Wilson Government 1964-70
- Created by: eleanorhayward
- Created on: 28-09-17 09:17
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- Wilson 1964-70
- Majority of only 4 seats in 1964, increased majority to 96 in 1966.
- Pressing foreign and colonial problems to deal with in 1964.
- Economic situation = serious.
- Showed that Wilson's leadership style had paid off.
- Labour won because they managed to appear purposeful and resolute.
- Promised to modernise society after "thirteen years of Tory misrule"
- SOCIAL REFORMS
- Changing attitudes.
- Increase in prosperity, people travelled more and reduced class divisions.
- More education and a higher standard of living.
- Youth culture, civil rights movement in U.S, brought demands for equality.
- Traditionalistsoutraged, 'permissive society' = CHANGING LAWS.
- SOCIAL REFORMS
- Promised to modernise society after "thirteen years of Tory misrule"
- Labour won because they managed to appear purposeful and resolute.
- RACE RELATIONS
- Immigrants from the C found low-paid jobs, PROBLEM for Labour party.
- Immigration = unpopular, racial prejudice.
- Fear that competition for jobs would result in lower wages.
- 1965 & 68 Race Relations Acts, attempted to tackle discrimination.
- BUT, enforcement methods were weak. Made it difficult to secure convictions.
- Immigration = unpopular, racial prejudice.
- Immigrants from the C found low-paid jobs, PROBLEM for Labour party.
- EDUCATION POLICY
- Existing system divided children on the basis of an 11+ exam.
- 1965 ANTHONY CROSSLAND, Ed secretary = C Schols. Led to controversy.
- Labour gov. maintained commitment of 63 Robbins Report.
- 1965 ANTHONY CROSSLAND, Ed secretary = C Schols. Led to controversy.
- Existing system divided children on the basis of an 11+ exam.
- VIETNAM WAR
- Wilson believed GB's economic recovery and security depended on alliance with U.S.
- "we have made absolutely plain our support of the American stand against the communist infiltration in SV"
- Told the commons this after Johnson committed troops to fight in Vietnam.
- BUT, refused Johnson's request to send British troops.
- June 1966, publicly criticised heavy bombing of NV.
- BUT, refused Johnson's request to send British troops.
- Told the commons this after Johnson committed troops to fight in Vietnam.
- "we have made absolutely plain our support of the American stand against the communist infiltration in SV"
- Wilson believed GB's economic recovery and security depended on alliance with U.S.
- SOUTHERN RHODESIA
- Labour left & countries of black Africa wanted Gov. to send troops to crush the rebellion.
- Instead, Gov. used economic sanctions to try and end it. DIDN'T WORK.
- Wilson tried PERSONAL DIPLOMACY. Proposed a settlement that would've left Smith in power.
- Offer to Smith risked inflaming LW opinion in GB and the unity of the Labour Gov.
- Wilson's tactics = risky. Problem not settled until 1980.
- Wilson tried PERSONAL DIPLOMACY. Proposed a settlement that would've left Smith in power.
- Instead, Gov. used economic sanctions to try and end it. DIDN'T WORK.
- Labour left & countries of black Africa wanted Gov. to send troops to crush the rebellion.
- THE COMMON MARKET
- Wilson believed he could persuade de Gaulle to change his mind = FAILED.
- Did succeed in maintaining cabinet and party unity over Europe.
- Wilson believed he could persuade de Gaulle to change his mind = FAILED.
- MANAGING OF THE LABOUR CABINET
- Wilson showed considerable political skill in avoiding splits on foreign issues.
- BARBARA CASTLE (Cabinet Minister)
- "We spend three quarters of our time in these personal pro and anti-intrigues instead of getting down to the real jobs".
- BARBARA CASTLE (Cabinet Minister)
- Wilson showed considerable political skill in avoiding splits on foreign issues.
- SUCCESS OF ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THIS GOV.?
- Ministers aware in the 50's economic performance was lagging behind.
- £800 million BoP deficit.
- Could only be solved by producing goods that were better/cheaper than foreign products.
- REQUIRED BRITISH FIRMS TO:
- Improve efficiency by investing in new tech and machinery.
- Gov. needed to maintain investment in nationalised industries.
- Ensure GB has a well trained workforce.
- Gov. needed to maintain investment in nationalised industries.
