Serina Shrestha
Evaluate the extent to which general elections in the UK are lost by the government rather than
won by the opposition.
Introduction
Define- The general election in the UK are held every 5 years under the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011.
Since the 1920s, the two dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
Discuss- The argument that general elections are lost by the government rather than won by the
opposition varies to different elections. In some cases, general elections are lost by governments rather
than won by the opposition due to the image of the party and its leader such as its involvement in
scandals, negative portrayal in the media and decisions that have devastating impact.
Direct- However, in other cases the general elections are rather won by the opposition due to their
attractive policies, attention of the media being widespread and captivating image of the party and its
leader, evident in the 1997 general election.
Para 1
Point- General elections are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition due to the
negative image of the party and its leader.
Evidence- This is evident in the 1997 general election where John Major’s Conservative lost to Labour,
perhaps due to results of sleaze scandal and his rejection to lower interest rates, removing the sterling
from ERM causing the catastrophic ‘Black Wednesday’.
Analysis-The image of Conservative, which had been in power for 18 years was a tired one, presided
over a deep economic recession in early 90’s, competence was an issue. Conservative PM John Major
appeared to be grey, unexciting and weak in comparison to Tony Blair who was clearly in command,
young, attractive and had a vision. The main problem for Conservatives was that the electorate
remembered the recession of the late 1980s and early 1990s and blamed it on them, resulting in the
government’s loss. There was also a general sense that the Conservatives had mismanaged the
economy. Sleaze referring to the record of sex scandals and financial corruption among Conservative
MP’s, was focused heavily on by the media.
Counter-point- However, it can be argued that the opposition party, Labour won the general election
due to their new portrayal of the party, that became attractive to the electorates as they coined it the
‘Third-way’ and ‘New Labour’.
Evaluate- But, due to the negative portrayal of the Conservative party they inevitably lost the election
rather than the opposition winning the election.
Para 2
Point- Moreover, general elections are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition as in
the 2017 general election called by the governing Conservative who were not able to gain a majority,
leading in Confidence and Supply deal with DUP.
Evidence- Despite gaining 42.2% of the vote, Theresa May lost 13 seats resulting in a hung parliament,
where May pledged to carry on with the support from DUP who had 10 seats, but her position as leader
of the Conservative party and PM had been severely weakened, including the credibility of the
Conservative party.
Analysis- The government rather lost the election due to the Conservatives continuing with policies
relating to austerity, promises to protect the NHS but making cuts to other services and major reform in
education which deterred some electorate from voting Conservative. The ‘Dementia tax’ also triggered
an embarrassing U-turn within 24 hours of the manifesto launch, while commitment to grammar schools
and the removal of triple lock on pensions alienated some of the core voters. Although with the two
terrorists attack that took place before the election, one at a concert in Manchester and other in
Evaluate the extent to which general elections in the UK are lost by the government rather than
won by the opposition.
Introduction
Define- The general election in the UK are held every 5 years under the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011.
Since the 1920s, the two dominant parties have been the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.
Discuss- The argument that general elections are lost by the government rather than won by the
opposition varies to different elections. In some cases, general elections are lost by governments rather
than won by the opposition due to the image of the party and its leader such as its involvement in
scandals, negative portrayal in the media and decisions that have devastating impact.
Direct- However, in other cases the general elections are rather won by the opposition due to their
attractive policies, attention of the media being widespread and captivating image of the party and its
leader, evident in the 1997 general election.
Para 1
Point- General elections are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition due to the
negative image of the party and its leader.
Evidence- This is evident in the 1997 general election where John Major’s Conservative lost to Labour,
perhaps due to results of sleaze scandal and his rejection to lower interest rates, removing the sterling
from ERM causing the catastrophic ‘Black Wednesday’.
Analysis-The image of Conservative, which had been in power for 18 years was a tired one, presided
over a deep economic recession in early 90’s, competence was an issue. Conservative PM John Major
appeared to be grey, unexciting and weak in comparison to Tony Blair who was clearly in command,
young, attractive and had a vision. The main problem for Conservatives was that the electorate
remembered the recession of the late 1980s and early 1990s and blamed it on them, resulting in the
government’s loss. There was also a general sense that the Conservatives had mismanaged the
economy. Sleaze referring to the record of sex scandals and financial corruption among Conservative
MP’s, was focused heavily on by the media.
Counter-point- However, it can be argued that the opposition party, Labour won the general election
due to their new portrayal of the party, that became attractive to the electorates as they coined it the
‘Third-way’ and ‘New Labour’.
Evaluate- But, due to the negative portrayal of the Conservative party they inevitably lost the election
rather than the opposition winning the election.
Para 2
Point- Moreover, general elections are lost by the government rather than won by the opposition as in
the 2017 general election called by the governing Conservative who were not able to gain a majority,
leading in Confidence and Supply deal with DUP.
Evidence- Despite gaining 42.2% of the vote, Theresa May lost 13 seats resulting in a hung parliament,
where May pledged to carry on with the support from DUP who had 10 seats, but her position as leader
of the Conservative party and PM had been severely weakened, including the credibility of the
Conservative party.
Analysis- The government rather lost the election due to the Conservatives continuing with policies
relating to austerity, promises to protect the NHS but making cuts to other services and major reform in
education which deterred some electorate from voting Conservative. The ‘Dementia tax’ also triggered
an embarrassing U-turn within 24 hours of the manifesto launch, while commitment to grammar schools
and the removal of triple lock on pensions alienated some of the core voters. Although with the two
terrorists attack that took place before the election, one at a concert in Manchester and other in
