Labour and Conservative Governments, 1964-79, dates and stats

Question 1

Social Reforms - Roy Jenkins - under Wilson.

Answer 1

-Race Relations 1965.
-Voting age from 21 to 18
-Equal Pay law 1970.
-Abortion legalised - 1967.
-Sexual Offences act 1967 - homosexuality legalised.

Question 2

Who was Wilsons Home secretary 1964-70?

Answer 2

Roy Jenkins

Question 3

When was the Robbins Report on higher education?

Answer 3

1963

Question 4

Unemployment in 1967?

Answer 4

2.5 million - post war high.

Question 5

When was Britain forced to devalue the pound?

Answer 5

1967 - lack of overseas confidence in the economy.

Question 6

Wilson National Plan?

Answer 6

1965 - created - creates Dept of Economic Affairs (DEA) -Target 3.8% growth over 6 years - failed - undermined by deflation.

Question 7

Proposal for long-term reform of the unions - by Wilson Government 64-70?

Answer 7

1967 – Barbara Castles ‘In Place of Strife’

Question 8

Seamen’s strike?

Answer 8

1966

Question 9

Opinion poll before 1970 election?

Answer 9

51% approval for Wilson.
Only 28% for Heath.

Question 10

Barbara Castle - Disillusionment of the Labour Supporters - quote

Answer 10

-“under current of detachment among our own activists and party audiences.”

Question 11

Labour Party membership:
1964
1970

Answer 11

830,000 in 1964
680,000 in 1970.

Question 12

1964 Retail Price Index (measure of inflation) had risen by…

Answer 12

33% - Heath relentlessly attack on economic record of Lab.

Question 13

Daily mail on reason for Conservative win 1970?

Answer 13

Heath’s ‘Guts and Leadership’

Question 14

Who gave ‘Rivers of Blood Speech’

Answer 14

-Enoch Powel - 1968.
-speech predicting race riots - popular with white working class.
-Heath expelled him from cabinet.

Question 15

Egypt and Syria start war with Israel?

Answer 15

1973 - caused oil crisis due to oil being with held by middl east - believed Western world supported Israel.

Question 16

America changes policy of fixed exchange rate?

Answer 16

1971 - made British exports in America more expensive.

Question 17

of working days lost in strikes increased:
1970
1972

Answer 17

1970 – 10.6 million.
1972 – 23 million.

Question 18

United Kingdom’s membership of the EEC?

Answer 18

Jan 1973

Question 19

Industrial Relation Act - Heath?

Answer 19

1971
established:
Industrial Relations Commission and National Industrial Relations Court - negotiate and avoid strikes.

Question 20

Britain - unfavourable terms when joining EEC?

Answer 20

Sacrifice any remaining preferential trade deal with the Commonwealth.

Accept the EEC’s policy of heavily subsiding French farmers.

Question 21

Problems with Coal Industry - Heaths government:
When?
How many strikers?
Pay rise miners were asking for?

Answer 21

1972 – 280,000 coal miners went on strike.
47% pay rise.
Government surrendered - pay rise higher than the inflation rate.

Question 22

How much of Britain’s energy needs depended on oil - 1973 oil crisis?

Answer 22

50%

Question 23

Heaths Emergency powers to avoid further strikes or give in to further pay rise during oil crisis 1973?

Answer 23

Industry and businesses – only had electricity 3 days a week.
Cut down on petrol – cars no faster than 50 mph.
TV - stop broadcasting at 10.30.

Question 24

Wilson - national referendum on whether to stay or leave EEC?

Answer 24

5 June 1975. - Result 2:1 vote in favor of continued membership.
managed to negotiate a reduction in Britain’s contribution to the EEC budget.

Question 25

Inflation in 1975?

Answer 25

30%

Question 26

Unemployment in 74 to and 2 years later.

Answer 26

542,000 in 74
to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.

Question 27

Wilson resigns?

Answer 27

March 76 - lack of confidence in the pound - value fell.

Question 28

IMF loan?
Gov spending cut as a result?

Answer 28

1976 - Healy asked International Monetary Fund for loan of 3600million dollars - to support pound.
-GOV spending cut by 2 billion.

Question 29

Government control of wage rise to prevent inflation in ‘78?

Answer 29

-wage rises of no more than 5%.
-Disliked by Unions - seen as abandonment of social contract.

Question 30

When was the winter of discontent?

Answer 30

1978-79 - public services such as dustmen and gravediggers demanding 40% pay rise.