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Between 1970 and 1979 Britain was led by three prime ministers: Edward Heath (1970-74); Harold Wilson (1974-76); and James Callaghan (1976-79). The period was one of increasing unrest and discontent, as the economy continued to decline, and inflation seemed, at times, to be spiralling out of control. In December 1973, Heath introduced a three-day working week to attempt to restrict energy use during a period of acute power crisis (industrial output remained virtually unaffected). By the end of the summer of 1976, the economy had become so weakened that the Labour Government was forced to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund. This was accompanied by harsh conditions which included deep cuts in public spending. By August 1977, unemployment levels had surpassed 1,600,000.
Labour unrest reached a peak in the \'Winter of Discontent\' in 1978/9 when a number of key trade unions went on strike.
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