How Margaret Thatcher really won the 1979 general election
1979 is now a long time ago. But like 1945 its political lessons – or supposed lessons – still echo, feeling relevant to very contemporary questions. … Read the full post »
1979 General Election
Read about the 1979 general election. It was won by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party even though James Callaghan (Labour Prime Minister) was more popular than her.
Britain at the Polls, 1979: A study of the general election – and a set of lessons for contemporary politics
The question of how Margaret Thatcher won power in 1979 has become rather topical again as supporters of Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn argue that her victory shows you don’t need to tack to the centre ground to win elections. … Read the full post »
When did the first tactical voting bar chart appear on a political leaflet?
Lib Dems, and before them the Liberals, are famous for using bar charts on local leaflets. But when did bar charts start? That’s a hard question to answer. … Read the full post »
Lessons from the 1979 general election for the Lib Dems
Leaving through some kindly donated old copies of Liberator from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, there is a distinct sense of déjà vu… … Read the full post »
Five of the best political adverts: Labour isn’t working
In the summer of 1978 phone calls went out to members of Hendon Young Conservatives, asking them to turn up with their parents at a council car park for a secret project. … Read the full post »
A political prediction which didn’t turn out too well
“Whatever happens in the election this week it is not going to make all that much difference” – Peregrine Worsthone, just before the 1979 general election. … Read the full post »
Probably the best election address, ever
As a special pre-Christmas treat, it’s time for probably the best election address, ever. I’ve only got the first four lines though, as you’ll see, that is probably enough. … Read the full post »
Test your political knowledge and acumen: place this quote
“The tit-for-tat arguments presented in ‘balanced’ television programmes may have helped to confuse the public’s sense of the differences between the parties, and to add to their cynicism about any party’s claims to have a monopoly of wisdom.” … Read the full post »
Party political broadcasts: The greatest hits
The BBC had been pressing for political broadcasts to be used during the 1950 election, but initially met hostility from politicians. The very first political broadcast, either PEB or PPB, was eventually seen on 15 October 1951. … Read the full post »
Re-writing the 1979 Conservative Party general election manifesto
What Conservatives now say about their 1979 general election manifesto and what it actually said don’t match up. … Read the full post »