Harold Wilson 1964 - 1970

The Economy
1. Devaluation Crisis
  1. Since takeover in 1964, Britain had experienced huge trade deficit
    1. After repeated near-misses Wilson was forced to devalue the pound from $2.80 to $2.40 in November 1967
      1. Huge national embarrassment, but trade soon improves as UK exports are now cheaper
      2. October 1967 saw worst monthly trade deficit in British history
2. The Ministry of Technology
  1. In 1964 Wilson established the Department for Economic Affairs headed by George Brown in an attempt to encourage industrial and export led growth
  2. Attempts to encourage the 'White heat of technology'
3. Overall - The new DEA failed to make an impact, and inflation, trade deficit and continual EEC refusal emphasised poor economic performance throughout the 60s
4. De Gaulle continues to deny British entry into EEC in 1967
The 'Civilised Society'
1. Notable Social Reforms
  1. Capital Punishment abolished in 1969
  2. Sexual Offenses Bill 1967 legalises homosexuality
  3. Abortion Bill 1967 legalises abortion on medical grounds
  4. Theatres Act 1968 abolished stage censorship
  5. Race Relations Acts 1966 and 68 establishes Race Relations Board to investigate claims of discrimination
2. Masterminded by Roy Jenkins as Home Secretary
3. Education
  1. Tony Crosland establishes numerous polytechnics designed to promote technological learning while expands HE institutions such as University of Lancaster 1964
  2. Jennie Lee as Minister for Arts pioneers the Open University
4. Overall - Under Roy Jenkins, huge social liberation was achieved during the Wilson years, and is perhaps the most successful aspect of his time in Office
Election Victory
1. Wilson
  1. Successfully won election in 1964 due to outdated image of Conservatives under Douglas-Home
    1. Wilson often outwitted and outmanoeuvred Home in the Commons
      1. Wilson's middle-class roots and outlook seemed more in tune with the mood of the 'Swinging Sixties'
2. Conservative Failures
  1. Home was a weak and unenthusiastic leader, many Tory's thought Butler would have been better
    1. Tory failure to enter EEC in 1963 highlighted international weakness
  2. Unemployment reached 800,000 in 1963
  3. Scandals such as the 'Profumo Affair' in 1962
3. Overall - Similar to the 1945 election, Wilson and Labour were a charismatic alternative when rapid social changes were taking place in British society
Trade Unions and Race Relations
1. 'In Place of Strife' 1969
  1. Barbara Castle publishes a white paper called 'In Place of Strife' designed to curb Trade Union powers
    1. Wilson was convinced the Trade Unions needed to be tamed after Docker's Strike in 1967 caused a highly precarious situation with the balance of payments
    2. Union members now had to ballot and agree with a clear majority before industrial action could be called
      1. Left-wing of the party were hugely against the Paper, and it was eventually called off after Callaghan stressed the importance of Union support for the Labour Party
        Only a small agreement was eventually made with the Unions, and it was ultimately a highly embarrassing episode for Wilson
2. Overall - The Wilson years saw a growth in Union power, and the ultimately unsuccessful actions of 'In Place of Strife' proved to be a crippling humiliation for the Labour government
3. Race Relations and Immigration
  1. Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech provokes widespread fear over immigration and heightens racial tensions
  2. The Race Relations Acts of 1966 and 1968 attempted to control instances of discrimination, but there was still rising racial tensions throughout the 60s

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Harold Wilson 1964 - 1970

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