Role of the Media on the Outcomes of elections Flashcards
what was the main piece of ‘propaganda’ which the conservatives used in 1979
‘Labour isn’t working’ with a long line outside the unemployment office.
what triggered the 1979 general election
after Harold wilson was replaced by James Callaghan there was a vote of no confidence triggering a general election.
what were the Labour policies 1979
they focused on its ability to deal with the trade unions and the experience of its leader James callaghan, it adopted a moderate financial course and kept the left silent
what were the Conservative policies 1979
focused on ‘labour isn’t working’ and insisted that Britain could be better, it proposed the right to buy scheme in housing and promised tax cuts.
what was significant about the campaign 1979
the Mass media played a prominent role in the way the campaigns unfolded
- press conferences were timed to proved stories for the midday news
- afternoon walkabouts by leaders were designed to coincide with the early evening news
- major speeches were timed to catch the evening news.
what was the case against thatcher 1979
She was un experienced
less in touch with ordinary people
more extreme
more condescending
maybe it was a women
who won the 1979 general election
Margate Thatcher and the conservatives
Conservatives 339
Labour 269
Liberal 11
What was Thatcher’s thought on trade unions
85% of workers were in trade unions in 1979 and Thatcher wanted to decrease their power in politics
winter of discontent in 1978-79 this was mass strike action.
How did people vote: Location, Class, Gender, age, race. 1979
Geography - all areas swung towards the conservatives, but the swing was much more pronounced in southern Britain
Class - Conservatives remained dominate in AB and C1 voters. Labour won the C2 and DE voters but the conservatives gained swings of 11% from C2 and 9% from DE voters
Gender - Men evenly split, women showed a slight preference for the conservatives
Age - labour won the 18-24 group. conservatives won across all other groups.
Race - Lack of data under 5% of the population and not considered by parties or polling organisations.
main pieces of ‘propaganda’ in the 1997 general election
Conservative new labour new danger
Labour ‘because britain deserves better’ and the switch of the sun news print ‘it was the sun wot won it’
Background before the 1997 election
1992 John Major’s conservative party got a surprise however intensely divided the issue of the European union.
- Economic crisis and being ejected from the European Exchange rate Mechanism (ERM)
- Impact of sleaze with prostitution scandal.
Conservative policies in 1997
focuse on economic recovery, internal divison and the presence of the referendum party meant the issue of Europe domintaed the conservative campaign, leaving labour free to present its ‘third way’ economic policy
Labour policies in 1997
reassurances about the economy and 5 specific pledges to cut class sized, introduce a fast track punishment system for young offenders, cut NHS waiting lists, get 250,000 unemployed 25 year olds to work, cut VAT on heating and not to raise income tax.
significance of the 1997 campaign
1997 changed from a 31 day campaign to 6 weeks which can be echoed in todays politics with campaigns starting and lasting a lot longer than in 1959.
sleaze, referring to the record of sex scandals and financial corruption among conservative MPs
labour supported devolution and consevatives said in the last 3 days ‘72 hours to save the union’
Impact of the 1997 General election
people saw little difference between the main parties on policies leading to a rise in Disillusion and apathy. a drawn out campaign and opinion polls relentlessly pointing towards substantial Labour win.
