Liberal reforming legislation

Question 1

What were private member bills?

Answer 1

meant individual MPs can vote according to their own conscience rather than following their party’s policy

Question 2

Why was Jenkins a key individual in reforming legislation?

Answer 2

Gave back benchers a chance to propose their ideas through bills

Question 3

End of capital punishment

Answer 3

• public opinions divided
• after Ellis (last women to be hanged) there was a boost in anti-hanging campaign
• Silverman campaigned to win support for total abolition

Question 4

What happened in 1965 with the death penalty?

Answer 4

on a free vote hanging was abolished for a trial period of 5 years and by 1969 this was made permanent legislation

• beating of prisoners also ceased to exist after 1967

Question 5

Was divorcing difficult before the divorce reform act?

Answer 5

Until 60s divorce could only be granted if one party were accused of committing adultery - meant it was almost impossible for poorer people
- Jenkins thought it was outdated

Question 6

What was the divorce reform act and when was it passed?

Answer 6

1969 - allowed for a no fault divorce following the breakdown of a marriage couples could now divorce if
- they lived apart for 2 years and both partners agreed to divorce
- lived apart for 5 years and 1 partner wanted a divorce

• by 1970s nearly 10 in every 1000 marriages ended in divorce

Question 7

legislation of abortion

Answer 7

until 1967 abortion unless on medical grounds was illegal
- between 100,000 and 200,000 illegal abortions were performed each year with around 35,000 women admitted into hospital with complications

Steel led the campaign - permitted the termination of a pregnancy within first 28 weeks of - consent of 2 doctors

• no. of abortions increased from 4% of live births in 1968 to 17.6% in 1975