ABSTRACT
The Conservatives' Industrial Relations Act of 1971 was a truly radical piece of reform. It was one of the most ambitious and large-scale pieces of legislation of the twentieth century, one which attempted a detailed reconstruction of industrial relations through the use of the law. It changed the landscape of industrial relations irreversibly. Conservatism is often characterised as embodying scepticism towards the power of reason and rationality for guiding reform often favoured by the Left, and, instead, placing importance on the lessons of history and experience in determining just what political action to take. The particular historical reference point for Conservatives was the Trade Disputes Act of 1906, which had removed the organisation of workers into trade unions and the use of their power in strikes from any criminal or civil liability in the courts. This immunity was regarded as far too sweeping and out of step with the regulation of interest groups in society.
