Election success 1987:

What year did the IRA attempt to assassinate Thatcher?

in 1984. This only made thatcher more popular, and highlighted to electorate her strength in leadership.

What was having a greater impact in the 1987 election than previously?

Conservative policies. Conservatives policies became appealing to voters, highlights conservative policies caused more popularity for tory gov.

What appealed to middle class voters?

Buying council houses. Conservative policies were appealing to middle class voters, allowing conservative to strengthen the reach of their votes to middle class, which allowed conservatives to win more votes, but still less seats.

What had inflation dropped to in 1987?

to 4.17%. Inflation decreased considerably due to thatcher policies, highlighting that conservatives policies were fundamental to winning the 1987 election.

What was the labour leader?

Neil Kinnock. Kinnock wanted modernisation of the labour party, and wanted to fix the divisions within labour in order to provide a credible alternative to thatcher gov. → 1985 conference speech- highlighted Kinnock wanted to modernise & unite labour.

What did Kinnock say about the left of the party?

‘Looney left”. Kinnock did not agree with the left of the party and wanted to separate labours reputation/ image from them.

What strikes were occurring in 1984/85?

Miners strikes. Thatcher was able to successfully limit unions authority through eventually limiting trade union membership in the long- term/ stopping the strikes.

Who refused to call a ballot for the strikes to be legal?

Arthur Scargill. Highlights how Scargill was extreme and this would undermine legal legitimacy of the strikes, causing some miners who actually wanted to keep working/(threat of unemployment), to feel alienated and therefore causing division within unions. Moreover, highlights how Scargills actions led to political and public undermining of unions.

What did Kinnock attack within the labour party?

Militant tendency. He was attacking liverpool city council as this was led by militant tendency/ trotskyists(communist ideology), which caused the labour party to look radical, by Kinnock attacking this side of the party, it highlights that he does not agree with their ideology, and therefore wants to modernise the party to increase public support for labour.

What was still splitting the labour vote?

SDP/liberal alliance. Shows prevalent opposition party influence in votes, how the SDP/ liberal alliance was still splitting the anti-thatcher vote, and therefore was still significant in influencing 1987 election results.