News in 1975

EEC referendum 

Wilson tells the House of Commons that a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Economic Community (the "Common Market")) will take place no later than the end of June.

Government's proposed amendment to restore a £13-a-week earnings rule for pensioners is rejected.

Thatcher elected leader of the Conservative Party 

Following Edward Heath's withdrawal from the leadership contest on 4 February, Margaret Thatcher is elected the first woman to head a major British political party.

British mineworkers' leaders accept the Coal Board's latest pay offer of up to 35%.

Broadcasting in Parliament 

The Commons votes in favour of having its proceedings broadcast. The experiment is being restricted to sound broadcasting. 

Moorgate Tube crash

A London Underground train crash at Moorgate kills 43. The train ploughs into a cul-de-sac tunnel. Verdicts of accidental deaths are recorded on all victims in an inquest on April 4. The cause of the crash remains a mystery.

Former KGB chief granted visa 

Mr Alexander Shelepin, former chief of the KGB, is granted a visa to visit Britain as part of a delegation of Soviet trade unionists.

The Prime Minister announces to the Commons that the Government is to recommend a yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on Common Market membership.

Saudi's King Faisal assassinated 

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia dies after being shot at point blank range by his nephew Prince Faisal Ibu Musaed during a royal audience.

Members of the extreme right-wing UK party march through north London in protest against integration with Europe. 

Healey presents his budget  

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dennis Healey, increases taxation by £1,251 million in his latest Budget.

President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam resigns from office.  In a TV and radio address, the outgoing President says his forces had failed to stop the advance of the Vietcong because of lack of funds promised to him by America.

British Embassy in Saigon closed 

The Foreign Secretary, Jim Callaghan, orders the evacuation of all remaining officials from Saigon and the closure of the British Embassy in the South Vietnamese capital.

The Labour Party opposes Britain's continued membership of the Common Market by almost 2 votes to 1.

Vietnam war ends 

The government in Saigon announces its unconditional surrender to the Vietcong, thereby ending the war in Vietnam. President Duong Van Minh, who has been in office for just three days, asks his forces to lay down their arms and calls on the Vietcong to halt all hostilities. 

The failure of a large temporary pipe installed as a rush job is found to be the cause of the disaster on 1 June 1974.

Journalists leave fallen Saigon 

Eighty journalists are the first Westerners to leave Saigon since its fall to communist forces. The city had been the headquarters of the US military until 29 April when remaining US forces left Vietnam.

The BBC and Independent Radio News transmit the first live radio broadcast of the House of Commons proceedings. 

Suez Canal reopens

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat re-opens the Suez Canal to all but Israeli shipping – it had been closed for 8 years since the Six Day War of June 1967.

 Britain's continued membership of the European Economic Community is confirmed when just over 67% of voters backs the Labour government's campaign to stay in the Common Market. 

MP's financial interests 

The Commons approves a motion to establish a compulsory register of MPs' financial interests.

An inquest jury at Westminster Coroner's Court names Lord Lucan as the murderer of Sandra Rivett, the 29-year-old nanny of the earl's three children.

Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon 

American tennis player Arthur Ashe makes history by becoming the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles championship.

The Cabinet announces to the Commons a proposed pay increase of £24 a week for MPs.

Government takes over British Leyland 

The British Government takes control of the failing company, the only major British-owned car company at the time.

The Labour constituency of Walsall North passes a resolution not to re-adopt John Stonehouse MP as their candidate and decides to 'sever forthwith' all connections with the disgraced MP.

Demonstrators stop Test match 

The England-Australia third test is abandoned after campaigners calling for the release of robber George Davis vandalise the pitch at Headingley cricket ground.

The State funeral for the former President of the Irish Republic, Eamon de Valera, is conducted in Latin and Irish.

London Hilton bombed 

Two people are killed and 63 injured when a suspected IRA bomb explodes in the lobby of the London Hilton Hotel in Park Lane.  

 

Three West Indian gunmen give themselves up to police after releasing the last of their hostages from the cellar of the Spaghetti House restaurant in Knightsbridge, London. The crisis begins on 28 September when the three men attempt to steal the week's takings. 

Man killed in Green Park bomb explosion 

A bomb explosion at a bus stop close to Green Park tube station kills one man and injures 18 others.

The heir designate, Prince Carlos of Spain, is to take over as provisional head of state after General Franco steps down as a result of his continuing illness.

North Sea oil begins to flow 

The Queen formally inaugurates the UK's first oil pipeline by pushing a gold-plated button at BP's control centre at Dyce near Aberdeen to set the oil flowing.

Angola gains its independence from Portugal. The leader of one of the country's rival factions, Dr Agostinho Neto, of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), is the country's first president.

General Franco dies 

General Francisco Franco, whose dictatorship of Spain lasted 39 years, dies at the age of 82.  

Ross McWhirter shot dead by IRA

Guinness Book of Records co-founder and well-known author and TV presenter, Ross McWhirter, is shot dead outside his North London home. The IRA is believed to be behind the attack. McWhirter had previously offered a reward of £50,000 for information leading to the arrest of IRA bombers.

Balcombe Street siege ends 

Three armed IRA men release their two hostages and give themselves up to police following a six day siege at a flat in Balcombe Street, central London. They are accused of killing Ross McWhirter, and also of carrying out attacks on London restaurants, the Hilton hotel and the Army public house at Caterham in Surrey.

The new Acts have been introduced to coincide with the end of the International Women's Year. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has been set up, and under the Act it has a duty to promote equality of the sexes.