Modern Britain: positives and negatives of governments
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- Created on: 06-08-18 18:58
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- Modern Britain: positives and negatives of governments
- Churchill (1951-55)
- Positive
- Strengths at 1951 election
- Continued Keynesian policies and post-war consensus
- Denationalisa-tion of steel industry
- Built 300,000 homes per year (Macmillan as housing minister)
- Economic
- Men's wages going up
- Massive increases in private savings
- Boom in car and home ownership, as well as easy access to cheap mortgages
- Farmers did well economically
- New towns
- Increased consumerism (TVs, mod cons, etc. bought on hire purchase)
- 1954: Ended rationing
- 1954: Mining and Quarries Act
- Negative
- Better wartime PM than in peacetime
- He was old and frail, so wasn't able to be as actively involved in gov.
- Economic problems
- Huge wartime debt and defence commitments
- Balance of payments deficit
- Pro-war attitude - harsh handling of Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya and Malaya Emergency
- Controversial decision to keep Gaitskell's prescription charges
- Positive
- Eden (1955-57)
- Positive
- More PM than Churchill 1951-55
- Younger and good at getting people to like him
- Progressive ideas in domestic affairs
- Believed in property owning democracy and industrial partnership
- Reputation as man of principle and shrewd political calculation, esp. with foreign affairs
- Negative
- Suez Crisis
- Frail health
- Short-tempered
- Didn't care for domestic politics
- Positive
- Macmillan (1957-63)
- Positive
- V good at using media and appeared in control
- Continued special relationship and had good relationship with Eisenhower, helping Britain keep some of its great power status
- Butler as Home Secretary: Liberal approach to social affairs
- 1957: Homicide Act (end of death penalty)
- 1957: Wolfenden Commission (legalised homosexuali-ty)
- 1956: Clean Air Act
- Housing and Factory Acts improved living and working conditions
- Education
- Comprehens-ive school system
- Expansion of higher education
- Economic
- Age of Affluence
- Increased consumerism and personal wealth
- Wages rose and inflation stayed low
- Post-war boom
- Strong economic growth
- Housing policy
- 1957: Rent Act
- Gov provided health and other services
- More of society could buy more goods
- Decolonisa-tion was a success and had very little impact at home
- Social mobility
- Weakened class divisions
- Position of women progressed
- Beginning of multicultural society
- Negative
- Economy
- Although economy did grow fast, some of Macmillan's policies led to stop-go economics and inflation
- Macro-economic policy -> British economy declined in comparison to others
- Balance of payments deficit due to give-away budgets
- Big cuts to rail network
- Unemploym-ent increased
- Attempts to join EEC failed and EFTA didn't match up
- Unresolved foreign policy isssues
- 1963: Vassal Inquiry
- Kim Philby (spy)
- Argyll Divorce case
- 1963: Profumo Affair
- Night of the Long Knives
- Dependent on US for nukes
- Decolonisa-tion caused Britain to lose some of great power status
- Ongoing racism, inc. in some youth sub-cultures
- Economy
- Positive
- Home (1963-64)
- Positive
- Did better than expected
- Negative
- Criticism of election (reinforced 'Establishm-ent')
- Positive
- Wilson (1964-70)
- Positive
- Kept British troops out of Vietnam War while keeping good relations with US
- More youthful and a better campaigner
- United left and right with aim of technological modernisation
- Economic
- Jenkins achieved stability
- More personal wealth and mod cons
- Society
- End of capital punishment
- Divorce reform
- Legalisation of abortion
- Legalisation of homosexua-lity
- Improved race relations
- More free time -> leisure activities
- Improved gender equality
- Reduction in censorship
- 1967: Dangerous Drugs Act
- Educational reform: expansion of higher edu and Open Uni
- Scientific developments
- Negative
- Economic
- 1964: National Plan
- 1967: Devaluation
- Rising unemploy-ment
- Growing inflation
- Wage controls
- Bad relations with TUs
- 1967: rejected from EEC
- Criticised for spending too much time keeping party united
- 'Troubles'
- Powell's 'rivers of blood' speech was unpopular
- Immigration controls
- Retention of nukes
- Subservience to US in foreign policy
- Not enough change
- Some didn't like the 'permissive society'
- Increased independence from younger age -> increased rebellion?
- Opposition to Vietnam
- Still some racism
- Divisions over Europe
- Decolonisa-tion showed that Britain was no longer world power
- Rhodesia showed Wilson's imputence and inability to deal with foreign affairs
- Economic
- Positive
- Heath (1970-76)
- Positive
- Clear about his aims
- Not part of 'Establish-ment'
- 1973: Entry into EEC
- Negative
- Not very good with people
- Economic
- Barber's policies affected poorer workers
- Abandoned mixed economy
- Weakened Welfare State
- Undermined full employment
- Put economics before social improvement
- U-turn
- 1973: Oil Crisis
- Balance of payments crisis
- Rise in inflation and unemploy-ment ('stagflation')
- Value of sterling dropped
- Interest rate raised
- Record budget deficit
- Bad relations with TUs
- 1972 & 4: Miners' Strike and three-day week
- Lost 'Who governs Britain?' election
- 'Troubles'
- Conditions of EEC entry weren't favourable
- 1972-3: Local Government Act
- Positive
- Wilson (1974-76)
- Positive
- Better relations with TUs
- Kept Labour party united
- 1975: navigated referendum on Britain staying in EEC well -> 'yes'
- Permissive soiety
- Negative
- Economy
- Inherited bad economy
- Controversy over nationalisa-tion of industries
- Minority government
- Health concerns
- Social contract
- Economy
- Positive
- Callaghan (1976-79)
- Positive
- Much ministerial experience
- Good links with TUs
- Permissive society
- Economic improvement
- Unemploy-ment stabilised
- Inflation fell
- No of strikes fell
- Positive balance of payments
- Cut public spending to help end post-war consensus
- Negative
- Economy
- Inherited bad economy
- 1976: IMF crisis -> industrial unrest
- Rising unemploy-ment
- Winter of discontent -> looked like he didn't care
- Divisions in party
- Continued strikes and aggression from TUs
- Failure of devolution -> Scottish Nationalists didn't support Labour anymore
- 1979: vote of no confidence
- Economy
- Positive
- Thatcher (1979-90)
- Positive
- Economic
- At start, budgets gave people new kind of economic policy
- GDP increased by 1983
- Inflation decreased by 1983
- Refused to make a U-turn
- Falklands War didn't raise taxes and she linked war to tough economic reforms
- Tax cuts after last two budgets
- Some liked her tough and unchanging manner
- 'Right to Buy'
- 1982: Falklands War victory -> restored national pride and confidence in her and 'limited war'
- 'Looney Left' and Labour split increased her popularity in comparison
- Good at campaigning
- 1984: crushed Miners' Strike -> could close industries that weren't profiting country and reduce power of TUs
- Economic
- Negative
- Divisions in party
- Economic
- 1979 budget initially led to rise in inflation
- Unemploy-ment grew by 1983
- Extreme cuts in public spending were unpopular with some
- Country and party were very divided over her
- Riots bc of local conditions and increased unemploy-ment
- Some didn't like her tough and unchanging manner
- Bad relations with TUs and miners
- Struggled with supporting 'lame-duck' industries
- 1984: Miners' Strike made her look unfeeling to some people
- Positive
- Churchill (1951-55)
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