Politics in the 1970's

Winter of discontent 

This was when various strikes took place due to the labour government , the unemployment rate was high and the trade unions and public sector were demanding pay rises. The strikes were due to the labour government attempt to control inflation.

The weather turned very cold in the early months of 1979 with blizzards and deep snow, the coldest since 1962–63, rendering some jobs impossible, reducing retail spending and worsening the economy.


The photo shows the strike by council employees in 1979 London. 

This shows that the government effected the economy in the 1970's with inflation at a high rate and the economy at it's worst state.










This then led to necessary public services also striking effecting not only the public but the Health service of the UK.

This forced Callaghan to hold a General Election that May. Margaret Thatcher's Tories gained 63 seats while Labour lost 51, leaving the Conservatives in power with a majority of 44 - the third time in the 1970s that power had changed hands. This was not a trend that would continue, however; Thatcher made herself quite at home in Downing Street, and was not to leave for some 11 years.