Why did the Conservatives win the 1983 election?

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Why did the formation of the SDP have a damaging effect on Labour?
The 4 leading figures were all prominent Labour politicians who left so then took voters with them leaving less for Labour.
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What did the Falklands war do for Thatcher?
The victory was seen as vindication of her bold leadership, the win was seen as successful venture, her approval ratings rose drastically, a third of conservative voters voted for Thatcher instead of party itself, increased her self confidence.
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What did the Falklands war do for the UK?
Ignited patriotism E.g The Sun ran with headlines like "Gotcha" after the sinking of the Argentine cruiser.
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How did Thatcher use the patriotism in the press?
She skilfully exploited this to promote her leadership image.
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What did the Falklands war do for the Conservatives?
Made them appear strong on defence.
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Why were the Conservatives not actually strong on defence?
Thatcher had cut defence spending in 1980 and only cancelled because of the invasion of the Falklands and also accepted the proposal to cut the Royal Navys surface fleet capabilities.
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Why was the Falklands war not the reason that the Conservatives won the 1983 election?
They had already been climbing the opinion polls before the war.
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What was Labours official policy on the Falklands war?
To seek a peaceful, negotiated settlement even though Micheal Foot had supported the idea of a task force in a keynote speech, however Thatcher rose to the challenge and Labour couldn't criticise.
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Why were Labours policies not the reason they lost the 1983 election?
Labour remained high in the polls even after the election of leftist Micheal Foot as leader of the party.
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Why were some of Labours "extremist" policies justified?
Public spending increases was justified because of the hardship that people faced under Thatchers spending cuts and some nationalisation was justified because of the huge rise in unemployment and the fall in manufacturing.
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Why were the Labour party divided on key policies such as defence?
While the manifesto included a commitment to the unilateralism, Healy stated in the first week of the election campaign that this should only happen if the USSR made "adequate concessions".
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What happened to Labours policies in 1980?
They moved significantly to the left after the election of Micheal Foot. The 1983 manifesto was described as the "longest suicide note in history" by a Labour right winger.
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What were Labours "extremist" policies?
Leave EEC, leave NATO, nationalise many industries, increase public spending (inflation may rise), abolish the house of lords, abolish fox hunting, undertake unilateral nuclear disarmament; cancelling Trident missiles and removing US cruise missiles.
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Why were the Labour party not economically competent?
Because of their recent economic record, memories of the winter of discontent where labour had not solved the UKs inflationary problems, while trade union disputes and a rise in unemployment marked the period they were in government, loss of trust.
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What was the 1980 Employment Act?
Cut trade union powers which was seen as a sensible policy after the disputes of the 1970s.
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What was popular about the Conservatives re-structuring of taxation?
The move to reduce the basic rate of income tax in 1979 from 33% to 30% which was supported by 63% of the public.
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What was the 1980 Housing Act?
People gained a "right to buy" their council house on favourable terms which was popular with many aspirational skilled working class voters (typically Labour voters).
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What was wrong with the public spending in Labours election manifesto?
Might increase inflation which had been reduced by the Conservatives, who had increased interest rates and cut public spending.
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What happened to manufacturing between 1978 and 1983?
Output fell by 30%.
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What happened to the unemployment rate and why?
There was a huge rise; it doubled between 1979 and 1981 reaching 2.5 million continuing to rise even after the conservatives lowered interest rates, it was over 3 million by 1983 because of conservative policies; high interest rates and cut spending.
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What was unpopular about the Conservatives re-structuring of taxation?
The move to double VAT to 15%.
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What did the economic policies of conservatism do?
Hit some areas (industrial areas and the north of England) particularly hard, creating genuine hardship. There were riots in many cities in 1981 partly due to economic hardship.
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Why was a report by the NEDC suppressed by conservative ministers?
Because it highlighted the negative impact of conservative economic policies after 1979, it was published by Labours Neil Kinnock in the election campaign.
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Why was it a surprise that Micheal Foot won the election as Labour leader?
He was from the left of the party and had lost the first round of voting to the moderate Dennis Healy, a better fit, causing a split in the party.
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What damaged Labours traditional support base?
Trade union membership fell by 15% from 1979 to 1983 and there was much de-industrialisation due to Thatchers economic policies.
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Who was Foot associated with and why did it make him look bad?
Foot had been Callaghans "leader of the house" so there was a clear association between them and Callaghan was seen as the prime minister who had failed to resolve the economic and industrial problems of his time.
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What were some of Foots weaknesses?
He was often ineffective on TV and sectors of the press exploited his negative image for example his age (67 when he became labour leader) and his appearance (depicted as a scarecrow on satire shows and decision to wear "donkey jacket" to memorial).
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Why was the electoral system not a reason why the Conservatives won the 1983 election?
The vote share won by the Conservatives (42.9%) and the huge fall in Labours vote share might well have led to a conservative victory anyway.
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Why could the electoral system be a reason that the Conservatives won the 1983 election?
Combined Labour (28%) and Alliance (26%) vote share show a clear majority over conservatives (dropped 1.5% from 1979). However system meant the Conservatives were able to win a large number of seats, because of split opposition (rose from 45 to 144).
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What did the Falklands war do for Thatcher?

Back

The victory was seen as vindication of her bold leadership, the win was seen as successful venture, her approval ratings rose drastically, a third of conservative voters voted for Thatcher instead of party itself, increased her self confidence.

Card 3

Front

What did the Falklands war do for the UK?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How did Thatcher use the patriotism in the press?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did the Falklands war do for the Conservatives?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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