1979 general election case study

Question 1

leaders of the three main parties

Answer 1

-conservatives = Margaret Thatcher
-labour = James Callagan
-liberal = David Steel

Question 2

result

Answer 2

-conservatives = 339 seats
-labour = 269 seats
-liberals = 11 seats

Question 3

conservative majority

Answer 3

43 seats

Question 4

turnout

Answer 4

76%

Question 5

was the campaign important?

Answer 5

yes - highlighted labour’s failures (‘labour isn’t working’). used saatchi and saatchi. also first time a woman was running for PM.

Question 6

were pollsters accurate?

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

three conservative party policies

Answer 7

1. control inflation
2. limit the powers of trade unions
3. the right to buy council houses

Question 8

three groups that swung to the conservatives

Answer 8

1. C2
2. D/E - unskilled or skilled working class - 20% swing
3. South of England

Question 9

3 newspapers that supported the conservatives

Answer 9

1. the sun FOR THE FIRST TIME
2. the telegraph
3. the daily mail

Question 10

3 reasons why the conservatives won

Answer 10

1. winter of discontent (loss of support and trust for labour)
2. council houses were proposed to be bought
3. labour were falling apart and not working correctly for the country