The Labour Party Under Kinnock 1987-92

Question 1

What was the revival of the Labour Party dominated by in the 1990s

Answer 1

-revival of lab dominated by ideas + personality of Blair
-but lab transformation not solely down to Blair with his predecessors Kinnock + smith making contributions

Question 2

What did Kinnock do to Militant tendency

Answer 2

-weakened hard left (militant tendency) influence
-1985 party conference Kinnock publicly denounced MT + 1986 MT leaders incl. Hatton expelled from party
-Kinnock reformed Ind policies like toning down lab commitment to mass nationalisation + criticised Scargill’s 1984-85 NUM strike without ballot

Question 3

How did the 1987 general election defeat influence Kinnock

Answer 3

-pushed Kinnock seek reorganise lab + move its policies towards centre with party becoming more professional in its presentation

Question 4

Who was the mastermind behind the move to reorganise labour

Answer 4

-Peter Mandelson - Kinnock’s director of communications 1985
-John Smith as chancellor who gave Lab more reassuring image of modernisation + competence

Question 5

What was launched after the 1987 election defeat

Answer 5

-a policy review was launched after 1987 defeat
-ended with most of 1983 + 1987 manifesto’s being ditched incl. withdrawal EEC, UND c ruse in tax on higher incomes
-many lab left were concerned about these proposals

Question 6

What did Kinnock do regarding TUs

Answer 6

-Kinnock signalled a split with TUs by ending lab support for ‘closed shop’ 1989
-this was where workers have been members of particular union to work particular job

Question 7

What happened in the 1992 election following Kinnock’s changes

Answer 7

-lab looking like next gov as ahead in polls before thatcher resigned + after Major took over 1992
-however Lab lost

Question 8

What was the outcome of lab losing the 1992 election

Answer 8

-many blamed Kinnock for 1992 defeat leading to him resigning 4 days later
-but before this turning against Kinnock he was treated as conquering hero at election rally in Sheffield but then accused of being over-confident

Question 9

What did some voters + press say about Kinnock

Answer 9

-some voters trouble seeing Kinnock as PM
-the Sun’s election day head,one stated ‘If Kinnock Wins, will the last person to leave Br please turn off the lights’
-however the lab Kinnock left 1992 was stringer than the one in 1987