Labour party divisions

Question 1

when did Michael Foot become labour leader?

Answer 1

November 1980

Question 2

what were Foot’s beliefs and leadership liker?

Answer 2

-a Marxist
-believed in nationalising industry
-against nuclear weapons
-pro-unions
-his leadership lacked credibility
-he performed badly on TV

Question 3

what were the left under foot described as?

Answer 3

the loony left

Question 4

examples of nicknames given to labour members by the press:

Answer 4

-‘barmy bernie’
-‘red ken’
-nicknames tried to discredit them

Question 5

describe Labour’s 1983 manifesto:

Answer 5

-called ‘the longest suicide note in history’
-was seen as very out of touch with the country as a whole
-very left wing promises e.g. unilateral disarmament, withdrawal from EEC, abolition of fox hunting

Question 6

when and who were the gang of four?

Answer 6

-1981
-David Owen, Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers

Question 7

describe the formation of the SDP?

Answer 7

-the members believed they had been driven out of the party by extremists
-SDP was to be a new centrist alternative
-they had an impact on national politics e.g. Jenkins won his seat

Question 8

describe the alliance:

Answer 8

-alliance between the 2 central parties - SDP and the liberals
-worked together in 1983 and 1987 elections
-but often tensions between the 2 leaders
-had overtaken labour as the credible opposition to the Thatcher gov.

Question 9

how were Labour weaknesses amplified by demographic changes?

Answer 9

-changes loosened the traditional loyalties of the working class
-unions were not such a big strength anymore
-many traditional labour strongholds in local gov. were seen as having lost touch with the people they were supposed to serve
-some usual labour voters became ‘Thatcher conservatives’, some voted liberal/SDP, some became apathetic