1970 Election Flashcards
(9 cards)
Who won the 1970 election
Edward Heath (conservative)
Harold Wilson defeated
What was the Selsdon Park Conference
A Conservative Party meeting in January 1970 where Edward Heath outlined a ‘New Right’ approach, rejecting the post-war consensus in favour of a free-market economy.
What economic policies did Heath propose in the 1970 Conservative Manifesto?
- Tax reform
- Better law and order
- Reform to trade unions
- Immigration controls
- Cuts to public spending
- Ending subsidies for ‘Lame Duck’ industries
What was ‘Selsdon Man’?
A term coined by Harold Wilson to criticise Heath’s economic policies, portraying them as selfish and ruthless.
How did Harold Wilson’s government struggle with the economy?
1967 devaluation of the pound (£) damaged Labour’s credibility.
Britain’s second EEC application was rejected in 1967.
Economic issues like low growth, high inflation, and balance of payments deficits.
What were the main reasons for Wilson’s failure with trade unions?
1966–67 wildcat strikes weakened Labour’s authority.
Wilson’s attempt to blame strikers for economic problems backfired.
The 1969 In Place of Strife White Paper was abandoned, showing Labour’s weakness.
How did Wilson’s foreign policy affect the election?
Left-wing voters were angry at Wilson for failing to condemn the Vietnam War.
Right-wing voters opposed his withdrawal from East of Suez.
The Rhodesia Crisis and opposition to the permissive society (led by Mary Whitehouse) divided voters.
What was the impact of Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech?
Powell was dismissed from the Conservative Party but gained significant public support.
His anti-immigration stance appealed to working-class voters.
50% of those who switched parties in 1970 were working-class Powellites.
18% of Labour Powellites and 24% of Liberal Powellites voted Conservative.
What were the final results of the 1970 General Election?
Conservatives: 46.4% of the vote (330 MPs)
Labour: 43.1% of the vote (288 MPs)
Liberals: 7.5% of the vote (6 MPs)
