Case Study 1: 1979 GE Flashcards
What was the turnout?
76%
How many seats did CP win?
339
What % of the vote did the CP win?
49%
What were key demographic issues?
. changes in occupational structure aided CP and there was a sharp decline of people describing themselves as WC which eroded Ls vote. MC growing which helped CP
.class and partisan dealignment
What were key valence and other issues?
. 1978 Callaghan decided not to call a GE even though L were ahead in OPs
. Winter of Discontent followed with a series of strikes
.Ls image suffered and was seen as the party of the TUs (unpopular at the time as hey were seen as holding excessive power)
. March 1979, vote of no confidence forced Callaghan to resign and call a sudden GE
Who were the party leaders?
Callaghan=L and enjoyed a more favourable image than MT as she was seen as distant and ‘too posh’
people were reluctant to vote MT as she was a female (gov losing not opponent winning)
What were key political issues?
. Power of TUs
. Winter of Discontent-strikes, bins not emptied, shortages of power
. Undermined Callaghan’s govs authority
. Negative media coverage as he refused to accept that there was a crisis “I don’t think that people would state that there was a mounting crisis”
What was the campaign like?
Cs campaigned that they were a party of unity and and had practical solutions to the growing power of trade unions. Press coverage of CP campaign further reinforced the message among voters that MT would offer a fresh approach to the issue of TUs
Ls alignment with TUs made it difficult to persuade voters that Callaghan was the right PM to confront TU power
What was the significance of turnout?
Abstentions from WC and TU members who are Ls core voters
76% turnout helped Cs more than L as it illustrated class dealignment, with C support increasing across all social classes
Biggest swing was among LPs traditional core voter C2 26% 1974 voted CP compared to 41% in 1979
Large number of L voters abandoned traditional loyalties
What were other factors?
. economy was in a bad state-inflation, unemployment, falling growth
. CP plan was to return to free markets and curb union power which meant that prices would come down
. MCs were attracted to these policies and change in voting was economic in nature
What was the outcome?
CP in power for next 18 years
GE was lost by gov?
Winter of discontent and strikes
State of denial undermined his authority
GE was not lost by gov?
MT fresh start-woman
Advertised that they were competent to govern
Launched campaign in Cardiff-WC appeal
