Changes

Although the United States and Britain have shared a "special relationship" in foreign relations since 1940, this link was weakened during the 1960s by several factors: differing foreign policy aims, varying national and international security ideas, and unfriendly personal relations between President [[Lyndon Johnson]] and Wilson. The relationship did not improve until the 1970s.  

Although the United States and Britain have shared a "special relationship" in foreign relations since 1940, this link was weakened during the 1960s by several factors: differing foreign policy aims, varying national and international security ideas, and unfriendly personal relations between President [[Lyndon Johnson]] and Wilson. The relationship did not improve until the 1970s.  

In 1965, Johnson proposed that the United States prop up Britain's pound sterling. In return he sought from Wilson's government such measures as support of deflationary policies and of American policies in the Vietnam War (he did not seek soldiers from britain). The initiative failed to materialize. Wilson defenders say the United States reneged after Wilson fended off American efforts to compromise Britain's sovereignty. Americans believe the change in US policy stemmed from new perceptions in the Johnson administration on Labour Party misrule in Britain. Americans concluded it was a mistake to indulge Britain in light of the Wilson government's unsatisfactory positions on Vietnam, its smaller contributions to European defense, its international monetary ideas, and its Middle Eastern policies.<ref> John Dumbrell, "The Johnson Administration and the British Labour Government: Vietnam, the Pound and East of Suez" ''Journal of American Studies'' 1996 30(2): 211-231. </ref>  

In 1965, Johnson proposed that the United States prop up Britain's pound sterling. In return he sought from Wilson's government such measures as support of deflationary policies and of American policies in the Vietnam War (he did not seek soldiers from britain)<ref>[The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007- Chris Rowe: Page 80]</ref>. The initiative failed to materialize. Wilson defenders say the United States reneged after Wilson fended off American efforts to compromise Britain's sovereignty. Americans believe the change in US policy stemmed from new perceptions in the Johnson administration on Labour Party misrule in Britain. Americans concluded it was a mistake to indulge Britain in light of the Wilson government's unsatisfactory positions on Vietnam, its smaller contributions to European defense, its international monetary ideas, and its Middle Eastern policies.<ref> John Dumbrell, "The Johnson Administration and the British Labour Government: Vietnam, the Pound and East of Suez" ''Journal of American Studies'' 1996 30(2): 211-231. </ref>

 

===Economy===

===Economy===

Much of the disillusionment with Wilson was due to his perceived failure on the economic front. He pledged not to devalue sterling, but did exactly that in 1967. He also promised to keep unemployment low, but by 1970 had accepted a higher rate of joblessness than the Conservatives had endorsed. Wilson failed to implement two radical election pledges: to produce a comprehensive state earnings-related pension scheme and to introduce the 'income guarantee' - a minimum benefit to be paid without recourse to the traditional means test.  

Much of the disillusionment with Wilson was due to his perceived failure on the economic front. He pledged not to devalue sterling, but did exactly that in 1967. He also promised to keep unemployment low, but by 1970 had accepted a higher rate of joblessness than the Conservatives had endorsed. Wilson failed to implement two radical election pledges: to produce a comprehensive state earnings-related pension scheme and to introduce the 'income guarantee' - a minimum benefit to be paid without recourse to the traditional means test.