In Place of Strife
The day Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle briefed the Cabinet on the white paper to control the unions, cleverly titled "In Place of Strife" was the beginning of the end of the Premiership of Harold Wilson. It was a cold spring day, there was less than two years to go until the next general election. Many remember the 1st of May 1969 as the day that Labour re-invented itself.
Harold Wilson had long been tired of the problems the unions which had dogged his time in Downing Street; the worst had been the Seamen's strike in 1966 which had badly affected the Prime Minister's relations on maritime issues. He had long sought assistance and that came from his close ally and protege, the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity Barbara Castle. It was Castle's department that drew up the paper and the one that would cause the controversy and strife within the Government that unless for one woman, threatened to bring down the Labour Party. The entire crisis began on the 1st of May at the meeting where Wilson and Castle introduced the paper. Some supported it, others were in uproar. The opposition was led by the Home Secretary, Jim Callaghan who along with colleagues such as Fred Peart, Michael Stewart and Richard Crossman began a blitzed argument with Castle who was supported by the Prime Minister along with Roy Jenkins, Denis Healey and Ted Short. The meeting ended abruptly after a long shouting match when Jim Callaghan stormed out and tendered his resignation the same day and announced he would challenge for the Leadership of the Labour Party.
Immediately, the white paper already encountered it's first problem, a dissent by left-wing socialists led by Callaghan. The resignations followed when Peart and Crossman quit from their roles as Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Social Services the next day. Wilson would still not back down, he told Castle to keep the paper out of view to the House until he had resolved the leadership crisis, but facing a rebellion from the socialists, Harold Wilson resigned on the 6th of May 1969, he said he would stay until a successor could be elected and the successor would have a huge task.
- Extract from "In Place of Strife", a 2007 BBC documentary surrounding the Labour Government's of the 60's and 70's presented by Andrew Marr
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"It is clear now that I do not have the confidence of the left-wing elements of the Labour Party and with the crisis following the resignations of Jim Callaghan, Fred Peart and Richard Crossman, I have informed Her Majesty that it is my intention to resign as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party pending the election of a successor. Thank you"
- Harold Wilson's brief statement outside Number 10, 6th May 1969
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The Candidates
"I'm standing for Leader of the Labour Party to restore confidence, stability and prudence to Government." - Chancellor of the Exchequer Roy Jenkins
"I intend to become Prime Minister to restore the true values of the Labour Party to the champion of working class people" - Former Home Secretary Jim Callaghan
"I'm standing up for the unions and for the industries of Britain against the top bureaucratic levels with this crisis." - Minister of Power Roy Mason
"I am running for Leader of the Party because I feel I can offer consenus and understanding between the warring wings of the party" Minister of Technology Tony Benn
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Labour Leadership Election, 1969
First Ballot Result - 11th May 1969
Roy Jenkins - 137
James Callaghan - 120
Tony Benn - 69
Roy Mason - 38
Turnout: 364
Result: No candidate has gained an absolute majority so the lowest ranking candidate, Roy Mason has been eliminated. A second ballot shall be held on the 18th May.
"In the interest of party unity, I will be withdrawing and supporting Roy Jenkins" - Tony Benn, 12th May 1969
Labour Leadership Election, 1969
Second Ballot Result - 18th May 1969
Roy Jenkins - 203
Jim Callaghan - 161
Result: Roy Jenkins has gained a majority of support and therefore Roy Jenkins is duly elected Leader of the Labour Party
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Roy Jenkins entering 10 Downing Street as the new Prime Minister, 18th May 1969
Roy Jenkins was elected to the Labour Leadership because he was seen as a safe pair of hands, his policies at the Treasury had pleased the left-wing while his defence of Barbara Castle's white paper had pleased those tired of union dominance in the party. Many looked forward to his reign but they all knew that tough times lay ahead and it would be wise for him to take extreme caution in how he would handle the economy. That evening, Jenkins made his first appointment, that of the person to replace him as Chancellor. Peter Shore, the previous Secretary of State for Economic Affairs was a clear choice and one that ensured continuity and strength at the Treasury. John Diamond was promoted from Chief Secretary to the Treasury to President of the Board of Trade with Bill Rodgers becoming Chief Secretary. The new Prime Minister abolished the DEA and gave the responsibilities over to the Treasury making Shore head of the most powerful department in Cabinet.
Barbara Castle's promotion to the Home Office was well deserved and her reputation as Labour's sharp tongued battleaxe saw her face of many critics, she replaced the Acting Home Secretary Lord Stonham who remained as Minister of State. Michael Stewart remained in post as Foreign Secretary to appease the Callaghan wing while Crossman and Peart were offered the minor posts of Arts and Technology Minister's but both declined. Tony Benn was promoted to replace Barbara Castle at Employment. In his first Cabinet, Prime Minister Jenkins had shown he was willing to press ahead with his own choices and not to bend backwards to the left-wingers. A disgruntled and embarrassed James Callaghan stayed on the backbenches
- Extract from "In Place of Strife", a 2007 BBC documentary surrounding the Labour Government's of the 60's and 70's presented by Andrew Marr
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