Win Three Elections: 1987

Question 1

How were economic policies important to the 1987 victory ?

Answer 1

• in key seats, the growth in shareholding and the ownership of council houses pleased aspiring middle class voters: ‘property owning democracy’ slogan, many voter admired these values + tax relief from mortgages
• inflation at its lowest in the decade by 1986 3.4% compared to peak of 24% in 1975
• privatisation despite some issues seems to be working: 1983 Gov started selling off ineffective industries which raised renege and expanded the private sector of enterprise
• taxation shifted form unpopular direct to indirect tax
• ‘big bang’ October 1986 trading now conducted digitally not on a floor removing the old boys network it had been closely inter-grated with

Question 2

What was the outcome of the 1987 election ?

Answer 2

Conservatives increased their popular vote however they lost 21 seats
SDP- Liberal Alliance polled 7.3 million spilling the left
Labour failed to break through with its poor policies and leadership

Question 3

How was Thatchers image important as a factor ?

Answer 3

• although no Falklands, She displayed immense personal courage after the failed assassination attempt in the 12 October 1984 Brighton bombing
• High standing internationally fostering a close relationship with the USA and USSR
• Thatcher showed she was willing to stand up to aggression in the build up to the election with her success over the miners strike of 84-85 which was quickly quelled as a result of her policies
• contrasted well to the less successful attempts at regulating the unions by Wilson, Callaghan and Heath

Question 4

How was social change improtant ?

Answer 4

Came about as a result of economic and social policy
- the expansion of the property owning population grew rapidly as a result of her ‘right to buy’ scheme
- this led to a greater number of middle class voters, whom this scheme had generally effected, supporting Thatcher
- The growth of financial sector in urban areas with London becoming a global financial centre as a result of the Big Bang
- a new generation of dealers ‘yuppies’ (young urban professional) replaced the old boys network as the market was opened by the shift to digital trading

Question 5

What factors affected the result ?

Answer 5

Economic policies
Thatchers image
Social change
The weakness of Labour (voters are split in the result)