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Y113: Britain 1930–1997

Labour and Conservative governments 1964–1979: Heath’s government and Wilson and Callaghan 1974–1979

  • 1 thing to know
  • Unit group 1

Overview

Recall questions on Heath’s 1970 victory, Selsdon, the Industrial Relations Act, the U-turn and miners’ strikes, the Social Contract, the IMF crisis, survival without a majority, devolution and the Winter of Discontent.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Who and when

Why did the government impose a flat pay limit in 1975?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why did Heath win the 1970 election when most observers expected Labour to hold on?

    Model answer

    Labour led in the polls but bad trade figures shortly before polling day revived doubts about the economy, rising prices hurt the government, Labour supporters were complacent and did not turn out, and Heath's steady promise of competent change was enough for a majority of about thirty.

  2. 2

    What did the Selsdon Park meeting of 1970 signal about Heath's aims?

    Model answer

    It pointed to a freer market: lower taxes, less state intervention and no rescue of failing firms, tighter law on industrial relations and curbs on public spending, which Wilson caricatured as the return of a primitive Selsdon Man.

  3. 3

    What did the Industrial Relations Act of 1971 do, and how did the unions respond?

    Model answer

    It set up a National Industrial Relations Court, required unions to register to keep legal protections, and allowed cooling-off periods and ballots; the TUC told affiliates not to register, and the jailing of five dockers in 1972 provoked such a crisis that they were quickly released.

  4. 4

    Explain what is meant by Heath's U-turn.

    Model answer

    Having promised no support for lame ducks, his government nationalised Rolls-Royce in 1971, rescued Upper Clyde Shipbuilders after the work-in, took powers to subsidise industry in the 1972 Industry Act, and in late 1972 imposed the statutory prices and incomes policy he had rejected.

  5. 5

    Why was the 1972 miners' strike such a defeat for the government?

    Model answer

    It was the first national miners' strike since 1926 and flying pickets closed the Saltley coke depot, so power supplies failed and a state of emergency was declared; the Wilberforce inquiry then granted a large pay rise, showing that a determined union could beat an elected government.

  6. 6

    How did the miners bring down Heath's government in 1974?

    Model answer

    Their overtime ban from November 1973 coincided with the oil crisis, so coal stocks fell and Heath put industry on a three-day week from January; he called a February election asking who governs Britain, and although the Conservatives polled slightly more votes they lost their majority and Wilson returned.

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