Labour and Tory gov
Wilson
RANKING Successful NOT successful Justification of position …
Race relations Many new arrivals from the Many new arrivals from the
Common wealth settled in working Common wealth settled in
class areas. working class areas.
Immigration was often unpopular Immigration was often
with Labour voters in inner-city unpopular with Labour voters
in inner-city areas.
areas.
Racial prejudice and also fear
Racial prejudice and also fear that that competition for jobs
competition for jobs would mean would mean lower wages.
lower wages. Gov tightened rules on
Gov tightened rules on immigration on 1965 and
immigration on 1965 and 1968. 1968.
Education In 1965, Anthony Crosland, This system lead to bitter
policy the education secretary, controversy in many areas
began the process of replacing where grammar schools had
the system with new been seen as offering
comprehensive schools for opportunities usually open to
children of all abilities. those who attended
1963 Robbins Report - called for a independent schools.
major expansion of university
education to produce sufficiently
educated workforce to compete in
the modern world.
Labour gov with its faith in
technological and scientific
advance maintained its
commitment.
Major change - introduction of the
Open University which offered
adults the chance to work for a
degree on a part-time basis.
Foreign and Vietnam war Vietnam war
colonial issues April 1965 - Wilson told the These actions irritated Johnson
Commons that ‘we have made without satisfying the Left.
it absolutely plain our support South Rhodesia
of the American stand against Wilson’s tactics were
the communist infiltration in extremely risky but there was
South Vietnam.’ no easy solution to the
But to appease the left, he refused problem which wasn’t settled
Johnson’s request to send British until 1980.
troops and in June 1966 he publicly The common market
criticised heavy US bombing of He failed in entering the EEC
North Vietnam.
In 1967, attempted to broker a
peace deal.
Left saw US policy as
aggressive
South Rhodesia
Wilson attempted to balance
different sections of opinion in
his handling of the illegal
declaration of independence in
November 1965.
Labour Left and commonwealth
countries of Black Africa wanted
the gov to send troops to crush the
rebellion.
Instead, the gov used economic
sanctions to try to end it but it soon
became clear that these weren’t
working.
Wilson proposed a settlement that
would have left Smith in power,
provided that majority rule was
introduced at some time in the
future.
Wilson’s offer to Smith risked
inflaming left-wing opinion in
Britain, the unity of the Labour
party and the future of Britain’s
multi-racial Commonwealth.
Smith’s refusal allowed Wilson to
, maintain his stance as an opponent
of the rebellion who had
nevertheless striven to find a
peaceful solution.
The common market (Europe)
Wilson believed he could
persuade de Gaulle who had
refused Britain’s application in
1963 to change his mind.
Wilson did succeed in
maintaining cabinet and party
unity over Europe.
Management Wilson showed considerable, However, there were bitter
of cabinet political skill in avoiding splits quarrels over policy and
on foreign issues and had conflicts between
used his cabinet effectively to personalities.
pass major modernising social Cabinet in-fighting reached a
policy. peak in 1969 when the gov
He was anxious to avoid the tried to reform industrial
internal divisions that had relations.
weakened the party in the
1950s and hoped to achieve
this by giving ministerial jobs
to senior party figures from all
shades of opinion not just his
associated and supporters.
There were only 4 cabinet
resignations during the life of
the Labour gov, a record
similar to Macmillan’s.
Industrial In place of strife 1969 - In place of strife failed
relations Employees would have a legal because of: unions hated it as
right to join a trade union. they believed that it reduced
The gov could order a ballot to union power, More than 50
be held before a strike if it Labour MPs rebelled when ‘In
believed there was a serious Place of Strife’ was debated in
threat to the national interest. the House of Commons.
In an unofficial dispute, the Resistance within the party,
gov could order a return to the TUC and even the cabinet
work for a 28 day ‘cooling off’ forced Wilson to back down.
period. The failure of ‘In place of
Disputes between unions strife’ contributed to the fall of
would be referred to as the Labour gov in 1970 and
industrial commission whose convinced many outside the
decision would be legally Labour movement not only
binding. that the trade unions had too
There would be financial much power but that their
penalties if the commission resistance to change was a
was not obeyed. major obstacle to economic
Workers who were unfairly progress.
dismissed would be entitled to Traditional industries declined
compensation or to get their and white collar employment
jobs back. grew, some of the largest and
most powerful Unions lost
members.
Increase in membership of
unions representing workers in
the expanding public sector of
the gov administration, health
and teaching but this wasn’t
matched by the private sector
where many employers
discouraged union
membership.
The economy Autumn 1964 - Chancellor of payments deficit of £800
the exchequer Jim Callaghan million.
negotiated foreign loans to Believed to be a symptom of
prevent a run on the pound Britain’s lack of
and introduced a series of competitiveness which could
deflationary measures which only be solved by producing
included higher taxes on goods that were better and/or
tobacco and alcohol and a cheaper than foreign products.
temporary import sub charge. Had to take into account the
Created new ministry - the demands of the trade unions:
Department of Economic The Labour party was allied to
Affairs (DEA) to devise a plan the trade unions who provided
to modernise and improve most of its money.
Britain’s economy. In the 1960s, almost half of
National plan 1965 - - An the British workforce belonged
annual growth rate of 3.8% to a trade union.
over 6 years, An increase in National plan failed: treasury
exports of 5.25% each year to guarded its role as the gov’s
wipe out the balance of economics ministry and didn’t
Wilson
RANKING Successful NOT successful Justification of position …
Race relations Many new arrivals from the Many new arrivals from the
Common wealth settled in working Common wealth settled in
class areas. working class areas.
