1997 general election Flashcards
background
john major’s party divided over EU issue
how many members elected
659
winning party
labour landslide victory
how many years had labour been in opposition
18
what was labours parliamentary majority
179
how many seats did labour win
418
conservative to labour swing
10.2%
turnout
71% last national vote turnout to exceed 70%
Blair’s leadership
centrist policy ‘New Labour’
Labours campaign pledges
creation of national minimum wage, devolution referendums scot+wales, greater economic competence than cons
conservative party campaign
emphasised falling employment+economic recovery after after 1990 recession
why did the cons lose
disunity over EU, black wednesday, electorate wanting change after 18 years
black wednesday
refers to September 16, 1992, when a collapse in the pound sterling forced Britain to withdraw from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM).
cons worst defeat since…
1906
165 MPs
lowest % share of the votes 1832
no seats scot and wales
Lib Dems
Paddy Ashdown
46 MPs
SNP
6 MPs
what did Blair abolish
clause IV which committed to mass nationalisation of industry+ reversed policy on unilateral nuclear disarment
Labours manifesto
class sizes cut below 30 for 4,5,6 yr
cut NHS waiting lists treating 100,000 patients
250,000 under 25s off benefits
inflation+interest rates low as possible
no income tax rise
why did major want a long campaign
‘expose’ labours hollowness +conservative campaign would show stabability
conservative campaign problems
James Goldsmiths referendum party advocate EU mbrship
cons poster attacking labour
‘new labour, new danger’
what were the two approaches taken to attack labour
new labour was facade
copying conservative position
liberal democrats promises
increase education funding increase income tax
how did lib dems double their number of seats
tactical voting
how did labour win
tony blairs charisma, popular in contrast
PR managed by Alastair Campbell+ Peter Mandelson
what ruined the conservative rep
bad economy
suns newspaper switched to supporting labour with which headline
‘give labour a chance’
they claimed to have won cons 1992 election
what did the sun publish which damaged cons rep
Piers Merchant involved in adulterous affairs with 17 year old in night club
how did major alienate some con voters
attack labs plans for devolution of scotland and wales cons lost those voters
how did blair anger voters in scotland
compared scottish parliament to an English parish council
opinion polls
labour (43-53%)
cons (28-33%)
media bias
sun back lab
times more positive about lab
sun backed winning party since 1970s (no proof)
why were newspapers losing influence
more people getting political tv news
spin doctors
politicians employ press adivisors
what was this election seen as
‘media election’
economy was stable+no radical policies (still a big swing)
