MAJOR 1990-7 CHAPTER 18

Question 1

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER NEIL KINNOCK 1987-92

• Despite his changes the Labour Party was heavily defeated in the 1987 election.

what did he do to the party

Answer 1

• He reorganised the party and moved it to the centre ground - party became much more professional in its presentation.

Question 2

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER NEIL KINNOCK 1987-92

• Labour seen as favourite for the 1992 election, but lost - some blamed Kinnock, who

Answer 2

resigned as leader 4 days later.

Question 2

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER NEIL KINNOCK 1987-92

• Many on the left were concerned about the proposal -Kinnock signalled a split with the trade unions by ending support for closed shop union agreements in 1989.

what were the closed shop union agreements?

Answer 2

workers all have to be a member of a particular union to work in a job

Question 3

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER NEIL KINNOCK 1987-92

• 1988 - much of the 1983 manifesto including withdrawal from the EEC, UND and rises on taxation on high incomes was

Answer 3

scrapped.

Question 4

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER JOHN SMITH 1992-4

john smith was

Answer 4

the shadow chancellor of Kinnock.

Question 5

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER JOHN SMITH 1992-4

why was he seen as serious and trusted on the economy?

what did he do

Answer 5

signalled a shift in the party by moving to abolish the trade union block vote by introducing One Member, One Vote (OMOV) (lessened trade union influence by making individual labour party members vote on the selection of MP candidates) in 1993.

Question 6

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER JOHN SMITH 1992-4

what happened to him?

Answer 6

• Died from a sudden heart attack in 1994.

Question 7

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• A divisive leadership contest following Smith’s death was avoided by

Answer 7

a deal between Blair and Brown.

Question 8

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• He set out to further remodel labour - the promotion of ‘new labour’ intended to end the

Answer 8

perception from the 1980s that Labour was unelectable.

Question 9

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• Dramatic shift in policy to show how labour was breaking with its past  1995 he persuaded labour party conference to rewrite

why

Answer 9

Clause IV of the constitution (following the collapse of communism in eastern Europe, socialism seemed dead as a political philosophy) because he wanted labour to drop the socialist ideas that were outdated and embraced the modern capitalist economy.

Question 10

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• Worked hard to ensure labour was no longer the party of tax and spend - Brown wanted to convince the people that Labour was the party of economic competence – he promised

Answer 10

Labour would follow the Conservative spending plans, making it difficult for conservatives to attack their economic policies, and made it so businesses were no longer fearful of a labour government

Question 11

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• Blair himself was a skilful communicator  effective in presenting moderation and winning over the middle England. He was also attractive to

Answer 11

women and young voters.

Question 12

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• Labour had a record number of female candidates and appeared fresh and vibrant compared to the conservative party, who seemed

Answer 12

tired, in sleaze and scandal increasingly out of touch.

Question 13

THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR 1994-2007

• In the past, the conservatives had enjoyed greater support from the national press, but Blair’s press secretary used his experience as a former journalist used his influence to win over the newspapers who were

Answer 13

unenthusiastic about john major’s image  one of the conservatives most influential weapons had been neutralised.

Question 14

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

The labour party also created a pledge card which contained five promises that were designed to attract a range of potential voters:

3 promises included

Answer 14

• Cut NHS waiting list.
• No rise on income taxes, inflation, and interest rates as low as possible.
• Cut class sized to under 30 for 5–7-year-olds.

Question 15

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

• The labour party was no longer an easy target for attack - previously used conservative tactics of

what did they do instead

Answer 15

frightening voters away from socialist extremism didn’t work anymore – they instead complained labour had stolen their policies.

Question 16

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

• The battles over Maastricht and Europe continued to resonate  the referendum party was set up to hold a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. It won no seats

Answer 16

but attracted enough votes to cause conservative defeat in some seats.

Question 17

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

• Most conservatives, including Major and Heseltine accepted defeat was inevitable – labour won by

Answer 17

a landslide.

Question 18

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

• Half of the conservatives lost their seats, including many high-profile candidates e.g. Portillo.

what was the worst part about this?

Answer 18

They no longer had a single seat in Scotland and had their worst loss since 1823.

Question 19

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

For many people, Portillo’s loss to an unheard-of labour candidate was symbolic  Portillo’s loss had

Answer 19

a longer impact on the conservative party in opposition.

Question 20

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

The election result also indicated tactical voting  Labour supporters voted

Answer 20

Liberal Democrat according to how the anti-conservative vote could be maximised.

Question 21

1997 GENERAL ELECTION

impact of 1997 election

Answer 21

• The Labour landslide ended 18 years of opposition.
• On the day Blair moved into 10 Downing Street, Major resigned.
• The fact that so many new Labour candidates were young and women was in tune with ideas of a new beginning.

Question 22

APRIL 1997 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS

CONSERVATIVES
LABOUR
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

seats and % of votes

Answer 22

CONSERVATIVES 166 30.7
LABOUR 418 43.2
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 52 16.8