Britain: Realignment of Labour

Question 1

Neil Kinnock

Answer 1

. Centre left, brilliant public speaker
. Reorganisation: Peter Mandelson, Director of Comms 1985 and John Smith, Shadow Chancellor 1987
. By 1988 much of 1983 manifesto key commitments got rid of + ended commitment to closed shop in 1989
. Dealt with Militant: revolutionary Socialist group

Question 2

John Smith

Answer 2

. Reassuring + trustworthy (esp after Black Wed)
. Abolished trade union blocks, intro’d One Member One Vote for parliamentary candidates in 1993
- Lessened trade union influence: 47% voted for and 42% voted against
. His death from a heart attack in 1994 shocked all

Question 3

Tony Blair

Answer 3

. Made a deal w Brown at Granita Restaurant: Blair promised to step aside at one point + let Brown lead
. They’d work closely together
. Electable: middle class, well spoken, appealed to ‘Middle England’
. 1995: removed Clause IV of party constitution (nationalisation), rewritten by Alistair Campbell

Question 4

New Labour

Answer 4

. Brown promised that Lab gov would not spend more than Cons planned to spend, but would spend on diff stuff obvs - Lab couldn’t be attacked on economy
. Had all women shortlists leading to record no. of female candidates - fresh + vibrant party
. Campbell made deal w Murdoch Press to support Lab
. Everyone in party kept on message by slick ‘spin machine’, disciplined, ran by Mandelson

Question 5

1997 Election - Labour

Answer 5

. Opinion polls showed large Lab lead
. Blair secretly discussed possibility of coalition w Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown
. Created a 5 point pledge card: clear, easy to understand + designed to attract a range of voters
- eg cut NHS waiting lists + no rise in income tax rates
. No longer easy to attack party

Question 6

1997 Election - Conservatives

Answer 6

. Confusing message: said New Lab was ‘old Lab in disguise’ + ‘stealing Cons policies’
. Sleaze: in Tatton Martin Bell’s campaign for clean politics vs Neil Hamilton dominated news. Lab + LD didn’t run candidate so spotlight was on Cons
. Cons split over Europe public in news

Question 7

1997 Election - result for Cons

Answer 7

. Half of all MPs lost their seats
. High profile: Michael Portillo, Norman Lamont
. Previously unheard of Lab Stephen Twigg defeated Portillo - symbolic image of election
. Biggest defeat since 1823, only 31% of vote and no seats in London

Question 8

1997 Election - result

Answer 8

. Lab 418 seats, Cons 166 seats
. Tactical voting: Lab supporting Lib Dem + vice versa to ensure Cons lost
. Ended 18yrs of Tory rule
. Major resigned the day Blair moved into Number 10