CASE ELECTION STUDY - 1979

Question 1

Political context

Answer 1

• Followed the 1978-79 “Winter of Discontent” strikes
• Labour leader James Callaghan faced new conservative leader Magaret Thatcher

Question 2

Result

Answer 2

• Conservative win
• 43 seat majority

Question 3

Patterns of voting behaviour

Answer 3

• Middle class = conservative, working class = labour
• All ages more likely to vote for tories, apart from 18-24 yr olds
• Women slightly more likely to vote conservative
• No records for BAME voters

Question 4

Influence of the media

Answer 4

• More media focus on leaders than previously
• Thatcher used teleision photo opportunities to raise her profile
• The sun switched support from Labour to the tories for the first time

Question 5

Impact of party policies

Answer 5

The conservaties focused on getting the economy going again, lowering unemployment and preventing strike disruption

Question 6

Influence of manifestos

Answer 6

Tory tax cuts and the right to buy scheme were popular with voters

Question 7

Impact of campaign and leadership

Answer 7

• Successful ‘labour isn’t working campaign’ by tories focused on high unemployment
• Thatcher was relatively unknown compared to Callaghan, some voters found her manner off putting
• British voters had no model for what a female pm would look or sound like

Question 8

Impact of elections on policy and policy making

Answer 8

• Thatcher’s majority allowed her to begin to transform Britain by privatising public industries, reducing union strikes and adopting a monetarist economic policy
• Thatcher’s policies became evenn bolder after she won a landslide in 1983