Wilson’s ideology and leadership
what were Wilson’s main aims?
what were Wilson’s main qualities/methods as a leader?
‘Troubles’ in the Northern Ireland
between whom the conflict erupted? Why? How Wilson approached it?
The record of Wilson’s government 1964-1970
how successful war the Labour government?
(finish)
2.2 Economic policies and problems
Economic difficulties
What were the economic difficulties and what caused them?
How Labour government began to deal with the problems? To what extent was it
successful?
Relations with trade unions
How Labour government began to dealt with the problems with trade unions after
1966? How Wilson reacted to unions’ discontent?
Why Labour decided to devaluate the pound? Why they had not done it before?
How it affected the government?
why was this legislation introduced? What were its effects?
2.3 Liberal reforming legislation
Essay question: ‘The social policies followed by the Labour government of 1964 and 1969 created the
permissive society.’ How far do you agree?
How progressive were the Labour government’s social reforms?
how important was Jenkin’s contribution to the liberalisation of Britain?
Key Questions: what were the reasons, terms and results of the ...? How it echoed
public opinions?
o The end of the capital Punishment (1965)
o the Divorce Reform (1969)
o the Abortion Act (1967)?
, o the Sexual Offences Act (1967)
o the Educational Reform?
2.4 Social and cultural change
Essay Question: ‘The extent of the permissiveness of society was still limited by 1970’. Explain why
you agree or disagree with this view
Essay Question: How permissive was the society in the sixties?
Essay Question: To what extent did women’s lives change in the period 1964 to 1970?
Key Questions: what were the main social development in the period?
what were the main scientific development?
how the censorship was relaxed? Who was against this? What were the effects?
how new technology influenced leisure activities?
how were developments in the media connected with technological advances/social
change? How they affected people?
to what extent did the live of a woman change?
what defined the youth culture?
what were the main issues that evoked protests?
Race Relations
Key question: did the race relations improve in the years 1964-1970?
2.5 Foreign Affairs
Relations with the USA
what put American-British relationships under the strain?
Relations with Europe
what made Britain apply for EEC one more time?
Decolonisation – withdrawal from ‘East of Suez’
Southern Rhodesia
, why a peaceful transition in Rhodesia from a colony to an independence did not
happen? How Labour tried to deal with this?
what were the consequences for Labour government?
2.1
Wilson and the Labour governments
Wilson’s ideology and leadership
Key Question: what were Wilson’s main aims?
‘white heat’ of technological change – moderniser (compared to outdated Conservatives)
Support for Britain’s nuclear deterrent
Attempts to reform trade unions
-> did not succeed and was seen as a climbdown
Key Question: what were Wilson’s main qualities/methods as a leader?
Close to people – educated at a secondary school
‘kitchen cabinet’ - relied on a personal team of advisors that distanced him from the
Cabinet. Was especially close with Maria Willians, his ‘personal political secretary’
-> prevented ministers from accessing him
Was paranoid about rivalries – his more powerful cabinet colleagues (Callaghan, Jenkins)
‘Troubles’ in the Northern Ireland
Key Questions: between whom the conflict erupted? Why? How Wilson approached it?
Loyalists (Protestants)
- Majority of the Norther Ireland
Republicans (Catholics)
- Minority in the NI
- Were discriminated by Loyalists (in work places)
-> Loyalist feared that IRA (Irish Republican Army, formed of Catholics) would launch a new campaign
for independence of Ireland
… Loyalist set up a paramilitary state
… 1968 – Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) was formed to protect Catholics
-> NICRA was attacked by Loyalists, and RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary) failed to protect them
… 1969 – Wilson sent British troop, which at first were welcomed by Catholics. However, violence on
behalf of Loyalist erupted and Catholics began to see British troops favouring Loyalists.
,The record of Wilson’s government 1964-1970
Key Question: how successful war the Labour government?
Negatives:
-> not lived up to expectations: no promised modernisation
-> criticism from traditional Labour supporters, who felt that it was becoming more like the
Conservatives (eg. In Place of Strife)
2.2
Economic problems
Economic difficulties
Key Question: What were the economic difficulties and what caused them?
-> spent too much on defence to
-> too little investment in industry
-> transition from an industrial economy to a post-industrial one
-> economy trapped into the cycle of ‘stop-go’
… ‘Britain, the sick man of Europe’ - Britain's growth rate did not match those of industrial economies
of Western Europe
Key Question: How Labour government began to deal with the problems? To what extent was it
successful?
Establishment of Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under Brown drew up a National Plan
-> aimed to increase industrial production and exports by encouraging co-operation between
government, employers and trade unions.
-> set up the system of economic planning councils
,Helped Labour in 1966 election (110 majority)
… electorate was impressed by the government modernising approach
Failed in 1967
… Wilson was concerned about keeping the party united and happy instead of appointing the best
people (Brown had problems with alcohol)
… no support for the government in The Treasury and The Bank of England - ‘old-fashioned’, ‘anti-
Labour’
Tensions with the trade unions
Key Question: How Labour government began to dealt with the problems after 1966? How Wilson
reacted to unions’ discontent?
Inflation and balance of payment – the major threats to the economic progress -> wage and salary
must be kept in check -> trade unions had to be more realistic in demanding wages and settlements
A Prices and Incomes Board was set up
-> regulated pay settlements
… disappointed the left
!!! Angered the trade unions, as they hoped Labour would bring them benefits
… Frank Cousins resigned from the government
… series of strikes over pay in 1966 and 1967 (the most disruptive – ‘wild cat’ strikes - the seamen’s and
the dockers’)
, Wilson saw strikes as a deliberate attack by a group of Marxist extremists on Britain’s industrial well-
being
Devaluation 1967
Key Questions: Why Labour decided to devaluate the pound? Why they had not done it before? How it
affected the government?
-> loan of 1 billion from the IMF (the International Monetary Fund)
… stop-gap that showed that the government was losing control over its finances
!!! … Blame on trade unions for damaging British economy at the moment it started to grow
‘In Place of Strife’
Key Questions: why was this legislation introduced? What were its effects?
1969 – A White Paper, introduced by Barbara Castle,
Aim: make trade unions accountable for the economic crisis
Strike ballots (elections by trade union members)
Employers were obliged to consult trade unions when major decisions were taken
28 days ‘cooling off’ period before a strike
-> such policy was unexpected from Labour
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