- Improve efficiency by investing in new tech and machinery.
- REQUIRED BRITISH FIRMS TO:
- Could only be solved by producing goods that were better/cheaper than foreign products.
- £800 million BoP deficit.
- In times of inflation, union leaders used the threat of strikes to demand wage increases.
- High labour costs made goods more expensive, contributed to BoP difficulties.
- Party HAD TO take account of demands of unions.
- Allied to unions, provided most of its money.
- In the 60's,almost half of the British workforce belonged to a union.
- Allied to unions, provided most of its money.
- Ministers aware in the 50's economic performance was lagging behind.
- THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THE WILSON GOV.
- If it failed to tackle the BoP deficit, would gain a reputation for economic incompetence.
- Would discourage foreign investment.
- DEFLATION
- Tax rises/cuts in Gov. expenditure.
- Take money out of consumers' pockets and reduce the spending power of industries and businesses.
- Reduced the import bill and decreased the gap between imports and exports.
- Take money out of consumers' pockets and reduce the spending power of industries and businesses.
- Tax rises/cuts in Gov. expenditure.
- DV 1967
- Would make BRITISH products cheaper, boosting exports.
- Could solve the BoP crisis BUT because GB relied on many imports = cost of living would rise.
- Would make BRITISH products cheaper, boosting exports.
- If it failed to tackle the BoP deficit, would gain a reputation for economic incompetence.
- 1964 CofE Callaghan negotiated foreign loans to prevent a run on the pound.
- In return for U.S. financial assistance, had to agree to maintain British far Eastern bases.
- Americans wanted continued British support in the region.
- In return for U.S. financial assistance, had to agree to maintain British far Eastern bases.
- THE NATIONAL PLAN, SEPT. 1965
- Wilson believed this could make British industry more competitive.
- Created the DEA to devise a plan to modernise and improve GB's economy.
- 2 TARGETS
- Annual growth rate of 3.8% over 6 years.
- Increase exports by 5.25% each year to wipe out the BoP deficit.
- DID contribute to the Labour victory in March 1966 election.
- Suggested the Gov. had a coherent vision for the future.
- "You know the Labour government works"
- Suggested the Gov. had a coherent vision for the future.
- Wilson believed this could make British industry more competitive.
- DV IN 1967.
- No other way out of its economic difficulties.
- Seamen strike in 66' damaged exports, poor trade figures threatened another run on the pound.
- SUCCESS?
- Didn't prevent cuts in spending.
- March 68', Jenkins delivered another hefty dose of deflation, increased taxation by $923 million.
- During 1969 there were signs of improvement.
- SUCCESS?
- Seamen strike in 66' damaged exports, poor trade figures threatened another run on the pound.
- No other way out of its economic difficulties.
- ECONOMIC RECORD OF THE LABOUR GOV.
- Rate of inflation hadn't been slowed, U higher in 1970 than in 64.
- By short term focus on the BoP and value of the sterling..
- The Labour Gov. was no more successful than the Tories had been in tackling the underlying weakness of the British economy.
- By short term focus on the BoP and value of the sterling..
- LACK OF INVESTMENT
- Encouraged the development of manufacturing sites in the SW.
- BUT sustained improvement in industrial productivity was undermined by the Gov.s deflationary policies.
- Encouraged the development of manufacturing sites in the SW.
- Rate of inflation hadn't been slowed, U higher in 1970 than in 64.
- IN PLACE OF STRIFE
- By 68, Wilson was worried by press criticism of his failure to tame the unions.
- In April, he asked BC to lead the Mo Employment and Productivity and reform IR.
- Employees would have a legal right to join a trade union
- There would be financial penalties if the commission wasn't obeyed.
- TUC and LW MP's incensed by it.
- Failure of it contributed to the fall of the Gov. in 1970.
- By 68, Wilson was worried by press criticism of his failure to tame the unions.
- WHY THE LABOUR PARTY LOST IN 1970
- Too many supporters didn't bother to vote.
- Membership of the party fell from 830,000 in 64 to 680,000 in 1970.
- Too much money spent on defence and not enough on welfare, education and economic regeneration.
- The WC had been made poorer by the Gov's policies.
- Too many supporters didn't bother to vote.
- Majority of only 4 seats in 1964, increased majority to 96 in 1966.
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