Thatcher Elections

Question 1

What was the conservative strength in the 1979 election?

Answer 1

Thatcher displayed positively in the press
- shown to be tough on unions
- restore law and order
- Iron Lady

She also did lots of media interviews and had backing of the sun

Question 2

What was the conservative strength in the 1983 election?

What is the however point?

Answer 2

Her success in leading Falklands war 1982 increased personal popularity of her

HOWEVER gets 700,000 less votes than in 1979

Question 3

What was the conservative strength in the 1987 election?

Answer 3

Popular policies amongst middle class in particular
- selling council houses
- shares in private industry

And she got the most votes out of all 3 elections

Question 4

What were the Labour weaknesses of the 1979

Answer 4

Winter of discontent 1978/79 meant a decay in living standards

Middle class abandonment of labour (40 seats change to conservative)

Question 5

What were the Labour weaknesses of the 1983 election

Answer 5

• Labour manifesto was the “longest suicide note” in history as it was so out of touch (lost support from general public)
• Micheal foot as leader had old fashioned and left wing views so didn’t appeal to non traditional voters
• split Labour as right wing labour MPs leave and form SDP March 1981 (splits Labour votes)

Question 6

What were the Labour weaknesses of the 1987 election?

What is the however point

Answer 6

• Kinnock was criticised for his boring long winded speeches and lack of appeal to voters
• still affected by the SDO and liberal alliance who split anti conservative vote

BUT did gain 1.5 million more votes

Question 7

What were the economic policy’s /other factors of the 1979 election

Answer 7

Collapse of liberal party lost them 1 million which went to conservatives as they were blamed for keeping Callaghan’s gov in office for so long

Conservatives promised to deal with inflation

Question 8

What were the economic policy’s /other factors of the 1983 election
WHICH OPPOSE WHY CONSERVATIVES WON

Answer 8

Rise in unemployment and economic problems eg. Inflation from 1979- 82

This reduced popularity of conservative votes as suggests they can’t handle economy

Question 9

What were the economic policy’s /other factors of the 1987 election

Answer 9

Unemployment was falling, inflation was lower than it has been since the war (SHE HAS SUCCEEDED IN HER MISSION) and the pound was strong
So sense the economy was doing well