Overview

Question 1

When was the 1997 UK General Election held?

Answer 1

1 May 1997.

Question 2

How many MPs were elected in the 1997 General Election?

Answer 2

659 MPs.

Question 3

Who led the Labour Party in the 1997 election?

Answer 3

Tony Blair.

Question 4

How long had Labour been in opposition before winning in 1997?

Answer 4

18 years.

Question 5

What was the voter turnout in the 1997 election?

Answer 5

71%.

Question 6

What was the swing from the Conservatives to Labour in the 1997 election?

Answer 6

10.2%.

Question 7

Who was the incumbent Prime Minister during the 1997 election?

Answer 7

John Major.

Question 8

What was the main economic event that damaged the Conservative government’s reputation?

Answer 8

Black Wednesday (1992).

Question 9

How many seats did Labour win in the 1997 election?

Answer 9

418 seats.

Question 10

What was Labour’s campaign slogan and policy platform called?

Answer 10

“New Labour”.

Question 11

What major policy change did Tony Blair implement in Labour’s constitution?

Answer 11

Abolishing Clause IV (commitment to nationalisation).

Question 12

How many women were elected to Parliament in 1997, and how many were Labour MPs?

Answer 12

120 women, with 101 from Labour.

Question 13

What campaign strategy helped Labour attract centrist voters?

Answer 13

Emphasizing economic competence, cracking down on crime, and focusing on education and healthcare.

Question 14

Which two key advisors managed Labour’s media strategy?

Answer 14

Alastair Campbell and Peter Mandelson.

Question 15

What was Labour’s education pledge in 1997?

Answer 15

Reduce class sizes for 5–7-year-olds to 30 or under.

Question 16

What was Labour’s crime policy in 1997?

Answer 16

Fast-track punishment for persistent young offenders.

Question 17

How did Labour plan to reduce NHS waiting lists?

Answer 17

By treating an extra 100,000 patients with £100 million saved from NHS red tape.

Question 18

What employment policy did Labour propose?

Answer 18

Get 250,000 under-25s off benefits and into work using a windfall levy on privatized utilities.

Question 19

What tax promise did Labour make in 1997?

Answer 19

No rise in income tax rates and a cut in VAT on heating to 5%.

Question 20

How many seats did the Conservatives win in 1997?

Answer 20

165 seats.

Question 21

When was the last time the Conservatives suffered such a severe defeat?

Answer 21

1906.

Question 22

Which major Conservative politicians lost their seats in 1997?

Answer 22

Michael Portillo, Malcolm Rifkind, Edwina Currie, David Mellor, Norman Lamont, Neil Hamilton.

Question 23

How many Conservative seats were won in Scotland and Wales?

Answer 23

Zero.

Question 24

What was the Conservative campaign slogan?

Answer 24

“You can only be sure with the Conservatives.”

Question 25

What controversial Conservative poster depicted Tony Blair with demon eyes?

Answer 25

“New Labour, New Danger”.

Question 26

Who was the leader of the Liberal Democrats in 1997?

Answer 26

Paddy Ashdown.

Question 27

How many seats did the Liberal Democrats win in 1997?

Answer 27

46 seats.

Question 28

What was the main policy proposal of the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 28

Increase education spending by raising income tax by 1p.

Question 29

What tactical voting strategy helped the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 29

Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters coordinated to defeat Conservative candidates.

Question 30

How many seats did the Scottish National Party (SNP) win in 1997?

Answer 30

6 seats.

Question 31

What was the main policy of the Referendum Party?

Answer 31

A referendum on the UK’s EU membership.

Question 32

How many votes did the Referendum Party receive?

Answer 32

Around 800,000.

Question 33

What unusual electoral arrangement occurred in Tatton?

Answer 33

Labour and Liberal Democrats withdrew to support independent Martin Bell against Conservative Neil Hamilton.

Question 34

What legal challenge resulted in a by-election in Winchester?

Answer 34

The original election result was overturned due to errors in stamping ballots.

Question 35

How long did Labour remain in power after the 1997 victory?

Answer 35

13 years.

Question 36

What phrase did Tony Blair famously declare after winning?

Answer 36

“A new dawn has broken, has it not?”

Question 37

What was the Conservative Party’s status after the 1997 election?

Answer 37

Entered its longest period in opposition (13 years).