18 The realignment of the Labour Party

Question 1

Neil Kinnock 1987-92

Answer 1

. Sought to move party further centre
. Peter Mandelson director of comms in 1985
. By 1988 much of 1983 manifesto ditched: withdrawal from EEC, unilateral disarmament, tax raises
. Ended Labour’s support for closed shop union agreements in 1989

Question 2

1992 Election

Answer 2

. Labour ahead in polls but lost, Kinnock blamed
. Accused of over-confidence at Sheffield Rally
. The Sun’s headline on election day was “If Kinnock wins today will the last person in Britain please turn out the lights.”

Question 3

John Smith 1992-94

Answer 3

. Kinnock’s shadow chancellor and replacement
. Seen as serious and trustworthy
. Moved to abolish trade union block by introducing ‘One Member, One Vote’ for parliamentary candidates in 1993
. His death shocked the nation

Question 4

Tony Blair 1994-2007

Answer 4

. Skillful communicator, effective in winning over ‘Middle England’
. Attractive to young voters
. Made party seem fresh + vibrant especially in comparison to sleaze and scandals in Conservatives

Question 5

New Labour

Answer 5

. 1995: Blair persuaded party conference to rewrite Clause IV of the party constitution
. Blair wanted Labour to drop socialist policies and embrace modern capitalism
. No longer seen as ‘tax and spend’ party
. Gordon Brown’s economic competence made it hard for Conservatives to attack their economic policy

Question 6

The Press

Answer 6

. Blair’s press secretary, Alastair Campbell used experience as former journalist to change Labour’s relationship with press and media
. The Sun “Give change a chance”
. Labour campaign ran by a disciplined ‘spin machine’ . Peter Mandelson, made sure party spokespeople were always ‘on message’ with up to date info

Question 7

1997 Election: Labour and Lib Dems

Answer 7

. Blair secretly discussed possibility of coalition with Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown
. Tactical voting: Labour voting Lib Dem and vice versa to make sure Conservatives didn’t wins seats

Question 8

Labour’s Pledge Card

Answer 8

. Had five clear promises designed to attract all sorts:
e.g. no rise in income tax rates, cut VAT on heating to 5% + inflation + interest rates as low as possible
. Could no longer be attacked for ‘socialist extremism’
. They tried to argue that New Labour was Old Labour in disguise AND that Labour was stealing policies from them - didn’t work

Question 9

Conservative defeat

Answer 9

. In Tatton, Martin Bell’s campaign for clear politics vs Neil Hamilton dominated evening news bulletins reminding voters of sleaze and scandal
. Labour + Lib Dem didn’t run candidates there so full spotlight was on Conservatives
. Battles over Maastricht and Europe continued

Question 10

1997 Election Result

Answer 10

. Tories got 31% of vote - lowest figure since 1823
. They had 165 seats - none in Scotland
. Labour won by landslide - largest in their history
. 170 majority, 419 seats
. Half of all Conservative MPs lost their seats: Michael Portillo and Norman Lamont among them

Question 11

Labour victory

Answer 11

. New Labours progressive image
. ‘Cool Brittania’, inclusive stakeholder society, forces of conservatism
. 101 Women MPs including Dianne Abbot, Margaret Hodge, Harriet Harman