Election 1979 General Election 1997 General Election 2010 General Election 2017 General Election
Winner Thatcher (Conservative) won against Blair (Labour) won against Major Cameron (Conservative) formed a May (Conservative) won against
Callaghan (Labour) (Conservative) coalition government with Clegg Corbyn (Labour)
(Liberal Democrat) against Brown
(Labour)
Context - Labour in power since 1974 – - Conservatives in power for - Brown was blamed for the - The main three parties
change election. 18 years (longest period financial crash (not true) but disagreed on a number of
- Economic decline due to since WW2) - change is now credited for leading policy areas: Brexit, tax,
industrial unrest and election. the G8 in their response to welfare benefits (particularly
widespread strikes. - Unusual as it was not at a the financial crash. the bedroom tax and
- Labour had made time of economic - 6th May 2010 - morning pensions), NHS funding, and
agreements with liberals and catastrophe or social after the election, the BBC education (particularly the
Scottish/Welsh unionists to upheaval. confirmed a hung Parl. introduction of new selective
stay in power. - (Following a severe recession - 11th May 2010, coalition schools).
- Conservatives pleaded to in the early in the early talks began between the
control inflation and curb 1990s), the following years Conservatives and Lib Dems.
power of unions. were characterised by steady Gordon Brown announced
- Election triggered by growth, low unemployment he was resigning as PM and
withdrawal of support for and low inflation. Labour leader.
gov by nationalist parties, - David Cameron was
after referendum results on appointed as PM and he
Scottish and Welsh appointed Clegg as Deputy
devolution went against gov PM.
it led to Callaghan being - On 12th May, a formal
forced to hold an election at coalition had been approved,
the worst time. and the coalition deal was
published.
Conservatives Main manifesto policies: - Unpopular policies (e.g. rail - Sought to leave the single
1. Restore health of economic privatisation, VAT). market, control immigration,
and social life by controlling - Sleaze, cheating on pairing and to separate from the
inflation and finding a on fishing quotas (1996), Human Rights Act, creating a
balance between rights and arms to Iraq, IRA prison UK law instead.
duties of trade union escapes, BSE, judicial - Proposed that the
, movement. reviews, reluctance of corporation tax fall by 17%,
2. Restore incentives so that ministers to resign. but despite being a 'low tax'
hard work is rewarded. - Minority gov by end of 1996 party, did not promise not to
3. Uphold Parl and rule of law. - gov dependent in raise taxes.
4. Support family life Commons on Unionists. - Wanted to replace the 'triple
(education and wellbeing - Bitter party disunity over lock' pensions and test the
services). Europe. winter fuel allowance.
5. Strengthen defences and - Major unpopular when - Proposed £8b more funding
work with allies to protect compared. for NHS and £4b for
interest. - Conservative press largely education.
- This Conservatives had a turned against them - Favour new selective
clear mandate to follow especially The Sun. schools.
through on Thatcherite - Time for a change – widely
policies (first time it wasn’t a held public sentiment.
consensus-style election - John Major presented in
since 1945). cartoons as grey and
uncharismatic.
- Conservatives divided in the
years leading up, primarily
over the issue of our
relationship with the
European Union.
- Series of sex scandals badly
damaged the party’s
reputation.
- Financial scandals, such as
the “Cash for Questions”
affair, where two
Conservative backbenchers
were alleged to have
accepted payments via a
lobbyist, in return for asking
questions in the House of
Winner Thatcher (Conservative) won against Blair (Labour) won against Major Cameron (Conservative) formed a May (Conservative) won against
Callaghan (Labour) (Conservative) coalition government with Clegg Corbyn (Labour)
(Liberal Democrat) against Brown
(Labour)
Context - Labour in power since 1974 – - Conservatives in power for - Brown was blamed for the - The main three parties
change election. 18 years (longest period financial crash (not true) but disagreed on a number of
- Economic decline due to since WW2) - change is now credited for leading policy areas: Brexit, tax,
industrial unrest and election. the G8 in their response to welfare benefits (particularly
widespread strikes. - Unusual as it was not at a the financial crash. the bedroom tax and
- Labour had made time of economic - 6th May 2010 - morning pensions), NHS funding, and
agreements with liberals and catastrophe or social after the election, the BBC education (particularly the
Scottish/Welsh unionists to upheaval. confirmed a hung Parl. introduction of new selective
stay in power. - (Following a severe recession - 11th May 2010, coalition schools).
- Conservatives pleaded to in the early in the early talks began between the
control inflation and curb 1990s), the following years Conservatives and Lib Dems.
power of unions. were characterised by steady Gordon Brown announced
- Election triggered by growth, low unemployment he was resigning as PM and
withdrawal of support for and low inflation. Labour leader.
gov by nationalist parties, - David Cameron was
after referendum results on appointed as PM and he
Scottish and Welsh appointed Clegg as Deputy
devolution went against gov PM.
it led to Callaghan being - On 12th May, a formal
forced to hold an election at coalition had been approved,
the worst time. and the coalition deal was
published.
Conservatives Main manifesto policies: - Unpopular policies (e.g. rail - Sought to leave the single
1. Restore health of economic privatisation, VAT). market, control immigration,
and social life by controlling - Sleaze, cheating on pairing and to separate from the
inflation and finding a on fishing quotas (1996), Human Rights Act, creating a
balance between rights and arms to Iraq, IRA prison UK law instead.
duties of trade union escapes, BSE, judicial - Proposed that the
, movement. reviews, reluctance of corporation tax fall by 17%,
2. Restore incentives so that ministers to resign. but despite being a 'low tax'
hard work is rewarded. - Minority gov by end of 1996 party, did not promise not to
3. Uphold Parl and rule of law. - gov dependent in raise taxes.
4. Support family life Commons on Unionists. - Wanted to replace the 'triple
(education and wellbeing - Bitter party disunity over lock' pensions and test the
services). Europe. winter fuel allowance.
5. Strengthen defences and - Major unpopular when - Proposed £8b more funding
work with allies to protect compared. for NHS and £4b for
interest. - Conservative press largely education.
- This Conservatives had a turned against them - Favour new selective
clear mandate to follow especially The Sun. schools.
through on Thatcherite - Time for a change – widely
policies (first time it wasn’t a held public sentiment.
consensus-style election - John Major presented in
since 1945). cartoons as grey and
uncharismatic.
- Conservatives divided in the
years leading up, primarily
over the issue of our
relationship with the
European Union.
- Series of sex scandals badly
damaged the party’s
reputation.
- Financial scandals, such as
the “Cash for Questions”
affair, where two
Conservative backbenchers
were alleged to have
accepted payments via a
lobbyist, in return for asking
questions in the House of
