64-70 Politics

Question 1

Wilson’s Ideology

Answer 1

-was a bevanite on the left of the party
-aimed to modernise the country
-supported nuclear deterrent
-attempted to reform trade unions

Question 2

Industrial relations and trade unions

Answer 2

-60% of people had a favourable view of unions in early 1960s
-1964, frank cousins becomes technology minister
-1966/7 relations worsen, seamen and dockers strikes
-barbara castle employment minister, said trade unions should act responsibly

Question 3

In place of strife

Answer 3

-jan 1969 published, would strengthen unions
-28 day cooling off period before a strike
-strike ballots could be imposed
-industrial relations court could prosecute rulebreakers
-government could impose a settlement when unions in dispute

Question 4

Reaction to in place of strife

Answer 4

-supported by voters and many labour mps
-unions and left hated them
-protest from union leaders supported by 50 labour mps
-june 1969, TUC negotiated a compromise

Question 5

Labour divisions

Answer 5

-after bevans death 1960 and gaitskells 1963 wilson emerged as uniting party leader
-underlying tensions due to clause iv
-wilson feared a leadership challenge from brown, jenkin or callaghan

Question 6

Wilsons suspicions

Answer 6

-suspicious of jenkins, didnt support liberalising legislations
-worried jenkins and callaghan would attempt to overthrow him and brown
-unlikely as callaghan and jenkins didnt agree on multiple issues