1979 Election Case Study

What was the duration of the 1979 UK general election campaign?

6 weeks

Which party leader was more popular during the 1979 election?

Jim Callaghan of the Labour Party

What economic condition characterized the UK during the 1970s?

Recession and stagflation

What was the unemployment rate in the UK during the 1970s?

6%, which had doubled during the last parliament

What significant event occurred during the winter of 1978/9?

The winter of discontent, marked by widespread strikes

What was the highest income tax rate in the UK during the 1970s?

95%

Who emerged as the leader of the Conservative Party in 1975?

Margaret Thatcher

What was the Liberal Party's percentage of the vote in the 1979 election?

About 14%

How many seats did the Liberal Party win in the 1979 election?

11 seats

What role did media play in the 1979 UK general election?

Media, especially television, played a greater role than in any previous election.

What percentage of 18-24 year olds voted for the Conservative Party in 1979?

42%

How did gender affect voting patterns in the 1979 election?

52% of men preferred a male PM, while 15% preferred a female PM.

What was the voting trend among ethnic minorities in the 1979 election?

80-86% of Asian and Afro-Caribbean respondents supported Labour.

Which region showed a clear Labour lean in the 1979 election?

The North

What was the notable voting trend in Scotland during the 1979 election?

Scotland saw a notable swing toward the Conservatives.

What was the impact of the SNP and Plaid Cymru on the Labour vote?

They split the Labour vote in Scotland and Wales.

What percentage of women voted for the Conservative Party in 1979?

47%

How many women stood as MPs in the 1979 election?

209 women, an increase from 161.

What was the outcome for women in the House of Commons after the 1979 election?

The number of women fell from 27 to 19.

What was the impact of Thatcherism on the Conservative Party's appeal?

Thatcherism appealed to individuals favoring free market policies.

What was the effect of strikes on the Labour Party's popularity during the campaign?

Strikes, such as by teachers, furthered Conservative popularity and made Labour's plan look bad.

What demographic showed a significant swing to the Conservative Party?

Skilled working classes, moving 15% to the Conservatives compared to October 1974.