Election 1978-Double Harness

John Cole "As It Seemed To Me" 1995
Jim Callaghan was many things, hard-headed, stubborn and highly principled. Once he made a decision there was no force on earth or in heaven that would change his mind.

Stubbornism in politics is a double edged sword. It can act as a great force in moving forward or it can be a lethal weapon in the hands of one opponents as Norman Tebbit was to discover later

But it was Jim's principles combined with his stubborn nature and his undoubted love of his country that in my mind led to the events of October 1978"
 
THE DAILY MIRROR: 7th October 1978

COMMENT
Dear Mr Callaghan and Mr Steel

First of all many congratulations on forming a new government. We can appreciate how much stress both the Labour and Liberal parties have been under since the inconclusive results of 4 days ago.

To be able to come to an agreement and create a stable administration shows how mature both parties have been.

Right now this country faces a series of challenges the likes of which have not been seen since the second world war.

Then and now politicians put aside their ideological differences to work together for the greater good of the nation.

And the greater good of the nation must now be the priority of the new government.

From the violence in Northern Ireland to the economic weakness engulfing the country to the issues posed by the trade unions.

These issues need cool, calm collective action and not empty posturing.

We have seen already how the "Lib-Lab" pact helped stabilised the government and that gave us hope that collective working is the right way forward.

But this is a formal government and the rules are different. Any government must take strong decisive action and must do whatever is necessary to achieve consensus.

Yes, there will be differences and disagreements but one thing is clear. The alternative is a Conservative government which will destroy everything that we hold dear from the NHS to Welfare.

Our message to you is clear:

Please get it right.



james-callaghan-making-a-002.jpg
 
Thanks for the replies so far. I really appreciate them:)

I'll be taking this slowly and thoughtfully my pas threads have started well and have run out of steam very quickly :confused::mad:

With that in mind...


Partial Cabinet

Prime Minister-James Callaghan Labour
Deputy Prime Minister-David SteelLiberal
Liberal
Chancellor-Denis HealeyLabour
Chief Secretary to the Treasurey-John PardoeLiberal

Home Secretary-David PenhaligonLiberal
Foreign Secretary-Roy Jenkins

Trade and Industry Secretary-Tony BennLabour
Environment Secretary-Shirley Williams Labour

Northern Ireland Secretary-Merlyn ReesLabour
Welsh Secretary-John MorrisLabour

Scottish Secrtary-Alan Beith Liberal
Leader of the House Of Commons-David Owen

Leader of the Lords-Lord Fred Peart Labour
Deputy Leader of the Lords-Lord Jo Grimond Liberal

Chief Whip in the Commons-Roy Hattersley Labour
Employment Secretary-Michael Foot Labour
 
John Sergeant "Give Me Ten Seconds" 2000

"It would be a gross understatement to say that the Labour/Liberal coalition government that was formed in the autumn of 1978 had huge problems to deal with.

The economy was still weak but it wasn't critical. Denis Healey's stewardship of the treasury had led to considerable cuts in public expenditure but the signs were good.

The vexed issue of Europe was in many ways a boil on the face of the Labour governments but Roy Jenkins diplomacy as Foreign Secretary had not exactly lanced the boil but had certainly reduced it.

The Labour relationship with the Trade Unions had come under a lot of criticism and it was felt that a "friendly face" was needed to act as a strong link. Tony Benn was the choice. [/I]

Northern Ireland was still a major concern. Merlyn Rees had been on the whole largely respected for his efforts to bring some kind of agreement between the two sides. Mr Callaghan thought it wise to keep him at Stormont.

But for the government these stresses were added to by the fact the government was comprised of two parties which both had members who were opposed to the pact. Tony Benn was the most vocal.

It was perhaps because of this that the Prime Minister needed to ensure that the internal structure of the government didn't explode.

This was the task given to the Deputy Prime Minister David Steel and the Foreign Secretary Roy Jenkins.

Both were in may ways similar characters. Urbane and diplomatically minded, they shared a desire for getting things done. They also had an aversion to sticking to party dogma. Both men knew from the outset of the government that they had to ensure an "hands across the divide" mentality was fostered.

These personalities and these factors made that government one of the more interesting of modern times.
 
Tony Benn's Diaries 1995
"8th September 1978

First cabinet meeting after the election. I have to admit that it was the first time I had entered Downing Street with a feeling of sickness in my stomach.

In the anteroom all the Labour members were in once corner and all the Liberal members were in another corner like football teams.

Steel, Jenkins and Williams kept fluttering backwards and forwards between the groups shaking hands, laughing and slapping backs. I felt a cold disdain towards them.

In the cabinet room I sat next to Pardoe in the corner. Jim must have thought keep the awkward squad out of sight.

The cabinet started without any civil servants which was unusual. Jim firstly welcomed us to the new cabinet and then the smile vanished:

"Let me make this clear" said Jim

"I know full well that some of you didn't want this but the choice was and is clear. Either we stick together through this parliament or we see The Tories back in for a generation.

If anyone had has a problem with that then the exit is that way"

I have to say that Jim was being a bit of a bully there. He was making the options clear but pointing to the door was a bit too much.

With the servants in we started looking at the Queen's speech. The programme is so wishy-washy and divisive it was clear to me that we would have major problems.

This was not a Labour cabinet nor a Liberal cabinet. This was a Social Democratic cabinet. This election will go down in history as the day the Labour party started to die"
 
Wonder what kind of foreign policy this cabinet will inact.

Well here's a taster of that:

PARTIAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME IN THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

Counter-inflationary legislation including a freeze on pay rises between 3 and 5%

The creation of a National Oil Revenue Procurement Council to channel earnings from Britain's oil reserves into the country.

Devolution to Scotland and Wales which will give each country control over most powers except Taxation, Foreign and Defence policies which will be debated by Westminster.

Matters affecting England alone to be discussed by English MP's

Restart efforts to create closer co-operation between The UK and the Irish Republic.

Elections to the European Parliament.
 
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