Why did Thatcher win three general elections?

Question 1

What was the outcome of the 1979 election?

Answer 1

The Conservatives won 43.9% of the vote and 339 seats

Labour won 36.9% of the vote and 269 seats

The Liberals won 13.8% of the vote

Question 2

Where was the 1979 election decided largely?

Answer 2

In London, the south, and the Midlands where 40 seats changed hands because voters were punishing Labour for its failures

Question 3

What had the previous decades created?

Answer 3

An enlarged middle class who felt increasingly resentful about strikes and trade union power

Question 4

What did the piling up of rubbish seem symbolic of?

Answer 4

A decline in standards

Question 5

Why was the Liberal vote significant in determining the outcome of the election?

Answer 5

Their total vote collapsed (-1mn) because of the Lib-Lab pact

This was enough to hand seats to the Conservatives

Question 6

What happened to the Labour vote?

Answer 6

The vote didn’t significantly decline

The party succeeded in retaining its traditional support, where it won twice as many seats as the Conservatives

Question 7

What did the Financial Terms observe?

Answer 7

‘this is a very divided country’

Question 8

What was the outcome of the 1983 election?

Answer 8

The Conservatives won 42.4% of the vote and 397 seats

Labour won 27.6% of the vote and 209 seats

The Liberal/SDP alliance won 25.4% of the vote and 23 seats

Question 9

What happened by 1981?

Answer 9

The rise in unemployment and economic problems had reduced the popularity of the government

Question 10

What had the victory in the Falklands done?

Answer 10

Increased the personal popularity of Thatcher as it was seen as a sign of Britain’s greater confidence

Question 11

What was Foot’s role in the Conservative victory?

Answer 11

His belief in nuclear disarmament, nationalism, and government regulation seemed old-fashioned

Policies made little appeal outside of strongholds

Question 12

What happened in March 1981?

Answer 12

The more moderate elements of Labour split away to form the SDP

Question 13

What was the manifesto described as?

Answer 13

‘the longest suicide note in history’ because it was so out of touch

Question 14

What did the Liberal/SDP alliance do?

Answer 14

Split the anti-Thatcher vote which allowed Conservative gains in some traditional Labour seats

Question 15

What was the outcome of the 1987 election?

Answer 15

Conservatives won 376 seats (lost 21 seats)

Labour won 229 seats (31.7%)

Question 16

What didn’t allow for victory?

Answer 16

The weakness of the Labour leadership and the split in the party

Question 17

What did Thatcher not have?

Answer 17

A ‘Falklands factor’ or ‘winter of discontent’ to campaign on

Question 18

When Thatcher called an election what was the position of the Conservatives?

Answer 18

Had an 11.4% lead

Question 19

Why did the Conservatives have a lead in 1987?

Answer 19

Council house policy appealed to the electorate

People believed the government supported their desire to increase their wealth

Unemployment had dropped by 300k to below 3mn

Pound was strong

Question 20

What was the position of Labour?

Answer 20

Hadn’t fully recovered from its defeat in 1983 but Kinnock had criticised left-wingers and brought the party towards the centre

Question 21

What was the Labour vote?

Answer 21

Polled over 1.5mn votes more than in 1983 and won 20 more seats

Question 22

What was the impact of Kinnock?

Answer 22

Style had a limited appeal to voters and was often long-winded in speeches

Question 23

What did Thatcher seem to be?

Answer 23

The stronger leader with a very firm hold over her colleagues and a growing international reputation

Question 24

What was Labour more affected by?

Answer 24

The Alliance contested every seat and polled 22.6% of the vote