Voting behaviour 1974

Question 1

1974 Feb election key people

Answer 1

Edward Heath- PM, conserve

Harold Wilson- labour

Jeremy Thorpe- liberals

Enoch Powell- Conserve

Question 2

Info on Powell?

Answer 2

Urged people to vote against Heath

Vocal opponent of British membership of the eec

“Rivers of blood” speech 1968 accusations anti-immigrant and racist sentiment

Question 3

Impact of Powell?

Answer 3

Larger than average swing to labour in West Midlands where Powell’s constituency was

4% compared to 1% pro labour swing

According to 1998 biography of Powell, him and Heath held his intervention responsible for loss of majority for conservatives

Question 4

Seat statistics for 1974

Answer 4

Labour 301, up by 20
37.2%

Conservative 297, down by 37
37.9%

Liberal 14, up by 8
19.3%

Question 5

Demography statistics for 1974

Answer 5

67% of AB social class voted conservative
10% labour 

24% DE social class voted conservative
53% labour