Labour Divisions and Failures in the 1980s Flashcards
How many successive general elections did Labour lose in the 1980s?
Four (1979, 1983, 1987, 1992)
When was Labour’s vote lowest since 1918?
1983
What was a key fear in Labour’s leadership during the 1980s?
Fear of ‘entryism’
When did Michael Foot become leader of the Labour Party?
November 1980
What were Michael Foot’s main commitments?
Nuclear disarmament, nationalisation, EU withdrawal
What challenge did Michael Foot face as Labour leader?
Dealing with party divisions
What was the fear of the right regarding entryism?
Trotskyite group, Militant
What year was the mandatory reselection of candidates confirmed?
1980
What did Militant equate Thatcherism with?
Crisis of capitalism
What is ‘entryism’?
Joining a party to change its principles
Who was selected for Bradford North as an MP in 1982 due to Militant’s influence?
Pat Wall
What was Michael Foot’s political stance?
Moderate left
When was the Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) founded?
June 1975
What prompted the first enquiry into Militant’s activities?
Andy Bevan’s election
Who was deselected for not aligning with Labour values?
Stephen Haesler
What was the estimated membership of Militant by the early 1980s?
5,000 members
Who combated entryism?
International Socialists
How did Michael Foot win the Labour Party leadership election?
Beat Healey by 10 votes
What was the Limehouse declaration?
Call for a realignment of politics
Why was Labour’s vote share low in 1983?
Unite other parties, manifesto length
What did the ‘gang of four’ accuse the Labour party of?
Moving away from its roots
What was the declaration made by the ‘gang of four’ called?
Limehouse declaration
What divided Labour voters in 1983?
Socialist policies
What did Gerald Kaufman call the 1983 election manifesto?
Longest suicide note
What was in long term decline due to Thatcher’s policies?
Labour’s identification with working class
Who had close ties with militant in the Labour Party?
Tony Benn
When was the Social Democratic Party (SPD) formed?
25th January 1981
Who were the ‘gang of four’ in the SPD?
Williams, Rodgers, Owen, Jenkins
What electoral impact did the SPD have?
Split the opposition vote
What did Thatcher’s policies cause regarding Labour?
Accelerated embourgeoisement
Who was Ken Livingstone?
Leader of the GLC - prominent left wing figure in London
Significance of December 9, 1981 in Labour?
Foot won vote for Militant investigation
Who was Derek Hatton?
Deputy Council leader in Liverpool
What happened at the 1985 party conference?
Kinnock attacked Militant Tendency
Outcome for Militant in 1986?
Banned; expelled from Labour
Result of the 1987 election?
Majority of over 100 for Conservatives
What did Ken Livingstone declare London in 1981?
Nuclear-free zone
When was Militant’s application turned down?
December 1982
Policy Review 1987-1992
Make the change
Kinnock’s Leadership Began
1983
1992 Election Expectation
Labour expected to win
1992 Election Outcome
Conservatives replaced Thatcher with Major
Blair’s Role
Won battle to reform Clause IV
