my 1979 notes

Question 1

1979 party policies and manifesto

Answer 1

• both labour and conservative manifestos were remarkably moderate. little indication of thatcherism
• they both gave high priority to bringing inflation down
• there was mention of returning recently nationalised industries to privatisation and a reduction of trade power in thatcher’s manifesto.
  = when callaghan warned MT would move the party to the right, the public couldn’t see evidence of this and he was not credible.

Question 2

1979 campaign

Answer 2

• in 1978 Saatchi & Saatchi used to promote a more aggressive and modern conservative party.
• they used modern TV advertising techniques under Gordon Reece and Tim Bell
• thatcher making herself amenable to the public by photo ops, having tea, holding calfs
• thatcher turned down TV debate as Callaghan was more confident and had more experience she couldn’t compete with
• labour campaign was less well refined
• the electorate still thought that “sunny jim” would still make a better PM but in the opinion polls, tories were winning.

Question 3

1979 wider political context 76-79

Answer 3

• Dec ‘76 IMF loan, response to economic struggles, high inflation, the IMF bails out the indebted labour govt with £3.9billion
• 77 Nov - firefighters strike
• 77 Dec “british disease” refers to perceived economic and social challenges
• 78 march - Bread rationing
• Aug 78 Liberal x Labour pact broke down, so in the vote of no confidence, they didnt have support.
  -Dec 78, callaghan narrowly wins vote of no confidence by 6 votes
• jan ‘79 lorry drivers strike, disrupts the entire supply chain
• Nov 78-Feb 79, WINTER OF DISCONTENT, 1.5 mil on strike + trade unions. callaghan’s laid back leadershup called into sustainability.
  -March ‘79 vote of confidence by MT, labour loses by 1 vote
  = General election in MAY

Question 4

1979 wider political context till 74

Answer 4

• post-war consensus, all parties agree on healthcare and welfare.
• in ‘73, Heath introduced a 3 day work week to pressure miners to stop striking as they would lose public’s support.
• Feb + Oct 1974 hung parliament then in FEB Harold Wilson labour wins on a slim majority