Why Did Thatcher Win 3 General Elections In A Row Flashcards

1
Q

How many seats did every party win in the 1979 election?

A

Conservative: 339
Labour: 269
Liberal: 11

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2
Q

What was the percentage of votes each party got in the 1979?

A

Conservative: 43.9%
Labour: 36.9%
Liberal: 13.8%

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3
Q

In the 1979 general election where did around 40 seats change from Labour to conservative and decide the election?

A

London, south of England and midlands

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4
Q

Why did many voters switch from Labour to Conservative in 1979?

A

Because of Labours failure to deal with inflation or trade unions which eld to the ‘winter of discontent’

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5
Q

Why did the liberal vote drop by over 1 million in 1979?

A

Because some of their voters blamed them for keeping Callaghan’s government alive since 1977

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6
Q

How did the decline of the Liberals help Thatcher?

A

The conservatives were second in a lot of liberal seats so gained when the liberals vote fell

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7
Q

Why had Labour won more votes in 1979 than October 1974?

A

Because they had kept hold of their traditional seats in the industrial north, Scotland and Wales

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8
Q

How many seats did each party win in 1983 general election?

A

Conservative: 397
Labour: 209
Liberal: 17
SDP: 6
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 23

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9
Q

What percentage of the vote did each party get in the 1983 general election?

A

Conservative: 42.4%
Labour: 27.6%
Liberal: 13.7%
SDP: 11.6%
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 25.4%

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10
Q

What had reduced the Conservatives popularity by 1983?

A

Rise in unemployment and economic difficulties

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11
Q

What was a sign of unity and Britain’s greater confidence?

A

The victory in the Falklands

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12
Q

How was elect leader of Labour in November 1980?

A

Michael Foot

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13
Q

What did one person call Labours 1983 election manifesto?

A

‘The longest suicide note in history’

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14
Q

Why did Labour lose the 1983 election?

A

Foot’s policies like nuclear disarmament, further nationalisation and government regulation seemed old fashioned and didn’t appealed outside traditional labour voters

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15
Q

Who split the vote for labour in the 1983 general election?

A

The SDP

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16
Q

How many votes did each party get in the 1987 general election?

A

Conservative: 376
Labour: 229
Liberal: 17
SDP: 5
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 22

17
Q

What percentage of the votes did each party get in the 1987 general election?

A

Conservative: 43.4%
Labour: 31.7%
Liberal: 12.9%
SDP: 9.7%
LIberal/SDP Alliance: 22.6%

18
Q

Why did the conservatives win the 1987 general election?

A

Conservatives had popular polices among key sections of the electorate

19
Q

Why did the conservatives lose seats in 1987?

A

Labour had less weakness like ‘winter of discontent’ and conservatives had vote bumper like ‘Falklands factor’

20
Q

What governments polices appealed to many skilled working class and middle class voter tat helped win them the 1987 general election?

A

Selling of councils house and shares in privatised industries

21
Q

What helped gain working class support for the conservatives in 1987?

A

falling unemployment and a split left-wing vote

22
Q

What had the new Labour leader Neil Kinnock done in 1987 to bring Labour towards the centre?

A

Publicly criticised prominent left-wingers

23
Q

What was the criticism of Kinnock and a reason for only a 20 seat gain in 1987?

A

His long-winded speeches and Thatcher had a reputation to be a strong leader with a firm hold nationally and internationally