Immigration was often unpopular Immigration was often
with Labour voters in inner-city unpopular with Labour voters
in inner-city areas.
areas.
Racial prejudice and also fear
Racial prejudice and also fear that that competition for jobs
competition for jobs would mean would mean lower wages.
lower wages. Gov tightened rules on
Gov tightened rules on immigration on 1965 and
immigration on 1965 and 1968. 1968.
Education In 1965, Anthony Crosland, This system lead to bitter
policy the education secretary, controversy in many areas
began the process of replacing where grammar schools had
the system with new been seen as offering
comprehensive schools for opportunities usually open to
children of all abilities. those who attended
1963 Robbins Report - called for a independent schools.
major expansion of university
education to produce sufficiently
educated workforce to compete in
the modern world.
Labour gov with its faith in
technological and scientific
advance maintained its
commitment.
Major change - introduction of the
Open University which offered
adults the chance to work for a
degree on a part-time basis.
Foreign and Vietnam war Vietnam war
colonial issues April 1965 - Wilson told the These actions irritated Johnson
Commons that ‘we have made without satisfying the Left.
it absolutely plain our support South Rhodesia
of the American stand against Wilson’s tactics were
the communist infiltration in extremely risky but there was
South Vietnam.’ no easy solution to the
But to appease the left, he refused problem which wasn’t settled
Johnson’s request to send British until 1980.
troops and in June 1966 he publicly The common market
criticised heavy US bombing of He failed in entering the EEC
North Vietnam.
In 1967, attempted to broker a
peace deal.
Left saw US policy as
aggressive
South Rhodesia
Wilson attempted to balance
different sections of opinion in
his handling of the illegal
declaration of independence in
November 1965.
Labour Left and commonwealth
countries of Black Africa wanted
the gov to send troops to crush the
rebellion.
Instead, the gov used economic
sanctions to try to end it but it soon
became clear that these weren’t
working.
Wilson proposed a settlement that
would have left Smith in power,
provided that majority rule was
introduced at some time in the
future.
Wilson’s offer to Smith risked
inflaming left-wing opinion in
Britain, the unity of the Labour
party and the future of Britain’s
multi-racial Commonwealth.
Smith’s refusal allowed Wilson to
, maintain his stance as an opponent
of the rebellion who had
nevertheless striven to find a
peaceful solution.
The common market (Europe)
Wilson believed he could
persuade de Gaulle who had
refused Britain’s application in
1963 to change his mind.
Wilson did succeed in
maintaining cabinet and party
unity over Europe.
Management Wilson showed considerable, However, there were bitter
of cabinet political skill in avoiding splits quarrels over policy and
on foreign issues and had conflicts between
used his cabinet effectively to personalities.
pass major modernising social Cabinet in-fighting reached a
policy. peak in 1969 when the gov
He was anxious to avoid the tried to reform industrial
internal divisions that had relations.
weakened the party in the
1950s and hoped to achieve
this by giving ministerial jobs
to senior party figures from all
shades of opinion not just his
associated and supporters.
There were only 4 cabinet
resignations during the life of
the Labour gov, a record
similar to Macmillan’s.
Industrial In place of strife 1969 - In place of strife failed
relations Employees would have a legal because of: unions hated it as
right to join a trade union. they believed that it reduced
The gov could order a ballot to union power, More than 50
be held before a strike if it Labour MPs rebelled when ‘In
believed there was a serious Place of Strife’ was debated in
threat to the national interest. the House of Commons.
In an unofficial dispute, the Resistance within the party,
gov could order a return to the TUC and even the cabinet
work for a 28 day ‘cooling off’ forced Wilson to back down.
period. The failure of ‘In place of
Disputes between unions strife’ contributed to the fall of
would be referred to as the Labour gov in 1970 and
industrial commission whose convinced many outside the
decision would be legally Labour movement not only
binding. that the trade unions had too
There would be financial much power but that their
penalties if the commission resistance to change was a
was not obeyed. major obstacle to economic
Workers who were unfairly progress.
dismissed would be entitled to Traditional industries declined
compensation or to get their and white collar employment
jobs back. grew, some of the largest and
most powerful Unions lost
members.
Increase in membership of
unions representing workers in
the expanding public sector of
the gov administration, health
and teaching but this wasn’t
matched by the private sector
where many employers
discouraged union
membership.
The economy Autumn 1964 - Chancellor of payments deficit of £800
the exchequer Jim Callaghan million.
negotiated foreign loans to Believed to be a symptom of
prevent a run on the pound Britain’s lack of
and introduced a series of competitiveness which could
deflationary measures which only be solved by producing
included higher taxes on goods that were better and/or
tobacco and alcohol and a cheaper than foreign products.
temporary import sub charge. Had to take into account the
Created new ministry - the demands of the trade unions:
Department of Economic The Labour party was allied to
Affairs (DEA) to devise a plan the trade unions who provided
to modernise and improve most of its money.
Britain’s economy. In the 1960s, almost half of
National plan 1965 - - An the British workforce belonged
annual growth rate of 3.8% to a trade union.
over 6 years, An increase in National plan failed: treasury
exports of 5.25% each year to guarded its role as the gov’s
wipe out the balance of economics ministry and didn’t
