Thatcher - Politcal Impact Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Thatcher - Politcal Impact Deck (13)
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1
Q

What happened to the Labour Party in 1980?

A

Callaghan resigns and is replaced by Michael foot. Foot is very left wing and triggers a split in the party

2
Q

1) What happens to the Liberal party in 1979?

2) what is the SDP?

A

1) Won a few seats and leader David Steel negotiates the SDP- Liberal alliance.
2) 1981-82 a couple of dozen MP’s leave Labour to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which then forms alliance with Liberals

3
Q

How effective is the alliance in the early 1980’s?

A

Wins several good bi-elections victories between 1981-1983 and promises to ‘break the mould’ of UK politics. Still only came 3rd in 1983 election

4
Q

What events occurred in the mid 1980’s and what impact did it have on the Conservative party?

A
  • 1984-85 miners strike polarised opinions but thatcher won it
  • 1986 ‘westlands crisis’ saw criticism of Thatcher’s style within her cabinet
  • Still went on to win 1987 landslide victory
5
Q

What happened to Labour in 1983? And how well do they do in 1987 election?

A
  • Labour’s left wing manifesto described as the longest suicide note in history. Confirmed by abysmal 1983 election result
  • Neil Kinnock becomes leader and starts to lead party away from extreme left wing policies.
  • Lose badly in 1987
6
Q

What happens to the SDP-Liberals alliance in the mid 1980’s?

A
  • SDP moves right by Liberals are further left

- Leads to another disappointing campaign in 1987

7
Q

What happened to the Conservative party in the late 1980’s?

A
  • Divisions in party over Europe emerge
  • 1989-90 poll tax undermines confidence in thatcher weakening the party.
  • She resigns November 1990
8
Q

What happened to the Labour Party in the late 1980’s?

A
  • 1987-92 Kinnock continues to move Labour away from left -unilateral nuclear disarmament is abandoned
  • Had to resign after defeat in 1992
9
Q

What happens to the Liberal party in the late 80’s early 90’s?

A
  • Alliance parties merge and get one leader, paddy Ashdown
  • Achieved good result in 1992 election
  • Continues to progress under Paddy Ashdown and does well in 1997 election.
10
Q

Who is thatcher replaced by and what is his effects?

A
  • John Major
  • Milder figure than Margaret but his policies were no dissimilar
  • Won 1992 election
  • Party split over Europe in 1992 parliament
  • Increasing number of scandals seem to symbolise running out of steam
  • Lost badly in 1997 election
11
Q

What happens to Labour in the mid 1990’s?

A
  • John smith becomes leader but dies of heart attack
  • Blair takes over and brings in a new bran “New Labour”
  • Blair moved even further left and appealed to many who wanted change
  • won 1997 election well
12
Q

What impact did Thatcher have on the 3 parties?

A
  • Conservative = became more radical, major did not abandon Thatcher’s core approach
  • Labour = Lurched left in early 1980’s and then they moved back to centre ground. Moved a long way right as they accepted parts of Thatcher’s agenda
  • Liberals = initial benefit from Labour split created alliance, became electorally more successful with conservative decline in 1990’s. Policies fairly stable
13
Q

1) What happened to the conservative party in 1979?
2) What happened to the Conservative party as a result of the Falklands war?
3) What happened to Conservative party in 1983?

A

1) Won election and introduced a radical agenda
2) Influence of wets (thatcher haters) diminishes as Falklands helps thatcher overcome economic and social controversy
3) Won election convincingly