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The fall of the Macmillan government in 1963 has been summed up in the words of Chancellor Maudling to his successor
Jim Callaghan "Good luck old cock, sorry to leave it in such a mess".
1962 had seen Britain told in no uncertain terms by President Kennedy and his Defense Secretary that Britain would not be offered Polaris and all US warheads in Europe would receive electronic locks.
Public protests by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had reached new highs after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Macmillan like his predecessor Eden was in poor health. Why he decided to call a snap general election in 1963 has been debated ever since. Divisions in the government over the future of the nuclear deterrent and the mismanagenent of the economy seemed to drive Macmillan to reach for his old slogan "You never had it so good".
The dynamic and charismatic leader of the Labour Party Harold Wilson derided Supermac as a tired old man who had been humiliated at Nassau by the young, modern US President.
The Labour Party were returned to power with a majority of 32 seats.
Denis Healey its Defence Secretary announced a thorough review of Britain's defence policy. At its heart would be the high cost of nuclear weapons and related systems like the TSR2 bomber. But it would also ask if Britain still needed to maintain forces outside the NATO area.
By 1964 the Review had been completed.
From 1966 nuclear weapons would be phased out of RAF and BAOR and replaced by improved conventional weapons. BAOR would be increased to three full strength Armoured Divisions by 1970 while RAF Germany would receive much needed new combat aircraft.
At the same time UK forces would be withdrawn from East of Suez.
The Royal Navy would continue to receive nuclear powered but not nuclear armed submarines up to a total of 16 units by 1975. The surface fleet would move to missile equipped gas turbine powered escorts. The case for a new aircraft carrier (CVA01) would be reviewed with NATO.
Jim Callaghan "Good luck old cock, sorry to leave it in such a mess".
1962 had seen Britain told in no uncertain terms by President Kennedy and his Defense Secretary that Britain would not be offered Polaris and all US warheads in Europe would receive electronic locks.
Public protests by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had reached new highs after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Macmillan like his predecessor Eden was in poor health. Why he decided to call a snap general election in 1963 has been debated ever since. Divisions in the government over the future of the nuclear deterrent and the mismanagenent of the economy seemed to drive Macmillan to reach for his old slogan "You never had it so good".
The dynamic and charismatic leader of the Labour Party Harold Wilson derided Supermac as a tired old man who had been humiliated at Nassau by the young, modern US President.
The Labour Party were returned to power with a majority of 32 seats.
Denis Healey its Defence Secretary announced a thorough review of Britain's defence policy. At its heart would be the high cost of nuclear weapons and related systems like the TSR2 bomber. But it would also ask if Britain still needed to maintain forces outside the NATO area.
By 1964 the Review had been completed.
From 1966 nuclear weapons would be phased out of RAF and BAOR and replaced by improved conventional weapons. BAOR would be increased to three full strength Armoured Divisions by 1970 while RAF Germany would receive much needed new combat aircraft.
At the same time UK forces would be withdrawn from East of Suez.
The Royal Navy would continue to receive nuclear powered but not nuclear armed submarines up to a total of 16 units by 1975. The surface fleet would move to missile equipped gas turbine powered escorts. The case for a new aircraft carrier (CVA01) would be reviewed with NATO.
