British History - 70s
1970 Election
Wilson's loss can be attributed to several factors. First, Labour
supporters and the public had grown disillusioned with Wilson, who
failed to deliver his grandiose modernisation promises. Wilson's hostility
to the unions, his move to devalue the pound, his inability to negotiate
with Rhodesian PM Ian Smith, and his failure to get Britain into the EEC
contributed to this loss.
Labour unpopular with its own voters due to –
Castle’s White Paper
Young voters opposed Labour’s ‘Tory policies’ and turned to ‘direct
action’ –
Conservative policies would be best implemented by a Conservative
government i.e. cuts, credit squeeze and higher interest rates
Result
Conservatives 330 seats
Labour 287 seats
Heath
Brake from post-war con
When Heath took office, he intended to adopt a new style of government
by reducing government spending and cutting taxes. His economic
policies backfired, leading to an increase in council house rents, an
increase in inflation, and a decline in industrial production. In 1972,
Heath announced the government was returning to controlling incomes
and prices.
Poor relations with unions continued, and in 1971, Heath attempted to
restrict workers' rights to strike. The National Union of Miners (NUM)
won a huge wage increase in 1973 by striking, which was a huge defeat
for Heath.
, 3-day week 1973
Why it happened:
In the 1970s, the United Kingdom faced a combination of economic
challenges, including high inflation, rising oil prices due to the OPEC
oil embargo, and industrial strikes. To conserve energy and address
these issues, the government introduced the three-day workweek.
The primary objective was to reduce electricity consumption, as coal
supplies were limited due to the strikes and oil prices were soaring. By
limiting the number of working days, the government aimed to lower
energy usage and ease the strain on the energy infrastructure.
What happened:
During the three-day workweek, most non-essential industries and
services operated for only three days a week, typically from Monday to
Wednesday. This reduction in working days and hours aimed to spread
the available energy resources more evenly throughout the week.
Factories, offices, and other businesses adjusted their operations
accordingly. The reduced workweek allowed the government to conserve
energy and cope with the limited coal supplies, minimising the risk of
blackouts and disruptions to essential services.
Consequences of what happened:
Negative Economic impact: The reduction in working hours and
production had a negative impact on the economy. Many businesses
experienced decreased output and profitability due to the limited
operational time, which led to lower GDP growth.
Industrial unrest: The three-day workweek was introduced during a
period of intense labour disputes and strikes. While the intention was to
manage the energy crisis, the policy also exacerbated tensions between
the government, trade unions, and employers.
