Lesson 15

A Sixties Social Revolution? British Society, 1959-1975

How did Wilson reinvent

Labour government?
LO: To explain the role played
by technology in Wilson’s vision
of a new Britain
Read the manifesto you have been given and report back on what the party stands for
1. What can we learn from these election
results?

Election results
Labour Conservative Liberal Others
by year

1964 317 304 9 0

1966 363 253 12 2

1970 287 330 6 7

a. ________________________________
b. ________________________________
c. ________________________________
 Modernisation and Reform
Labour was returned to office
on a platform of modernisation
and reform. The party's 1964
manifesto, The New Britain,
focused on the need for
economic and social
transformation. The period was
one of openness and social
liberalism, with the legalisation
of many taboo practices such as
divorce, homosexuality and
abortion, and the ending of
capital punishment.

However, the failure of the

government to devalue the
pound until 1967 is believed to
have restricted the level of
economic growth and the new
Department for Economic
Affairs never succeeded in
implementing its National Plan.

The party's majority was increased to 97 in 1966, when Wilson went to the country asking for a mandate to
finish the job. With this endorsement, he was able to implement reforms on a range of issues including steel
nationalisation and the development of comprehensive education.
Against pollsters' predictions, Labour lost the 1970 General Election to the Conservatives under Ted Heath, who
in 1971 fulfilled his ambition to take Britain into the Common Market. However, far from delivering his promise
to 'cut prices at a stroke', Heath's term saw rising inflation and unemployment, and an energy crisis leading to
industrial action and the three-day week.
 Despite Wilson’s faith in science, the new government was not helped by its own lack of
expertise. Roy Jenkins, the first Minister of Aviation, later admitted he didn’t understand his
briefings. Frank Cousins, a Union man had little expertise in technological development. When
Benn took over the department improved, but Anthony Crosland revealed a lack of enthusiasm
when he referred to “ a dreary discussion on computers”. Research and development was costly
and Britain could not compete with the USA. Benn’s lament followed the Plowden Committee’s
proposal to buy American planes and scrap the TRS2 project.

2. How are these 3. What do they

two statements reveal about
different? The scientific revolution cannot become government
a reality unless we are prepared to make attitudes to
far-reaching changes in the … attitudes modernisation?
which permeate our whole system of
society. The Britain that is going to be
forged in the white heat of this
revolution will be no place … for outdated
methods.

Defence, colour television, Concorde,

rocket development – these are all
issues raising economic
considerations that reveal this
country’s basic inability to stay in
the big league. We just can’t afford
it.
4. How did Wilson “sell” devaluation to the
British public?
5. How convincing are his arguments?
6. Why did the issue cause so much trouble
for the government?

Our decision to devalue attacks our problem

at the root. Tonight we must face the new
situation. First what this means. From now the
pound abroad is worth 14 per cent or so less
in terms of other currencies. That does not
mean, of course, that the pound here in
Britain, in your pocket or purse or in your
bank, has been devalued. What it does mean is
that we shall now be able to sell more goods
abroad on a competitive basis. This is a
tremendous opportunity for all our exporters,
and for many who have not yet started to sell
their goods overseas. But it will also mean
that the goods that we buy from abroad will
be dearer, and so for many of these goods it
will be cheaper to buy British.
Who am I? game

Wirral Grammar School, Oxford. Labour leader from 1963. Tried to link
Harold Wilson
socialism with technological advance.

Working class trade unionist. In Shadow Cabinet but defeated by Wilson in

George Brown
63 leadership election. Economic Affairs, 1964. Foreign Secretary, 1966

Nicknamed Sunny Jim. Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1964 to 1967

James Callaghan
during balance of payments deficit and speculative attacks on the pound.

Labour cabinet minister, “In place of Strife” white paper on industrial

Barbara Castle
relations split the government

Tony Crosland Member of the Labour Party, Social theorist, Foreign Secretary

Grammar school educated, Defence Secretary and later Chancellor who

Denis Healey
applied for IMF loan

Home Secretary responsible for substantial legal changes including

Roy Jenkins
censorship, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment

Trade Union leader and Labour Politician, General Secretary of TGWU,

Frank Cousins
Minister of Technology
Labour former Peer- gave it up to remain in the House of Commons, As
Tony Benn Minister of Technology was responsible for integrating scientific advances
into government policy
PM who took Britain into the EEC,
Edward Heath
Record marred by Trade Union Strife

Ran the televised Election
campaigns in 1959

Labour former Peer- gave it
up to remain in the House of
Commons

As Minister of Technology
was responsible for
integrating scientific advances
into government policy

Trade Union leader and
Labour Party cabinet minister

Challenged Wilson for
leadership- and lost

Heavy drinker

First non- Aristocratic Tory
leader

PM who took Britain into the
EEC

Keen yachtsman- beaten to
BBC Sports Personality Of
The Year award

Record marred by Trade
Union Strife

Labour Prime Minister during
social reform era

Proposed “White Heat” – age
of scientific progress

“Pound in your Pocket”
speech left him discredited

Labour Home Secretary

Believed in “Civilised
Society”

Responsible for substantial
legal changes including
censorship, divorce,
homosexuality, abortion,
capital punishment

Founded SPD

Labour Prime Minister

Chancellor during devaluation
of pound

Nicknamed Sunny Jim

Defeated by Thatcher after
“Winter of discontent”
Key Profile: Activity 4
Key Profile:
Born/Died Born/Died
Role Role
Party Party
Beliefs Beliefs

Actions/Policies Actions/Policies

Key Profile: Key Profile:

Born/Died Born/Died
Role Role
Party Party
Beliefs Beliefs

Actions/Policies Actions/Policies
List the positive and negative changes that
came about in the Wilson era
 List the positive and negative changes that
came about in the Wilson era
There were constant crises and many of Labour’s plans had to be abandoned because of the economic
situation. E.g. prescription charges were abolished from February 1965 but were reintroduced early in
1968 as part of the emergency measures. But there were some constructive achievements.

Introduction of rent rebates and votes at 18 Balance of Payments deficit, humiliation of

Abolition of the death penalty devaluation

Race Relations Act 1968 meant that
immigrants were able to work
Comprehensive education, Open University
Living Standards continued to rise- more TVs,
washing machines and fridges
Failure to reform the trade unions- economy
damaged by strikes, climb down over “In Place
of Strife”
Violence in Northern Ireland
Rhodesia situation handled sensitively by
Wilson, but no solution reached
“Wilson’s governments of 1964-
1970 were failures.”
Explain why you agree or disagree with
this statement