Case studies Flashcards
What was the context behind 1983 UK general election like? (Conservative victory)
Margaret Thatcher won a major military victory over Argentina in the 1982 Falklands War which boosted her popularity and allowed her to win a second term in 1987 against Labour Leader at the time Micheal Foot. The media also helped with its support as there was a hardened ‘Maggie cult’ among the more right wing sections of the press. Especially, The Sun who encouraged its readers to “Vote for Maggie”. Perhaps equally effective was the personal criticism levelled at Labour Leader Micheal Foot. In addition, Labour was undergoing a split/division within their party when many Labour moderates led by the “Gang of 4” had left to set up the SDP. The SDP merged with the Liberal Party and eventually went on to form the Liberal Democrats
What is the context behind 1997 UK general election? (Labour victory)
This election ended an 18-year period of Conservative rule and an unprecedented four general election victories in a row. The economy had been in recession and unemployment had risen after a major economic crisis in 1992 under John Major’s Conservative government. Under Tony Blair, Labour had ditched many of its old ways it moved from a party with a traditional socialist ideology towards a “Third Way” with more right wing principles such as free-market economic liberalism. The Sun had switched allegiances from John Major to Labour after Blair had met up with The Sun’s owner, Rupert Murdoch.
What is the context behind 2019 UK general election? (Conservative victory)
This election ended 9 years of coalition, small majority and minority Conservative governments, delivering a thumping 80- seat majority to Boris Johnson’s Conservatives and an apparent end to Brexit. Johnson had been Prime Minister since July 2019 following May’s resignation, but like her, had struggled to build any unity within his own party let alone parliament over a post-Brexit deal. The press took sides as predicted, with the Express, the Mail and The Sun all rooting heavily for Johnson, in social media the picture was far complex
