Why did the CP lose the 2005 election?

Question 1

Role of the individual

Answer 1

• Hague resigned immediately after election defeat
• Duncan Smith’s leadership was not a success - he lacked charisma and was no match for Blair at PMQs, the Conservatives remained behind in opinion polls, within a few months Conservatives were plotting to get rid of him - since rebelling so much against Labour, found it difficult to command the loyalty from Backbenchers.
• Cameron wanted to radically change the party

Question 2

Conservative Party Policy

Answer 2

• Smith reopened divisions in the party over Europe because of his Eurosceptism
• When Cameron became leader he wanted to modify and detox the CP
• Backed the Iraq War
• Conservative Party remained socially Conservative - voting against repeal of Section 28
• Much of the work that Smith did on Social Justice was abandoned and the electorate distrusted the Conservatives on key policy areas, especially the public sector.

Question 3

Labour strengths

Answer 3

• Although Blair’s involvement in the Iraq War did lose him popularity, he was still regarded by the electorate as the outstanding among party leaders. Furthermore since the Conservatives had supported the governments decision to go to war in Iraq, they were unable to gain from criticism of the war.
• There were growing divisions within LP between ‘Blairite’ and ‘Brownite’ fractions, and the economy was not growing as strongly as it had been - problem not big enough

Question 4

Conservative Weaknesses

Answer 4

• Howard was hampered by a poor image.
• Voters in growing numbers were rejecting Labour, but were not yet convinced enough by the Conservatives to vote for them.
• Public’s opinion on party was increasingly damaged by the fact that it had three different leaders within 2 years, struggling to find competence