Abstract
This chapter considers the record on defence and foreign affairs of James Callaghan’s government of 1976–79, arguing for a positive but not complaisant view of its policies and the government’s achievements. The contour lines around the major external and defence questions of the era were contested, and yet in the end their shape was settled with a broad consensus. Matters generally remained as they had been when Labour held office previously (under Clement Attlee, 1945–51, and Harold Wilson, 1964–70 and 1974–76).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | James Callaghan |
| Subtitle of host publication | An Underrated Prime Minister? |
| Editors | Jasper Miles, Kevin Hickson |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Biteback |
| Chapter | 14 |
| Pages | 235-258 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781785906343 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781785906336 |
| Publication status | Published - 03 Nov 2020 |
Keywords
- Prime Minister James Callaghan
- British politics
- Labour Party
- Defence policy
- Foreign policy
- NATO
- British nuclear weapons
- Cold War
- Falkland Islands
- British Army
- Royal Navy
- Royal Air Force
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Denis Healey
- Roy Mason
- Rhodesia
- Lord David Owen
- Trident C-5 missile
- President Jimmy Carter