Word: votes
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...historic vote leads to a most important campaign...
...motion put before Parliament by the Tories was simple and straightforward: 'That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty's government." By a margin of a single vote, the Commons agreed. Thus last week, in one of the most dramatic episodes in Britain's recent political history, the Labor government of Prime Minister James Callaghan went down to defeat, thereby forcing an early election. The last such sacking took place 55 years ago, when Britain's first Labor government, led by Ramsay MacDonald, lost a similar vote of confidence...
...immediate cause of Callaghan's crisis came on March 1, when the referendum in Scotland and Wales fell short of the 40% approval by the total electorate required for the government's home rule, or devolution, bills. The eleven members of the Scottish National Party, whose votes had been essential to the survival of Callaghan's minority government,* nevertheless insisted that the government go ahead with legislation for Scottish home rule. When Callaghan demurred and asked for an all-party conference instead, the Nationalists angrily withdrew their support and demanded a no-confidence vote. Sensing victory...
...Mother of Parliaments, last week's vote was a moment of almost unparalleled suspense. The dimly lit House overflowed as members crowded every inch of the green-padded benches or sat informally on the floor. In the galleries, peers from the House of Lords stood jammed together like asparagus stalks, while Tory wives watched like Upstairs, Downstairs'aristocracy, waiting for the vote that might cast them and their husbands once again into the front ranks. In the seven-hour debate that preceded the motion, Thatcher led off with a crisp but low-keyed assault on Callaghan for mismanaging...
Behind the scenes, Laborites were trying desperately to woo minor party M.P.s whose votes might keep the government in office. Suddenly, money was found for Welsh quarrymen suffering from silicosis where none had existed before; almost as suddenly three Welsh Nationalists decided to stay with the government. Labor's tactics prompted an outcry about "sordid haggling," although the Tories were engaged in some backstairs dealing of their own. Having won over the Welsh, Callaghan and his lieutenants turned their attention to three of the twelve members from Ulster; most of the others were Protestant Unionists considered certain to vote...