Labour Government 1974-1979
| Wilson ministries | |
|---|---|
|
|
Wilson (1974)
|
|
| Date formed |
|
| Date dissolved |
|
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Head of government | Harold Wilson |
| Head of government's history | 1974–1976 |
| Deputy head of government | |
| Member party | Labour Party |
| Status in legislature |
|
| Opposition cabinet | |
| Opposition party | Conservative Party |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election(s) | |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | Heath ministry |
| Successor | Callaghan ministry |
| Callaghan ministry | |
|---|---|
| 1976–1979 | |
Callaghan (1977)
|
|
| Date formed | 5 April 1976 |
| Date dissolved | 4 May 1979 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Head of government | James Callaghan |
| Deputy head of government | |
| Member party | Labour Party |
| Status in legislature |
|
| Opposition cabinet | Thatcher Shadow Cabinet |
| Opposition party | Conservative Party |
| Opposition leader | Margaret Thatcher |
| History | |
| Outgoing election | 1979 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | Fourth Wilson ministry |
| Successor | First Thatcher ministry |
The Labour Party governed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1974-1979. Harold Wilson and James Callaghan were appointed as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom respectively by Queen Elizabeth II. The end of the Callaghan ministry was marked by the Winter of Discontent, a period of serious industrial discontent. This was followed by the election of Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher in 1979.
Historian Kenneth O. Morgan states:
The government consisted of three ministries: the third Wilson ministry, the fourth Wilson ministry, and then the Callaghan ministry.
After the February 1974 general election, no party had a majority of seats. The incumbent Conservative Party won the popular vote, but Labour took a plurality of seats. Edward Heath, the Conservative Prime Minister, attempted to negotiate a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party, but resigned as Prime Minister after failing in this regard. The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, then established a minority government, which took office on 4 March 1974.
It was recognised that this had no long-term stability, and that another general election was likely within a few months. Wilson called for another general election for 10 October, and resulted in a narrow victory for the Labour Party with a majority of three seats.
The economy was in recession by the time of the first general election, but economic growth was re-established by 1976, although inflation which had run into double digits before Labour came to power was now above 20%. It would remain high for the rest of this ministry, rarely falling below 10%. Unemployment was now well in excess of 1,000,000 people, whereas it had been less than 600,000 at the start of the decade. This was the result of the economic decline, as well as advancing engineering techniques which required fewer personnel, along with other factors including the closure of unprofitable factories and coalmines.
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