29 - Realignment Of The Labour Party Under Kinnock, Smith And Blair Flashcards
What was Blair’s majority in the 1997 General Election? By how much in % did Labour beat the Conservatives?
183 seats
13% - 44.4% to 31.4%
What 2 factors were responsible for Labour’s 1997 victory?
Tory Party problems
Charisma and expectancy of “New Labour”
Since what year had the Tories governed from? What was the Party in need of?
1979
Rebuilding
What were the Tories split over? What allegations undermined the Tories’ credibility?
EU membership
Sleaze allegations
What did many voters lack faith in the Tories’ ability to manage, despite their later success?
Economy
How did Labour look by the 1990s? What had Labour done since their defeats of the 1980s?
Vibrant and rejuvenated
Reinvent themselves
What Marxist group had gained control of many local Labour Parties in the 1980s? Who resigned in 1983?
Militant Tendency
Foot
What part of Labour was Kinnock associated with? What did he begin to campaign doing?
The left
Expelling the hard-left and becoming moderate
What was one hard-left policy Kinnock dropped? With what membership did he become more conciliatory with?
Unilateral nuclear disarmament
EU membership
After what 2 election defeats did Kinnock resign? Who continued his Labour reinvention process?
1987, 1992
John Smith
When did Smith unexpectedly die? Who succeeded him and what did he rebrand Labour as?
1994
Tony Blair - “New Labour”
Why did Blair appear to be a natural successor to Smith? Who appeared to be an organisational genius?
He was a charismatic, young leader
Gordon Brown
What deal do many people assert took place between Blair and Brown? What controls would Brown especially have power over?
Blair would become leader and stand down in 2003
Economic control
Why did Blair intend to stand down in 2003? What was the name of the restaurant that this deal took place?
So Brown could replace him
Granita
Why did New Labour’s policies cause conflict in the Party?
They conflicted with traditional Labour views
