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Reasons for Conservative victory 1970 (Labour weaknesses (Divisions…
Reasons for Conservative victory 1970
Conservative strengths
Heath's leadership
not Tory public school elite - moderate, dynamic figure who did not tolerate old-fashoned, racist ideas
shown when he sacked RW Powell
for an anti-immigration speech from the shadow Cabinet 1968
highlighted labour's economic failings
Conservative policy proposals
industrial law relations reformed - strikes and inflationary pay settlements reduced
EEC now commonwealth less important - appealed to middle classes
price and income controls by govt. ended - popular with workers
Less state intervention in industry
less govt intervention in economy
pass legislation to deal with TU - people see Heath as capable following sacking of Powell
Labour weaknesses
Divisions
Voter complacency - many voters didn't bother as believed Labour would win
Membership fallen as more left-wing and out of touch with grass roots
e.g.
Failure of 'in place of Strife'
= no socialist policies
Highlights power and influence of TU's
floating voters view Labour as weak
failure of govt to improve, let alone transform, Britain's economic performance
Wilson's failure = Heath's gain
Foreign policy too supportive of USA, especially over Vietnam
too much spending on defence, too little on education, welfare and economic regeneration
maintaining £ value only benefit London and USA - made working class poorer
Left accused leaders of maintaining needs of finance sector at expense of ordinary people
Govt. tried to win support of young women with Equal pay act 1970 - politically motivated young people more likely to be demonstrating against vietnam than supporting labour
Wilson's Complacency
Assumed would win - had 51% approval rating in opinion polls (Heath = 28%)
confident in campaign - believed skills superior to Heath
poor trade figures published just before election dented Labour's claims of an improving economy
Economic problems
Unemployment grew to 200,000
Inflation = RPI of 33%
fall in employment in mining and manufacturing - 2 areas labour had been expected to defend the interests of working people
Wilson accused of lying when he said that the devaluation of £ 'wouldn't affect the £ in your pocket' 1967 as it led to costlier imports
Key factor
Labour bitterly divided over TU policy where as C's were being Heath's determination to modernise labour relations
For C's the TU issue gave them a cause
Mainly Labour failure than conservative win