Ch 6 Britain summary notes
Why did Thatcher win three general elections in a row?
1979 – conservative win by 70 seats with 43.9%
Factor Explanation Importance
Labours inability to deal with • The ‘winter of discontent’ 1979 – 1
past economic problems unions demanding 40% wage increase
and strike until they got it
• Incoherent economic strategy’s
(Keynesian economics) leading to
inflation
• Maintained traditional industrial
norther support
• And in Scotland and Wales still won
more seats that conservative
• Even Calhan himself admitted that the
country was in a dire state, putting off
the election as a attempt for time to
pass (although this only made it
worse)
• “ When I am shaving in the morning I
say to myself; If I were a young man I
would emigrate”- Callahan
The middle class • Increasing resentful against strikes 2- a reaction to the
• Particularly piling up of rubbish during non response from
WOD 1
• Dec 1978 worst industrial unrest since
1926 general strike
• Liverpool- even grave diggers strike for
10 days no burying of dead demanding
for 9% rise
• Symbolic of dropping standards
• Thatcher played off this “I cant bear
Britain in decline, I really can’t”
Liberals • Held onto 11 seat strongholds 3. Is important to
• However lost 1 mil votes due to acknowledge and
conspiracy of propping up Callahan ads to sense of
since 77 (therefore marginal seats won best of the worst,
by C) in midlands and south but some would
have gone to
labour as well,
want particularly
close (70 seats)
, 1983 – Won by 188 seats with a overall percentage of 42.2% despite a further rise in unemployment
1982 3 mill unemployed (up to 60% in some areas of Liverpool) and economic problems in 1981
(may contribute to reduced popular vote)
Perhaps key reason behind economic recovery could be accounted for by oil. By 1982 oil was poring
£8 billion a year, 10% of all tax revenues (foreign office named it a rainbow over a sombre horizon)
Factor Explanation Importance
Divisions in labour party • Michal foot= leader, due to 2. doesn’t account
disastrous split form the
• Lacking an assured manner on TV skyrocketing
• More moderate split in 1981 formed majority
SDP (social democrat party) –
alliance with liberals- forming
modern liberal democrat party
• Poll predicted it would win 600 seats
but in reality only won 6
Shocking labour manifesto • Belief in nuclear disarmament , 3. result of divisions
further nationalisation of industry
and gov regulation (old fashioned
and out of step)
• Described as ‘longest suicide note in
history’ as so out of step
The Falkland’s war • Sign of improved British confidence 1. Symbol of
and unity national rebirth-
• Sit just off Argentina but Britain has reinvented herself
colonial power, dictator Galtieri as a British icon
responded to British cuts of navy, Took salute herself
and attacked instead of queen at
• Lead by sir henry leach (used chance march in
to save navy agenised further cuts) commemoration of
• May 1982 ordered bombing of Falkland war
Belgrano (Argentinian battleship)
most controversial action as outside
British waters, drowning 321
Argentinians
• Took three weeks
• Was big gamble with French missiles
supporting
• But paid off significantly once most
hated PR minister now boasts when
showing checkers “this was the chair
I sat in when I decided to sink the
Belgrano”
Why did Thatcher win three general elections in a row?
1979 – conservative win by 70 seats with 43.9%
Factor Explanation Importance
Labours inability to deal with • The ‘winter of discontent’ 1979 – 1
past economic problems unions demanding 40% wage increase
and strike until they got it
• Incoherent economic strategy’s
(Keynesian economics) leading to
inflation
• Maintained traditional industrial
norther support
• And in Scotland and Wales still won
more seats that conservative
• Even Calhan himself admitted that the
country was in a dire state, putting off
the election as a attempt for time to
pass (although this only made it
worse)
• “ When I am shaving in the morning I
say to myself; If I were a young man I
would emigrate”- Callahan
The middle class • Increasing resentful against strikes 2- a reaction to the
• Particularly piling up of rubbish during non response from
WOD 1
• Dec 1978 worst industrial unrest since
1926 general strike
• Liverpool- even grave diggers strike for
10 days no burying of dead demanding
for 9% rise
• Symbolic of dropping standards
• Thatcher played off this “I cant bear
Britain in decline, I really can’t”
Liberals • Held onto 11 seat strongholds 3. Is important to
• However lost 1 mil votes due to acknowledge and
conspiracy of propping up Callahan ads to sense of
since 77 (therefore marginal seats won best of the worst,
by C) in midlands and south but some would
have gone to
labour as well,
want particularly
close (70 seats)
, 1983 – Won by 188 seats with a overall percentage of 42.2% despite a further rise in unemployment
1982 3 mill unemployed (up to 60% in some areas of Liverpool) and economic problems in 1981
(may contribute to reduced popular vote)
Perhaps key reason behind economic recovery could be accounted for by oil. By 1982 oil was poring
£8 billion a year, 10% of all tax revenues (foreign office named it a rainbow over a sombre horizon)
Factor Explanation Importance
Divisions in labour party • Michal foot= leader, due to 2. doesn’t account
disastrous split form the
• Lacking an assured manner on TV skyrocketing
• More moderate split in 1981 formed majority
SDP (social democrat party) –
alliance with liberals- forming
modern liberal democrat party
• Poll predicted it would win 600 seats
but in reality only won 6
Shocking labour manifesto • Belief in nuclear disarmament , 3. result of divisions
further nationalisation of industry
and gov regulation (old fashioned
and out of step)
• Described as ‘longest suicide note in
history’ as so out of step
The Falkland’s war • Sign of improved British confidence 1. Symbol of
and unity national rebirth-
• Sit just off Argentina but Britain has reinvented herself
colonial power, dictator Galtieri as a British icon
responded to British cuts of navy, Took salute herself
and attacked instead of queen at
• Lead by sir henry leach (used chance march in
to save navy agenised further cuts) commemoration of
• May 1982 ordered bombing of Falkland war
Belgrano (Argentinian battleship)
most controversial action as outside
British waters, drowning 321
Argentinians
• Took three weeks
• Was big gamble with French missiles
supporting
• But paid off significantly once most
hated PR minister now boasts when
showing checkers “this was the chair
I sat in when I decided to sink the
Belgrano”
