What Won The Election Flashcards
(20 cards)
How many seats did the Conservative Party win in 2015?
331 seats (a majority).
How many seats did Labour win?
232 seats.
What was the SNP’s result in 2015?
56 seats (a near-total sweep of Scotland).
How many seats did the Liberal Democrats win?
8 seats (a dramatic loss from 57 in 2010).
How many seats did UKIP and the Green Party each win?
1 seat each.
What were the results for Northern Ireland parties?
DUP: 8 seats
Sinn Féin: 4 seats
SDLP: 3 seats
Ulster Unionists: 2 seats.
What was the key decision voters faced in 2015?
A choice between two main parties and two potential Prime Ministers: David Cameron vs. Ed Miliband.
By what margin did the public prefer David Cameron over Ed Miliband?
5:4 in Cameron’s favor – not a landslide, but decisive.
What was the role of leadership perception in the result?
Ed Miliband never gained public confidence, and leadership opinions rarely change once formed.
How did economic trust impact the election?
The Conservatives successfully blamed Labour for the financial crisis and national debt, reinforcing their economic credibility.
How did Labour’s business policies affect its campaign?
Labour’s criticism of predatory businesses was popular but lacked a positive plan for economic growth, damaging their economic credibility.
How did public attitudes toward frugality and austerity impact the result?
The public dislikes austerity but fears parties that don’t signal financial responsibility—Labour failed to address this adequately.
Who won the digital battle in 2015?
Labour, with an effective online presence and grassroots activism.
Who won the traditional media battle?
The Conservatives, thanks to strong backing from major print media outlets.
Why did ‘analog power’ (traditional media) matter more than digital campaigning?
Elections are still more influenced by traditional media like newspapers and TV than by social media and online activism.
What does the phrase ‘Whoever owns the future owns the present’ mean in politics?
Voters are drawn to parties that offer a clear vision for the future, not just defensive policies.
How did Labour’s manifesto compare to the Conservatives’ in terms of future vision?
Labour’s programme was defensive, while the Conservatives projected a more future-oriented approach.
What was a key reason Geoff Mulgan predicted a Conservative minority government?
Their future-focused messaging and economic credibility—though he misjudged the size of their majority.
What key challenges did Cameron face after the election?
Managing internal divisions within his party (especially Euroskeptics).
Addressing the Scottish independence question after the SNP’s success.
Handling the ongoing fiscal crisis and balancing public spending.
What two potential directions could the Conservative government take?
A forward-looking, progressive conservatism.
A more regressive, backward-looking conservatism.
