Years of Concensus 1964-79: 3 Labour in office 1974-9

Question 1

what were the 3 key problems Labour faced in the 70s?

Answer 1

slim majority against the Conservatives, rapid inflation due to oil crisis, struggles with trade unions

Question 2

what was Labour’s average majority over the Conservatives during 1974-9?

Answer 2

3 seats

Question 3

what was the Lib-Lab pact?

Answer 3

a deal made by Callaghan and Steel in March 1977, committing the Liberals to vote with the government in the Commons in return for agreement to consult the Liberals on key issues. It collapsed in 1978.

Question 4

Lib-Lab pact dates?

Answer 4

introduced in March 1977, collapsed in 1978.

Question 5

when was the oil crisis?

Answer 5

1973

Question 6

inflation - what happened in March 1976?

Answer 6

the pound dropped below $2 in exchange values.

Question 7

how much money was loaned from the IMF in 76?

Answer 7

£3 billion

Question 8

what were the terms of the IMF loan?

Answer 8

major cuts in public expenditure which outraged the left and the unions.

Question 9

who led the negotiation for the IMF loan?

Answer 9

Dennis Healey, the chancellor of the exchequer

Question 10

at what cost did the government stabilise the financial situation?

Answer 10

increased unemployment which reached 1.6 million in 1978.

Question 11

what was the Industrial Relations Act of 1971?

Answer 11

aimed to limit wildcat strikes and introduce limitations on striking

Question 12

when was the Industrial Relations Act repealed?

Answer 12

1974

Question 13

what was the social contract?

Answer 13

informal agreement in 1972 that meant when Labour returned to power, the unions would follow a wage-restraint policy in return for the adoption of pro-worker industrial policies (better working conditions).

Question 14

when was the referendum on Europe?

Answer 14

1975

Question 15

what percentage voted ‘yes’ towards Europe?

Answer 15

65% (2/3)

Question 16

which politicians were against the EEC?

Answer 16

Tony Benn, Michael Foot, Barbara Castle.

Question 17

why were people unhappy with the EEC?

Answer 17

any economic gains were prevented by the oil crisis that had a restrictive effect on the economy. British exports to EEC countries declined after 1973, ironically. Britain were faced with increased financial costs with no real trade benefits.

Question 18

what does fait accompli mean?

Answer 18

an irreversible position already established - e.g. Britain holding a referendum on the EEC after joining.

Question 19

when did Wilson retire?

Answer 19

1976

Question 20

why did Wilson leave office and who did he wish to be succeeded by?

Answer 20

potentially to avoid worsening economic problems, old age or potential Alzeimers. James Callaghan.

Question 21

what problems did Callaghan face?

Answer 21

a strike almost every month - even moderate trade unions got involved.

Question 22

what did Callaghan introduce in 1977?

Answer 22

a compulsory 5% ceiling on wage rises - unions became more sweeping in demands and aggressive.

Question 23

what phrase did foreign journalists coin due to poor employer-worker relations in Britain?

Answer 23

‘the British disease’

Question 24

how many strikes were there in 1974 and 1979?

Answer 24

1974 - 3,000 - 14 million working days lost
1979 - 4,500 - 29 million working days lost

Question 25

example of a large strike in the 70s?

Answer 25

lorry drivers in 1979 threatening the nation’s food supplies - gained 20% wage increase

Question 26

what happened on 22 January in 1979?

Answer 26

1.5 million workers from the public sector striked. Selective strikes were organised after the success to gain media attention.

Question 27

which public sector groups caused the most disruption?

Answer 27

grave diggers who left dead bodies unburied, binmen meaning mounds of rubbish built up.

Question 28

why was Callaghan a bad fit for the 70s?

Answer 28

he let problems drift (“crisis, what crisis” - article by the sun). Failed to call an election in 1978 when polls showed he had majority support - he waited and was forced to call an election in the autumn of 1979.

Question 29

when was the winter of discontent? and what Shakespeare play did its name come from?

Answer 29

1978-9, Richard III

Question 30

what was the worst political misjudgement made by Labour?

Answer 30

treatment of the minority parties who they depended on for survival in office. LibLab pact lapsed in 1978, the SNP failed to provide a mandate for devolution. Scottish MPs withdrew support meaning Labour lost majoirty.

Question 31

what were the results of the 1979 election?

Answer 31

339 seats Conservative, 269 seats Labour
Conservatives won by 70 seats.

Question 32

what was a successful part of the Conservative 1979 campaign?

Answer 32

the poster stating ‘Labour isn’t working’ with an image of a long line of people queuing up for an unemployment office.