1964-70: other domestic policies and Labour divisions Flashcards
Explain why Wilson’s desires of modernisation were held back?
Wilson wanted to emphasise technology and science in modernising Britain’s economy but the government was hindered by a lack of expertise.
What happened in 1966?
Tony Benn took over as minister and the department of technology performed better.
Despite Tony Benn taking over as minister, what problem remained?
All of Labour’s domestic policies were overshadowed by economic problems - research and development were costly.
Describe Britain’s competition with the USA.
Although Britain pursued projects such as the supersonic plane Concorde that it developed in partnership with France, it could not compete with the USA, which spent vast government sums on research and development.
What had happened after the death of Bevan in 1960 and Gaitskell in 1963?
Wilson had emerged as a conciliatory leader of the party.
How did Wilson seem to unite the Labour Party?
Wilson’s focus on the Labour Party as the party of technological change united both the Left and the Right and minimised underlying tensions such as that over Clause IV.
Despite Wilson’s uniting aspect, describe the division between George Brown.
Brown was resentful that he had lost the leadership election to Wilson and how he was not made Foreign Secretary in 1964.
Why was Wilson suspicious of Jenkins?
He had been a Gaitskellite and Wilson did not really support Jenkins’ liberalising legislation as home secretary.
What did Jenkins suggest during the sterling crisis and why did this worry Wilson?
When the seaman’s strike of 1966 caused a sterling crisis Jenkins had tried to get the cabinet to support devaluation. Wilson interpreted this as a plot to replace himself and Brown with Callaghan and Jenkins.
