Political Developments: Conservative Weaknesses by the 1997 Election

Question 1

How had the Conservatives been weakened in terms of public perception by media presentation?

Answer 1

Scandals

Question 2

How had the Conservatives been weakened by party divisions over Europe? (2 Ways)

Answer 2

1993 Vote of No Confidence Threat, 1995 Back Me or Sack Me Leadership ballot

Question 3

Name 2 Scandals in the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997

Answer 3

Neil Hamilton Cash for Question Scandal, Mellor Affair Scandal

Question 4

Who did Neil Hamilton accept bribes from in his scandal?

Answer 4

The owner of Harrods

Question 5

Who did Mellor have an affair with?

Answer 5

An actress

Question 6

What event weakened the financial credibility of the Conservatives?

Answer 6

Black Wednesday Event

Question 7

When was Black Wednesday, to the month?

Answer 7

September 1992

Question 8

What happened to the pound in Black Wednesday?

Answer 8

It was devalued heavily

Question 9

What was a negative public impact for the Black Wednesday event?

Answer 9

Many houses went into negative equity

Question 10

How many houses in negative equity in January 1992?

Answer 10

300,000

Question 11

How many houses in negative equity in December 1992?

Answer 11

900,000

Question 12

What did John Major eventually have to put interest rates up to due to Black Wednesday?

Answer 12

15%

Question 13

How had the Conservatives been weakened in terms of their Citizens Charter policies with the NHS by 1995?

Answer 13

By 1995, over 30 NHS trusts were in deficit

Question 14

How much was NHS Managers’ income in 1990 and 1994?

Answer 14

1990: 150 million a year. 1994: 600 million a year

Question 15

What did many media forms do to the Conservative party in terms of their presentation of them?

Answer 15

They satirized them

Question 16

How was John Major portrayed in Spitting Image?

Answer 16

As entirely grey

Question 17

How was John Major portrayed in The Guardian Newspaper?

Answer 17

As a grey superhero

Question 18

What was the situation for Major in dealing with Northern Ireland during his time as PM?

Answer 18

He could not create a long-term peace treaty

Question 19

What did John Major create for Northern Ireland in 1993?

Answer 19

The Downing Street Declaration

Question 20

What did the IRA do in August 1993 after the Downing Street Declaration was made?

Answer 20

They called a ceasefire

Question 21

When did Loyalist Ulster groups call a ceasefire in 1993?

Answer 21

October 1993

Question 22

How many people were killed by the IRA in 1994?

Answer 22

9 people

Question 23

Name a large IRA bombing event in 1995

Answer 23

Canary Wharf Bombing

Question 24

How many were injured in the 1995 Canary Wharf Bombing and how much were the damage costs?

Answer 24

100 people injured, £100 million damage cost

Question 25

What did the BBC organise for the 1997 election?

Answer 25

To have one of their presenters run against Neil Hamilton in his home constituency

Question 26

What was Neil Hamiltons home constituency?

Answer 26

Tatton

Question 27

Which BBC presenter ran against Neil Hamilton?

Answer 27

Martin Bell

Question 28

What did Labour and the Liberals do for their candidates in Tatton in the 1997 election? Why?

Answer 28

They withdrew them, to see how much of a victory Martin Bell would get

Question 29

What popular vote majority did Martin Bell get in the 1997 Tatton election?

Answer 29

Popular vote majority of 19,000