Key elections Flashcards
1983 - Background info (4 points)
Unemployment high - 3 million.
Falkland war was won.
Occurred after Thatchers first term.
Snap election - Thatcher called it due to favourable polls.
1983 - Why did Labour lose? (3 points)
One of Labours worst ever defeats:
Due to many “centrist” Labour MPs leaving for SDP after group of four started it
Policies were criticised by supporters - “new hope for Britain” - too left wing.
Michael Foot was seen to be a knacks leader of his party (due to division).
1983 - Why did Conservatives win? (4 points)
Effective media / publicity campaign by Thatcher (Superbus tour, iron lady).
Manifesto - “Forward - the challenge of our times” - Patriotic / appealing.
Nationalisation of BA, British telecom. British steel was popular idea.
Good personality leading campaign, in control the whole time (snap election).
1983 - Medias role (4 points)
Labour party libelled by the Sun - do you want this old man running UK?
Only 22% of newspapers supported Labour.
Maggie was well represented by many right - wing papers such as the Sun.
Maggie televised public speaking / life in no.10.
1983 - Results
Tory - 42% vote share, seat majority from 43 to 144, yet -1.5% vs (FPTP SL)
Labour - 28% vote share, a -9.3% loss from 1979
1997 - Background info (3 points)
Labour victory ended 18 year conservative rule
Conservative fourth term in a row was weak due to economic loss (1992 crisis).
A reinvigorated Labour was shown - they won seats leading up to election in 87 / 92.
1997 - Why did Conservatives lose? (5 points)
Tory looked inevitable to loose - Worn out leader with “same old” policy. After four terms is gov, public will look for a new leader.
John Major wasn’t energetic or asserting - weak, boring leader.
90’s Tory MP scandals - many sex offenders.
No promise of constitutional reform in manifesto.
Divided party over EU - Major called for leadership election to reaffirm status.
1997 - Why did Labour win? (5 points)
Young, charismatic leader.
Effective “New Labour” Centrist manifesto to appeal to the masses.
- Included reform on HOL + HRA 1998
- Shook off old ties to radical, left wing labour.
Effective media campaign.
1997 - Medias role (2 points)
Conservatives - Weak campaign, more attacking labour than advertising party.
New labour, new danger campaign - 64% of GP didn’t approve + AD removed.
Labour - Rupert Murdoch Alliance in 1995 + “things can only get better” - supported the new labour idea of a fresh faced leader and a new manifesto.
2019 - Background information (4 points)
Election put an end to 9 years of Tory minority / weak / coalition governments.
Due to Brexit struggle, Tory government had become divided.
Boris was elected party leader in July 2019 after May resigned - Unity in party was low.
New act was passed in order for Bojo to call an early election and circumvent the 2011 FPA - called the 2019 general election act.
2019 - Why did Labour lose? (two points)
Confused Brexit plan in manifesto + Unappealing red meat socialist policies
Corbyn wasn’t well received by public - seen as too “metropolitan” / socialist
2019 - Why did Conservatives win? (three points)
Straightforward Brexit plan - “Get Brexit done, Unleash Britains potential”.
- This appealed to voters who were tired of 3 years political gridlock.
Successful media campaign:
- Social media ad; 30 seconds watched 3.5 million times in 1 day.
Boris Johnson successful campaign due to dodging interviews, Brexit mantra, pr stunts, “Populist” identity, patriotism.
2019 - results
Tory - 44% vote share / +47 additional seats won (1.2% from 2017)
Labour - 32% vote share / -59 seats won (-8% from 2017)
2019 - Medias role
Social media played a large part in the election results:
£1.3 mill spent by labour
900,000 spent by tory
However, Corbyn proved more popular on social media engagement.
This was down to Labours voter demographic being younger than Tory, which is why they spent more on social media, as Tory relies on Newspaper / TV.
