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Labour government 1964-70 (STRENGTHS (Social reforms (increase in…
Labour government 1964-70
STRENGTHS
Social reforms
increase in prosperity reduced divisions between social classes
More education and higher standard of living
Roy Jenkins as home secretary undertook a policy of modernisation which led to domestic changes
Race relations act 1965 - discrimination illegal
abortion made legal 1967
Voting age 1969 moved to 18
1970 - Equal pay act
Race relations acts brought in to tackle tensions following the arrival of immigrants from the common wealth
immigration unpopular with labour voters in inner cities due to jobs
traditionalists outraged by these changes - felt some legislation encouraged promiscuity
Mary Whitehouse campaign - opposed excessive sex, violence and swearing on BBC - gained 400,000 supporters
Wilson
Presents Labour as modern and unified
Excellent parliamentary debtor + good press influence
promotes 'tech rev'
Education
Comprehensive system expanded
open uni
uni's increased following the advice of the
1963 Robbins Report on Higher education
Economic policy
Positive economic developments
balance of payments deficit improving by 1969 and the value of £ had been maintained to the benefit of Britain's important financial sector
Govt encouraged industrial dev e.g. in road transport
The significant amounts of achievements suggests that conservatives/Lib's wanted the same as Labour - Labour had only 4 MP's majority showing other parties must have had an input
Weaknesses
Divided in the party
The Vietnam war
verbally expressed support for USA but refused LBJ's request to send in troops
Left of party disliked diplomatic support = DIVISION + fall in membership
To appease left Wilson criticised heavy bombing of Vietnam in 1966, and attempted to broker a peace medal in 1967
Irritated LBJ and didn't go far enough to satisfy left
LEFT WING LABOUR:
Tony Benn (security of state for industry)
Michael Foot (dept. of education)
Southern Rhodesia
Labour Left and the commonwealth wanted Britain to send in troops to crush the rebellion for Southern Rhodesian independence
Govt used economic sanctions instead - failed
Wilson then attempted diplomatic negotiation, offering a settlement which would leave Smith (leader of rebellion) in power, with majority rule being later introduced
smith refused
Allowed Wilson to maintain his stance as an opponent of rebellion
The economy
Govt had to abandon several manifesto policies e.g. reintroducing free prescriptions and rising school leaving age
unemployment = 25mil by 1967
pound depreciated 1967 by 1967 the £ was worth $2.40
"Wont affect the value in your pocket" - (increased imports)
National plan achieved little in modernising and economic - "White Heat of New Tech" speech by Wilson
Failure to join EEC
means Britain still did not benefit from the rapidly growing trade in Europe
1967 - De Gaulle rejects EEC membeership
TUC pledge to monitor strikes - limited
Trade Unions
Wilson believed TU's = disrupting production and driving up costs = X imports
felt IR needed to be more strongly regulated to control wage-price spiral
TU's felt:
Britain's lack of comp is blamed on employers and govt investment policies, not employees
govt's attempts to limit wage = penalised low-wage workers
TU bargaining rights should be restricted by laws
marxist outlook by workers - see themselves as in control of Labour party
Block votes (TU's controlled votes) and 'closed shop' nature made it difficult for Labour to reform TU relations
wilson failed to befriend TU leaders
1967 - 'In place of Strife'
- Barbra Castle
require TU's to ballot members before strike
1st attempt to control unions - going against grassroots
TU's see this as betrayal - Conservative policies
TU's see elections of the
Trade disputes act 1926
which stopped unions from striking
so unpopular by Labour Left and TU's that it was abandoned
Affects image of labour being unified
Strikes caused major problems
seamen's strike 1966 damaged economy and led to devaluation
Economic growth hampered by high costs brought about by some TU's which encouraged overmanning in manufacturing industry
TU membership was actually falling due to the decline in traditional manufacturing
an end to closed shop
CONCLUSION
Wilson made Labour a party of government after a long period in opposition, and did modernise many aspects of Britain; but economic problems were harder to deal with, and the position of TU's remained an unresolved issue - UNTIL THATCHER