Factors affecting the 1997 GE outcome

Question 1

Results

Answer 1

-A landslide win for Labour with a 179 seat majority
-10% swing from labour

Question 2

Economy

Answer 2

-‘Black Wednesday’- similar incident to the Winter of Discontent, it took place 16 sept 1992: England was forced out of the European exchange rate mechanism, the pound became too high
-Key industries involved were trade unions + RM
-Interest rose to 15%
-‘Bust’ economy
-2m left unemployed
-House prices rose.
These all rose public opinion for labour as people felt they could help their economy.

Question 3

Mood 4 change

Answer 3

-The country was in immoral decline due to the killing of James Bulger in 1993
-The country felt that the Tories had been leading for too long + wanted a change
-“New Labour, New Britain”- Tony Blair
-Labour changed the direction of their party to centre-left to promote the image of new labour

Question 4

Media

Answer 4

-Labour supported by newspaper outlets: “the Sun backs Blair”
-Labour kept a tight leash on MPs
-Due to the cons scandal it helped boost labours public mandate
-Several sex scandals in the Cons party e.g. Cons MP Merchant resigning due to an affair with a 17 year old night club hostess
-Financial corruption e.g. ‘Cash for questions’ Tim Smith, Tory MP
-PM Major being known as ‘sleazy’

Question 5

Party failures + party divisons

Answer 5

-NHS in significant decline
-Educational standards + funding had been failing, was considered to be in decline
-Cons party remained divided over EU

Question 6

Manifestos

Answer 6

-Labours manifesto included welfare to work proposals, speedy punishment of young offenders, reduction of NHS waiting lists, reduction in class size + nursery place
-These were meaningful BUT achievable goals
-Labour promised to grant Scotland devolution + establish a Welsh assembly