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The sixties: Wilson & Labour governments 1964-70 - Coggle Diagram
The sixties: Wilson & Labour governments 1964-70
Wilson’s ideology & leadership
He was viewed as a moderniser and down to earth.
He was not always on the left of the party as he supported Britain's nuclear deterrent and attempted to reform trade unions.
Labour prime minister 1964-1970
The first PM educated at a state school.
In private he was anxious and insecure about his leadership.
Economic policies & devaluation
The economy was trapped in a cycle of 'stop-go' economics in 1964.
Labour inherited a deficit of £800 million.
Modernisation of the economy was a key priority as Britain was lagging behind other countries, like Japan and West Germany.
The Department of Economic Affairs was set up and led by George Brown but his economic proposals came to nothing.
Prices and incomes policy was introduced to reduce inflation but there was a sterling crisis in 1966. - largely caused by a long seamen strike.
The Labour government survived sterling crises of 1956 and 1966 but in 1967 an outbreak of war in the Middle East affected oil supplies and a major national dock strike in 1967 affected the balance of payments.
The policy of devaluation could not be avoided and the £ dropped by 14%. Labour also made defence cuts and increased interest rate.
However, the economy improved with Roy Jenkins as Chancellor who raised taxes and tightened government spending which made the government unpopular but by 1967 Jenkins has achieved a balance of payments surplus yet by 1970 inflation was still at 12%.
Industrial relations
Lots of 'wildcat' strikes
by local activists which demonstrated old-style union Bosses were losing control.
1969, In place of strife
- Barbra Castle introduced a 28 day 'cooling off' period before a strike went ahead . The unions and left of the Labour Party hated this.
In 1966, industrial relations with trade unions began to deteriorate - strikes by the dockers and seamen caused economic problems for the government,
In 1964, Wilson made trade unionist Frank cousins minister of technology.
Domestic policies
Research & development was costly and whilst Britain pursued some projects like the Concorde plane, it could not compete with the USA.
Wilson wanted to emphasise technology and science in modernising Britain's economy but this was not overly successful.
All of Labour's domestic policies were overshadowed buy the economic problems.
Labour divisions
Wilson feared Brown, Callaghan or Jenkins might challenge his leadership. - personal rivalries in the party.
Brown was hugely resentful he lost the leadership election to Wilson.
Party tensions over Clause 4.
Wilson's modernisation did somewhat united the party.
During the 1966 seaman's strike, Kenkins tried get the Barnet to support devaluation. Wilson interpreted this as a plot to replace him, which it likely wasn't.
Conservative win - 1970 election
Concern that the post-war consensus was not working meat the the conservative's new ideas gained support.
Enoch Powell's, 1968 'rivers of blood' speech warned against further immigration, which likely gained the conservatives more votes.
Jenkins was credited with achieving economic stability and Wilson was more experienced and popular than Conservative leader Heath so many were shocked by the Labour defeat.
End of post-war consensus
Britain's economic problems were not solved by census policies.
Trade unions were more uncooperative, forcing even the left to they and reform industrial relations.
By 1970 there were signs that the post-war consensus was breaking down.
Social problems and poverty had not ended.
The left of the Labour Party were dissatisfied by moderate consensus Labour policies.
Northern Ireland ' troubles'
In 1964, the cicil rights movement in Northern Ireland started to challenge discrimination towards catholics in housing, electoral boundaries etc. tensions rose as unionist feared the IRA would start new campaign.
Loyalists paramilitary organisations were created to defend the union between Britain and Northern Ireland.
1968, civil rights marches were held to protest against catholic discrimination but they were attacked by loyalists.
1969, The loyalist annual march in Derry was attacked by nationalists and there was 2 days of rioting and the Irish police were brutal towards catholics. Riots then spread to other towns and cities.
In August 1969 Wilson sent British army troops in an attempt to keep the peace.