4.1.2 Case Study - 1997 General Election

Question 1

Which party won this election, and who was the leader?

Answer 1

• Labour
• Tony Blair

Question 2

How many seats did Labour gain total?

Answer 2

418

Question 3

How many seats did Conservatives win in total?

Answer 3

165

Question 4

Who was the leader of the Conservatives?

Answer 4

John Major

Question 5

What percentage of the vote did Labour obtain?

Answer 5

43.2%

Question 6

What percentage of the vote did Conservatives gain?

Answer 6

30.7%

Question 7

What was labour’s majority?

Answer 7

253 seats

Question 8

Who was the leader of the Lib Dems?

Answer 8

Paddy Ashdown

Question 9

Name three Labour policies

Answer 9

• Lords Reform
• Devolution of Scotland and Wales
• Minimum wage
• Massive investments in education
• NHS funding boost
• No rise in income tax

Question 10

What was Major’s manifesto described as?

Answer 10

• Same as before
• Noting new

Question 11

Give some examples of sleaze campaigns leading up to the election

Answer 11

. Steven Norris - Affairs with three different women
. David Mellor - Affair with an actress
. Tim Yeo - Fathered a child from a extramarital affair despite being known for criticising single mothers
. The Earl Of Caithness resigned one day after his wife’s suicide, speculation that her suicide was due to finding out about Earl’s involvement in an extra-marital affair
Stephen Milligan - The orange guy, found dead in his apartment by his secretary in women’s clothing, a bin liner over his head and an orange in his mouth. He died as a result of outer-erotic asphyxiation

Question 12

What was Tim Yeos famous headline?

Answer 12

‘Out Yeo Go!’