Other Domestic Policies (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Other Domestic Policies
Housing policy
Wilson's government pursued ambitious housing targets influenced by technological optimism and the need to address urban overcrowding. Like other policy areas, these aims were partially undermined by the persistent economic pressure on the pound and difficulties in achieving stated goals.
Tower blocks
The Labour government maintained the existing trend of constructing high-rise tower blocks as a solution to housing shortages. These buildings offered several practical advantages:
Why Tower Blocks Were Popular in the 1960s
Tower blocks appealed to planners and governments for several key reasons:
- They were relatively cheap to build, making them economically attractive during times of financial constraint
- They helped contain urban sprawl by building upwards rather than outwards, preserving green spaces
- They aligned with modernist architectural ideas that were fashionable in the 1960s
- They could house many families quickly, addressing urgent housing shortages
Many council tenants moved into flats in these new developments, initially welcoming the modern amenities and space.
The Ronan Point Disaster (1968)
A gas explosion in this Newham tower block caused one corner of the building to collapse, killing four people. This catastrophic incident:
- Exposed inadequate construction methods used in tower block building
- Severely damaged public confidence in the safety of high-rise housing
- Prompted improvements in building legislation
- Led to stricter safety standards for tower block construction
This single event fundamentally changed attitudes toward high-rise housing in Britain and marked a turning point in housing policy.
New towns
Wilson's housing ambitions extended beyond tower blocks to encompass entire new settlements. The concept itself was not novel: Letchworth (founded 1905) and Welwyn Garden City (founded 1920) were established as the first two garden cities before Wilson came to power.
Attlee's government had passed the New Towns Act in 1946, which established fourteen towns specifically designed to relieve population pressure in congested regions.
Under Labour, additional new towns were developed. Milton Keynes emerged as the most successful of these ventures. Built to incorporate offices on the outskirts (reducing congestion in the centre) and shopping facilities in a pseudo-American style, Milton Keynes marketed itself as a leafy, green utopia.
Milton Keynes: Success or Suburban Compromise?
Historian Sandbrook offers a critical perspective on Milton Keynes, arguing that rather than representing a genuinely new mode of urban living, it actually "marked the triumph of suburbia." This suggests that despite its innovative design and modern planning, Milton Keynes ultimately replicated familiar suburban patterns rather than creating the revolutionary new urban environment its planners had envisioned.
Education: the Open University
Of all the reforms and new legislation introduced by Wilson's government, he wanted the Open University (OU) to be his most remembered achievement. First proposed in 1963 under the name "University of the Air," Wilson envisioned the OU as providing "a second chance to those who can profit from it, but who have been, for one reason or another, unable to go to a University or a College on leaving school."
The path to establishing the OU proved difficult. Wilson faced opposition from Tony Crosland, his Education Minister, who considered the project a waste of money. The white paper received criticism from the Times Educational Supplement for being impractical.
Overcoming Opposition
Despite significant obstacles, Wilson persevered in securing funding for his vision:
- Callaghan had to set aside sufficient money for the initiative
- The 1966 white paper faced hostility but ultimately succeeded
- Wilson's personal commitment to the project helped overcome institutional resistance
The OU received its Royal Charter in July 1969, with its headquarters in Milton Keynes. The first undergraduates were admitted two years later in 1971. This institution provided distance learning opportunities for mature students and those unable to attend traditional universities, representing a democratisation of higher education access.
Labour divisions
Wilson's leadership victory over Brown and Callaghan, followed by his election success, introduced fresh divisions within the Labour Party. The split was not straightforward left versus right, nor simply between Bevan and Gaitskell's followers, but rather a manufactured contest between Brown and Callaghan, orchestrated by Wilson himself.
Wilson's Strategy of "Creative Tension"
By appointing Brown as head of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and Callaghan as Chancellor, Wilson positioned his two rivals against each other. This was a deliberate political manoeuvre designed to:
- Prevent either rival from accumulating too much power
- Keep potential challengers focused on competing with each other
- Maintain Wilson's own position as the indispensable mediator
In his autobiography, Callaghan observed that despite his supposed support for establishing the DEA, the three men struggled to agree on a workable formula for conducting day-to-day business. Brown and Callaghan held different priorities, and although Wilson, as Prime Minister, theoretically held final authority, this decision-making often proved time-consuming. Beneath a surface appearance of civility, Callaghan found working with Brown tiresome. Though they eventually reached an understanding, Wilson's strategy of generating "creative tension" did not sit well with his Chancellor.
The Jenkins-Callaghan Rivalry
Wilson's cabinet faced further internal strain from division between Jenkins and Callaghan. Neither man particularly liked the other:
- Jenkins considered Callaghan a "bully"
- Callaghan thought Jenkins "arrogant"
Their mutual dislike played into Wilson's hands by keeping two potential leadership challengers competing with each other rather than united against him. During discussions over In Place of Strife, both men were considered possible successors to Wilson, but Jenkins's lack of support for Callaghan prevented him from taking a stronger position for fear of strengthening his rival.
Wilson successfully exploited these antagonisms between his cabinet ministers to maintain his position as leader. They recognised he was politically slippery but feared a rival seizing power more than they disliked Wilson's leadership style, so they tolerated the existing arrangement.
The beginnings of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland
A deeply divided province
The Government of Ireland Act (1920) formally recognised the six counties that would constitute Northern Ireland (NI). The remainder of the island stayed within the UK initially, but the Irish War of Independence resulted in the Irish Free State being established instead in 1922.
Northern Ireland was predominantly Protestant, with a minority of Catholics, whilst the south was mainly Catholic.
Understanding the Complexity of the Conflict
Although it would be overly simplistic to attribute the outbreak of the "Troubles" in NI solely to religious differences, it would equally be incorrect to claim that religion played no part.
The religious labels served as an outward manifestation of a deeper clash of identities—Irish or British. This distinction is crucial for understanding the conflict:
- Religion was a marker of identity rather than the sole cause of conflict
- The underlying tension was between Irish and British identities
- Political, social, and economic factors all contributed to the violence
The political, social, and economic tensions between these communities would escalate into violent conflict during the late 1960s under Wilson's government, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of unrest that would dominate British politics for decades.
Key Points to Remember:
- Wilson's housing policy centred on tower blocks and new towns, but the Ronan Point disaster (1968) exposed construction flaws and forced safety improvements
- Milton Keynes became the most successful new town despite Sandbrook's argument that it represented suburban triumph rather than genuine urban innovation
- The Open University (1969) was Wilson's proudest achievement, providing distance learning access to those previously excluded from higher education
- Wilson deliberately fostered rivalries between Brown-Callaghan and Jenkins-Callaghan to maintain his leadership position and prevent cabinet unity against him
- The beginnings of the Troubles in Northern Ireland stemmed from deep religious and identity divisions between the Protestant majority and Catholic minority in the province