General election case study 1979

- In 1979, Thatcher's Conservative party were elected, winning a small majority of 43 which increased in the 1983 and 1987 elections.

Explaining election results

- Election results can be explained by factors such as the party policies and manifesto, the political context of the election and campaign run by each party.

- A party's manifesto outlines the party's programme of policies it aims to implement if elected.

1979 result : political context

- Key reason for the Conservative victory in 1979 was the weakness of the Labour govt, which lost a vote of no confidence in Parliament and had been regularly defeated in the House of Commons.

- Callaghan also seen as unable to control trade unions, who'd been striking following attempts to impose a 5% limit on pay increases in early 1979, and his govt seen unable to address social breakdown across UK.- Country recovering from Winter of Discontent, there were mass strikes.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.

- Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunites she took advantage of.

- Conservatives put pressure on Labour over the 'Winter of Discontent' and their handling of the economy.

- Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.

1979 result: party policies

- Conservatives and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.

- Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but didn't outline the extent to which she would do so.