Douglas-Home 1963-64

Question 1

How was he elected?

Answer 1

Elected informally by the ‘customary processes’ and would be the last prime minister elected without a formal election

Question 2

What was the resale prices bill?

Answer 2

The Resale Prices Bill of 1964 was introduced to end resale price maintenance, also known as ‘price-fixing’.

Question 3

What was the partial nuclear test ban treaty?

Answer 3

• It prohibited all test detonations of nuclear weapons except for those conducted underground
• He negotiated/signed the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Question 4

What were his issues with Labour?

Answer 4

Douglas- Home was against a new a revitalised Labour.
They had a new programme, a new, youthful and dynamic leadership of Harold Wilson.

Labour victory of the next election.

Question 5

Why did he become PM?

Answer 5

• Competition between Butler and Quintin Hogg.
  -Macmillan didnt want to see Butler to succeed so used his position to get the Queen to ask Douglas-Home to become PM; thought Home was a safer choice.

-Brought to power an Home with an aristocratic background; perceived to be out of touch with the people.

-Clear that the conservative party had not changed its image.

-Resentment for Douglas-Home within Tories- Enoch Powell, Macleod; wouldn’t serve under Home.

Question 6

1964 election

Answer 6

Lost the 1964 election to Labour/Wilson by a narrow margin. Therefore, the Conservatives’ loss was due to the loss of votes to the Liberal Party, which received 11.2% of the electoral vote