Liberal Reforming Legislation Flashcards
Who was Roy Jenkins?
Labours Home Secretary from 1965-1967,
In a position to influence societal changes in terms of liberal reform.
Deemed the old taboos and prejudices not able to adhere to a modern ‘civilised society’
What were Labour men like Wilson and Browns views on moral issues?
- Conservative in moral issues.
- Many working class Labour MPs remained suspicious of change.
What previous campaigning was there for an end to capital punishment?
Advanced during the 50s under the anti-hanging campaign.
- Ruth Ellis’ hanging in 1955 boosted anti-hanging sentiment.
- 1957 Homicide Act under the tories reduced the number of offences carrying the penalty.
- Backbencher Sydney Silverman had been a staunch advocate.
What was the muder act?
- 1965, hanging abolished on a trial for 5 years and this was made permanent in 1969.
- Jenkins also brought major verdicts for juries and ceased the beating of prisoners after 1967.
What was the backlash against the murder act?
- The Moors murderers were given life sentences as the abolition was in the suspended period - public opinion in support of hanging reached as high as 80% and never dipped below 60%.
- The abolition of hanging didn’t significantly reduce the number of murders of violent crimes.
What was the issue with divorce in the UK?
- Reasons for divorce had to be proven on the grounds of adultery.
- Divorce carried a serious social stigma - many women stayed with unfaithful or violent husbands rather than risk becoming social pariahs.
- Only the rich could really hire the detectives and cameras to prove adultery.
What was the Divorce Reform Act 1969?
- Allowed for ‘no fault’ divorce following the ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of marriage.
- Couples could divorce if they had lived apart for 2 years and both wanted a divorce.
- OR they had lived apart for 5 years and one partner wanted a divorce.
What was the impact of the Divorce Reform Act?
- Empowered women as equals in marriage.
- Huge increase in divorce rates.
- In 1959, 2 in every 1000 married couples got divorced - By the mid 1970s it was 10 in every 1000.
What was the issue with abortions?
- Women unable to afford private clinics were seeking out backstreet abortions.
- Between 100,000-200,000 illegal abortions were performed each year.
- Around 35,000 were admitted to hospitals as a result of complications, 82 women died.
What helped the cause for legalised abortions?
- The thalidomide crisis 1959-62, an ostensible sleeping drug that had disastrous effects on unborn children. Abortions were allowed for this condition, making it seem hypocritical they weren’t permitted for other reasons.
- The Abortion Law Reform Association had campaigned for law reform since 1945.
What was the impact of David Steel on abortion?
- Scottish liberal MP, led the abortion campaign in parliament despite not having a great party machine and having a narrow majority in his constituency.
What was the Abortion Act?
- Passed in 1967, it permitted the legal termination of a pregnancy in the first 28 weeks with the consent of 2 doctors.
What was the impact of the Abortion Act 1967?
- The number of abortions increased from 4 per 100 in 1968 to 17.6 in 1975.
- Religious denouncement and the setting up of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child campaigned against the act.
What was the Wolfenden Report 1957?
- Recommended consenting adult homosexuals should be allowed to have sex in their own home, the conservatives rejected the report at the time.
What was the campaign for enactment of the Wolfenden Report?
- The Homosexual Law Reform Society was formed in 1958 to campaign.
- Leo Abse and Lord Arran became the main promoters.
- Jenkins provided sufficient support and parliamentary time for Abse PMB to get passed.
