Factors explaining the 1979 general election

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  • Created by: kmules15
  • Created on: 10-12-21 10:51
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  • Factors explaining the 1979 General Election
    • Party policies and manifestos
      • Lab + Con = moderate
        • Both gave priority to bringing inflation
      • Callaghan = centre right
        • Resisted pressure to be more left
      • Thatcher showed little intention to move her party to the right
        • Mentioned moving nationalised industries back to private hands and removing some trade union powers
          • Nothing radical
            • When Callaghan claimed a Con victory would mean a lurch to the right, it had little credibility
    • Election Campaign
      • Cons. adopted modern advertising techniques under Gordon Reece and Tim Bell
      • Lab = no awareness of finer points of presentation
        • Thatcher open to photo opps
      • Con > Lab in opinion polls
        • But public think Callaghan will be better PM
          • 20 points ahead
            • Still respected his experience
      • Thatcher = wise to turn down televised debate
        • Would've shown differences between them
    • Con victory = weak Labour
      • Lab = minority administration that survived through deals with other countries
      • Mistimed the election
        • Expected to be called autumn 1978
        • Winter of discontent- govt attempt to impose 5% limit on pay increases
          • Collapsed + series of strikes
      • Callaghan failed to control trade unions = Con winning card
        • Media showed images of strike-bound Britain
          • Sun accused him of being out of touch after a holiday

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