Heath 1970-74 Flashcards
(31 cards)
what years was Heath leader of Conservatives?
- 1965-75
- Primeminister from 70-74
what was Selsdon Man?
- nickname for Heath after the Selsdon Park Conference Jan 1970
- critics created “Selsdon Man” portraying him and his policies socially harsh and individualistic
- but this actually proved popular
list 5 Selsdon policies
- tougher law and order
- tougher immigration
- tax cuts
- trade union reform
- less state intervention “no bailing out lame ducks”
- marked end of post-war consensus
how high was unemployment 1972?
- rose over 1 million
highest since 1930’s
name two economic policies heath implemented
- tax cuts of £1billion
- reduced spending
- faced downturn and stagflation
how high was inflation by 1974?
- roughly 16% peaked at the end of Heath’s tenure
when and what was Bloody Sunday?
- 30th Jan 1972
- British troops killed 14 unarmed protesters in Derry
when was direct rule from Westminster imposed on Northern Ireland?
- March 1972
when and what was the Sunningdale Agreement
- signed Dec 1973
- attempted power sharing government between unionists (who opposed) and loyalists (who striked)
- ultimately failing
when and what was Special Category status?
- 1972
- paramilitary prisoners treated as political prisoners rather than criminals
when and what was the Industrial Relations Act?
- 1971
- aimed to curb trade union power, requiring ballot before strike
when was the miners strike?
- Jan to Feb 1972
- NUM demanded 47% wage rise
- led to severe power cuts
when and why was the 3-day working week implemented?
- 1974
- due to coal shortage
- limits commercial electricity use
examples of the “u-turn”
- increase public spending and subsidies due to unemployment
- nationalisation of Rolls Royce 1971
- £35 million bail out of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders 1972
- critics mocked = “the man who promised to cut government intervention ended up increasing it”
when did Heath call an election?
- Feb 1974
- weak campaign slogan = “who governs Britain”
- Conservatives = 297 seats
- Labour = 301 seats
- Hung parliament = Wilson victory in minority
- Heath wanted coalition with the liberals but failed
when and where was the first Women’s Liberation Movement National Conference?
- 1970
- Oxford
what gained traction in the 70’s promoting workplace equality, reproductive rights, domestic violence?
- 2nd Wave Feminism
when was Equal Pay Act passed?
- 1970
- took until 1975 to implement
- but employers found ways around it
who were Friends of the Earth?
- founded 1971
- campaigned against pollution, deforestation, expansion of nuclear deterrence/energy
what was the first green party in the UK called?
- People Party
- founded 1973
- became the Green Party 1985
what did increased environmentalism mean for governments in the 1970’s?
- increased concerns led to more protests and pressure on governance
what was one reason for alienation of youth?
- unemployment high amongst 16-24 year olds
what was one reason for racial tensions?
- continued influx of immigrants from Caribbean, South Asia, Africa
- 250 thousand under Heath
when did Britain join the EEC?
- 1973 under Heath
- after De Gualle vetos in 1963 and 67
- De Gaulle replaced by Pompidou
