Why Did Thatcher Win 3 General Elections In A Row Flashcards
How many seats did every party win in the 1979 election?
Conservative: 339
Labour: 269
Liberal: 11
What was the percentage of votes each party got in the 1979?
Conservative: 43.9%
Labour: 36.9%
Liberal: 13.8%
In the 1979 general election where did around 40 seats change from Labour to conservative and decide the election?
London, south of England and midlands
Why did many voters switch from Labour to Conservative in 1979?
Because of Labours failure to deal with inflation or trade unions which eld to the ‘winter of discontent’
Why did the liberal vote drop by over 1 million in 1979?
Because some of their voters blamed them for keeping Callaghan’s government alive since 1977
How did the decline of the Liberals help Thatcher?
The conservatives were second in a lot of liberal seats so gained when the liberals vote fell
Why had Labour won more votes in 1979 than October 1974?
Because they had kept hold of their traditional seats in the industrial north, Scotland and Wales
How many seats did each party win in 1983 general election?
Conservative: 397
Labour: 209
Liberal: 17
SDP: 6
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 23
What percentage of the vote did each party get in the 1983 general election?
Conservative: 42.4%
Labour: 27.6%
Liberal: 13.7%
SDP: 11.6%
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 25.4%
What had reduced the Conservatives popularity by 1983?
Rise in unemployment and economic difficulties
What was a sign of unity and Britain’s greater confidence?
The victory in the Falklands
How was elect leader of Labour in November 1980?
Michael Foot
What did one person call Labours 1983 election manifesto?
‘The longest suicide note in history’
Why did Labour lose the 1983 election?
Foot’s policies like nuclear disarmament, further nationalisation and government regulation seemed old fashioned and didn’t appealed outside traditional labour voters
Who split the vote for labour in the 1983 general election?
The SDP
How many votes did each party get in the 1987 general election?
Conservative: 376
Labour: 229
Liberal: 17
SDP: 5
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 22
What percentage of the votes did each party get in the 1987 general election?
Conservative: 43.4%
Labour: 31.7%
Liberal: 12.9%
SDP: 9.7%
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 22.6%
Why did the conservatives win the 1987 general election?
Conservatives had popular polices among key sections of the electorate
Why did the conservatives lose seats in 1987?
Labour had less weakness like ‘winter of discontent’ and conservatives had vote bumper like ‘Falklands factor’
What governments polices appealed to many skilled working class and middle class voter tat helped win them the 1987 general election?
Selling of councils house and shares in privatised industries
What helped gain working class support for the conservatives in 1987?
falling unemployment and a split left-wing vote
What had the new Labour leader Neil Kinnock done in 1987 to bring Labour towards the centre?
Publicly criticised prominent left-wingers
What was the criticism of Kinnock and a reason for only a 20 seat gain in 1987?
His long-winded speeches and Thatcher had a reputation to be a strong leader with a firm hold nationally and internationally
