vietnam

Northern Ireland 1964-70

  • Growing tensions in Northern Ireland, Catholic community felt mistreated

  • Bombing of a house next to a pub killing Protestant Mary Gould who was 77 years old, their target was a catholic pub

  • Killed 18 years old boy outside a pub

  • Bombing of the water in Belfast (A UVF campaign but Paisley blamed the IRA

  • 1969 British Army sent into Northern Ireland, well received, opportunity for hope