1979 General Election Flashcards
what was the turnout?
76%
who won the election? how many seats and votes did they win?
Thatcher won the 1979 election with around 44% of the vote meaning the Conservatives won 339 seats (A 43 seat majority)
Modest victory, later to be increased in the 1983 and 87 elections
a 62 seat increase since the last election
her first victory, which initiated 18 years of Conservative rule from 1979 to 97
how many seats and votes did the opposition win?
Labour won 269 seats with around 37% of the vote this was a loss of 50 seats
what was the impact of this election?
Thatcher’s victory was seen as the end of the postwar consensus
why was this election called?
Called after the minority Labour government under Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons, this triggered an early election
Labour was weak — it was a minority administration that survived by making deals with smaller parties
key issues related to the election
Callaghans failure to control militant trade unions, Leading to increased trade union conflict
Economic decline
Labour also descended into a period of left/right infighting over policy
Female leader — would people vote?
Winter of discontent
what was the winter of discontent?
long period of strikes et cetera creating a sense of national paralysis and a miserable strikebound Britain
strikes by lorry drivers health workers gravediggers et cetera
hurt labour’s standing
people wanted change and felt that the Conservative policies could achieve this along with Thatcher’s tough and harsh personality
They were frustrated with Labour’s perceived incompetency and weakness and trusted the Conservatives’ reputation of being financially responsible
social and economic factors in voting patterns
Geography — large swing in voters towards Conservatives, particularly in the south
Class — A, B and C1 was still dominated by Conservatives while labour held the D, E and C1 voters (but an average of 10% of these voters swung to Conservatives)
A B and C1 — 59% voted Conservative and only 24% voted labour
Gender — women showed a slight preference to Conservatives, 12% more voted Conservative
age — labour won the 18 to 24 age group, but Conservatives won all others
Race — lack of data for BME voting in 1979
Labour policies
Focused on trade unions
Support for the NHS
High priority to bringing inflation down
Conservative policies
‘Labour isn’t working’ — Focused on labours incompetency and weakness which appealed to peoples need for change and frustration at the winter of discontent
Promised tax cuts
Privatisation
Control inflation (high-priority to bring it down much like labour)
Reduce trade union power
Right to buy home schemes
what did both manifestoes have in common?
Both Labour and Conservatives were notable for their moderation
For example Callaghan resisted pressure from the left of his party for more extreme proposals
Meanwhile Thatcher’s policy statement contained very little indication that she was going to move her party to the right
the election campaigns: what was the main characteristic of the campaigns?
More presidential than ever
Much stronger emphasis on the personality and public image of the leaders
the election campaigns: what was the ‘Thatcher factor’?
‘Thatcher factor’ — her gender and personality putting off voters slightly
the election campaigns: what did the Conservatives adopt?
The Conservatives adopted modern advertising techniques e.g. photo opportunities
as advised by Gordon Reese and Tim Bell (publicity specialists)
the election campaigns: how was Margaret Thatcher seen?
Thatcher was seen as extreme, condescending, harsh and out of touch with the people
However she was tough and hardheaded, people believed she could bring about the necessary change
