Elections 1974

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  • Elections 1974
    • Feb 1974 Election
      • In conclusive & led to hung parliament as Labour only won by 4 seats
        • Lab 301 seats
        • Cons 297 seats
      • hung parliament = not conclusive that W would lead the next govt.
        • i.e. Libs could join with Tories to keep Heath in power
      • interestingly, increased number of seats in nationalist parties from Scotland / Wales / NI
        • Heath could have continued as PM with their coalition
          • however, Powell had joined the Unionists, so not prepared to support Heath
      • for a few days Heath attempted to make a deal with the Libs but failed & on March 4th 1974, W. was back in power
    • Wilson's Aims Feb - Oct
      • W doesn't make a deal with the Libs, instead ruled without majority believing there would be another election soon
      • W abolished the Industrial Relations Act & pay board
        • a message to the unions that W was not looking for any confrontation
      • W's new chancellor, Dennis Healey, issued two budgets, March/July aiming to deal with the economic crisis without annoying the TUs
    • Oct 1974 Election
      • by Oct 1974 W felt safe enough to call another election to gain a working majority
      • voters still associated heath & Cons. with strikes & 3 day week
      • W only just won his working majority by 3 seats, but lead over Cons was 42
    • What happened to Ted Heath?
      • Heath had lost 3/4 elections as party leader
        • 1966, Feb 1974 & Oct 1974
      • he was seen as a failure by many in his party
      • Thatcher challenged him to become party leader 18th sept 1975
        • she won the first round of voting unexpectedly by 130 to   119 votes
          • Heath resigned

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