Edward Heath

Edward Heath

1. The "Quiet Revolution"

   • introduced free market policies by abolishing ; the NBPI and IRC
   • First budget by Anthony Barber
     • cutting corporation tax
     • ending provision of free milk to schoolchildren
     • cutting government subsidies for council housing rents
     • raising prescription charges
     • overall Barber managed to cut government spending

2. got rid of the quangos which were previously established by Labour

3. 1971

   • Barber Budget - big tax cuts and cuts in government spending
   • August - Industrial Relations Act becomes law
   • October - Heath wins the vote in House of Commons for entry into Europe
   • NUM begins over-time ban

4. 1972

   • NUM begins national strike
   • November - statuary wage and pay-freeze - return to prices and incomes policy

5. 1973

   • Britain joins EEC
   • October - Arab/Israeli War sparks oil crisis
   • November - Miners' begin second over-time ban

6. 1974

   • January - 3 day week to ration electricity
   • Feburary - Miners' strike and General Election
   • Wilson returns as Prime Minister - ends miners strike

7. negatives

   • abandoned his original economic policies and therefore gained a reputation for inconsistency and a lack of courage
   • union policies antogonised the unions, worsening industrial relations
   • between 1972 and 1974 heath had declared a state of emergency 5 times
     • public associated the government with crisis measures
   • Industrials Relations Act proved to be unenforceable
   • 1973 OPEC crisis quadrupled oil prices, limited amount of coal, created an energy crisis.
     • state of emergency
       • reducing the working week to 3 days
       • lowering the speed limit to 50 m.p.h
       • ending television broadcasts at 10:30pm
   • unemployment rose between 1970 and 1973
   • inflation rose throughout Heaths time as PM

8. increased government intervention

   • created public work schemes to create jobs in "special developed areas"
   • nationalised Rolls-Royce and Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
   • increased spending on pensions, NHS and Education - after the spending cuts by Barber