Britain in the 1960s: Descent from Power

Archive Report

Economic and Social Strains in Britain

The british labor party, meeting in annual conference at Scarborough for five days starting October 2, will have the doleful task of examining its own condition and that of Great Britain. Because Britain is currently top contender for the title of “sick man of Europe,” there will be heated debate over what treatments are needed to bring the invalid around. The symptoms are obvious: unemployment exceeding 560,000, the highest level in 27 years and still rising; a shaky balance-of-payments situation, with the United States standing by for another pound-propping operation; mounting talk of devaluation of the pound; and, finally, problems in Hong Kong, Aden and Rhodesia.

The Labor Government suffered a setback on Sept. 21 when it lost two by-elections ...

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