An analysis of the winter of our discontent

After a Royal Commission investigation of the rebellion and its aftermath, Eyre was removed from his post and recalled by the Colonial Office.

Background[ edit ] Britain's economy during the s was so weak that Labour minister James Callaghan warned his fellow Cabinet members in of the possibility of "a breakdown of democracy", telling them: By March Labour had become a minority government after several by-election defeats, and from March to August Callaghan governed by an agreement with the Liberal Party through the Lib—Lab pact.

Callaghan had considered calling an election in the autumn of[4] but ultimately decided that imminent tax cuts, and a possible economic upturn incould favour his party at the polls by calling one later.

Although published opinion polls suggested that he might win, [5] private polls commissioned by the Labour Party from MORI had suggested the two main parties had much the same level of support. A series of industrial disputes in the winter of —79, dubbed the " Winter of Discontent ", led to widespread strikes across the country and seriously hurt Labour's standings in the polls.

When the Scottish National Party SNP withdrew support for the Scotland Acta vote of no confidence was held and passed by one vote on 28 Marchforcing Callaghan to call a general election.

As the previous election had been held in OctoberLabour could have held on until the autumn of if it had not been for the lost confidence vote.

Margaret Thatcher had won her party's leadership election over former leader Edward Heath.

David Steel had replaced Jeremy Thorpe as leader of the Liberal Party inafter allegations of homosexuality and conspiracy to murder his former lover forced Thorpe to resign. The Thorpe affair led to a fall in the Liberal vote after what was thought to be a breakthrough in the February election.

Campaign[ edit ] This was the first election since to feature three new leaders for the main political parties. The three main parties all advocated cutting income tax. Thatcher used the tactics that had defeated her other male opponents: In an early campaign broadcast, Callaghan asked: Callaghan presented four priorities: Conservatives[ edit ] The Conservatives campaigned on economic issues, pledging to control inflation and to reduce the increasing power of the trade unions who supported mass strikes.

The Conservative campaign was focused on gaining support from traditional Labour voters who had never voted Conservative before, first-time voters, and people who had voted Liberal in She explicitly asked Labour voters for their support when she launched her campaign in Cardiffclaiming that Labour was now extreme.

Her strategy was to undermine the Front narrative by acknowledging that many of their voters had serious concerns in need of addressing. In JanuaryThatcher criticised Labour immigration policy with the goal of attracting voters away from the Front and to the Conservatives.

Critics on the left reacted in accusing her of pandering to racism. The Conservative victory in also marked a change in government which would continue for 18 years, including the entire s, until the Labour victory of The Liberals had a disappointing election; their scandal-hit former leader Jeremy Thorpe lost his seat in North Devon to the Conservatives.JANUARY.

January 31, “We too have our thaws. They come to our January moods, when our ice cracks, and our sluices break loose.

Thought that was frozen up under stern experience gushes forth in feeling and expression. Richard III's rise to power is made possible by his ruthless assassination of his friends, his enemies, and even his wife.

His defeat at the Battle of Bosworth comprises much of the action in the. Executive Summary. In its 10th annual survey of American public opinion, conducted in May and June of , Education Next finds that the demise of school reform has been greatly exaggerated.

Public support remains as high as ever for federally mandated testing, charter schools, tax credits to support private school choice, merit pay for teachers, and teacher tenure reform. The Anatomy Of A Disaster An Analysis of Two Halifax Explosion Blast Cloud Photographs by Joel Zemel Project research by Joel Zemel and Pierre Richard.

ABOUT US. Independence delivers objective insights and clear results. JWS Research is an independent, privately owned research firm with experienced professionals who are truly passionate about delivering strategic advice based on insightful and timely research.

Complete summary of William Shakespeare's Richard III. eNotes plot summaries cover all the significant action of Richard III.