1983 General Election Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is a Snap Election?
A general election that is called earlier than expected.
Snap elections are often called to capitalize on favorable political conditions.
Who were the ‘Wets’ and ‘Dries’ in the Conservative Party?
Members of the moderate wing of the Conservative Party who opposed some of the more hard-line policies of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
‘Wets’ were seen as more liberal, while ‘Dries’ supported Thatcher’s tougher policies.
What was the unemployment rate in the UK by 1983?
Around 3 million UK citizens.
This represented a doubling of unemployment rates since Thatcher came to power in 1979.
What significant action did Thatcher’s government take regarding coal mines in 1981?
Attempted to close many coal mines in Britain.
The 1980 Coal Industry Act had withdrawn subsidies to British mines.
What was the inflation rate in the UK during the 1970s?
Nearly 25%.
High inflation prompted Thatcher to raise interest rates and cut public spending.
What was one of the key proposals in the 1983 Conservative Manifesto?
Introduce ‘Right to Buy’ allowing people living in council houses to buy their homes.
This policy aimed to increase home ownership among citizens.
What was another proposal from the 1983 Conservative Manifesto?
Increase funding towards the NHS and build 140 new hospitals.
This was part of efforts to bolster public health services.
Fill in the blank: People hated Thatcher’s _______ policies.
economic
Despite this, some aspects of her policies appealed to many voters.
What major issue did Labour face leading up to the 1983 General Election?
Unpopular policies such as nuclear disarmament.
This contributed to Labour’s struggles in the election.
