Permanent historical factsheet

Social Contract

Great Britain · Government / Labour Party Government. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

31Records
1974–1979Date range
6Named people
2Places

Chronological records

1974

Harold Wilson4 March 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Wilson forms a Labour government committed to a Social Contract with the trade unions.

Harold Wilson4 March 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Returns to office promising a different relationship with organised labour.

Michael Mackintosh Foot5 March 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Begins implementing Labour's industrial relations programme with trade union support.

Denis Winston Healey26 March 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey frames his first Budget around inflation, subsidies and cooperation with unions.

Michael Mackintosh Foot31 July 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Helps deliver the Health and Safety at Work Act during the Social Contract period.

Michael Mackintosh Foot31 July 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Uses workplace safety reform to show the social side of Labour's union bargain.

Harold Wilson10 October 1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Wins the October election while relying on continued union cooperation.

Denis Winston Healey1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey works with trade unions under Labour's Social Contract approach to pay and inflation.

Shirley Williams1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Works on prices policy as Labour balances pay restraint with consumer protection.

Harold Wilson1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

The government relies on the Social Contract with the TUC to link wage restraint with social reform.

Harold Wilson1974

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Presents the Social Contract as a partnership between government and organised labour.

1975

Denis Winston Healey15 April 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey uses the Budget to support anti-inflation policy within the Social Contract framework.

Michael Mackintosh Foot28 April 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Presents the Employment Protection Bill as part of Labour's industrial relations programme.

Denis Winston Healey11 July 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey backs the six pounds weekly pay limit as part of the anti-inflation package.

Harold Wilson11 July 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Announces the Attack on Inflation programme tied to the Social Contract.

Michael Mackintosh Foot23 July 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Defends pay-control legislation while stressing union consultation.

Michael Mackintosh Foot12 November 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Delivers employment rights legislation promised through the Social Contract.

Harold Wilson12 November 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Employment Protection Act 1975 receives Royal Assent as a major employment rights measure of the Social Contract period.

Harold Wilson12 November 1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Sees the Employment Protection Act receive Royal Assent.

Harold Wilson1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Wilson links pay restraint with social benefits and subsidies under the Social Contract.

Harold Wilson1975

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Balances wage restraint with subsidies, employment rights and trade union legislation.

1976

Harold Wilson16 March 1976

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Announces his resignation with the Social Contract already under pressure.

James Callaghan5 April 1976

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Inherits the Social Contract after becoming Prime Minister.

Denis Winston Healey5 May 1976

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey works with the TUC on the second phase of pay restraint.

James Callaghan28 September 1976

Blackpool · Government / Labour Party Government

Tells Labour that spending cannot simply buy full employment.

Denis Winston Healey29 September 1976

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey faces the IMF crisis while defending continued pay discipline.

Albert Booth1976

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Takes employment responsibility as the pay-restraint bargain becomes harder to maintain.

1977

Denis Winston Healey15 July 1977

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Healey moves toward a third phase of incomes policy.

James Callaghan1977

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Attempts to renew the Social Contract after the IMF crisis.

1978

James Callaghan21 July 1978

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Backs the five percent pay guideline that strains the union bargain.

1979

James Callaghan1979

London · Government / Labour Party Government

Sees the Social Contract collapse amid the Winter of Discontent.

Names involved

Albert BoothDenis Winston HealeyHarold WilsonJames CallaghanMichael Mackintosh FootShirley Williams

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.