1979 election

• turnout of 76% (okay) conservatives had 43.9% of the vote share so won
• Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative party were elected, winning a small majority of 43 which increased in the 1983 and 1987 elections.
• A key reason for the Conservatives victory in 1979 was the weakness of the Labour government, which had lost a vote of no confidence in Parliament and had been regularly defeated in the HoC.
• Callaghan was seen as unable to address the social breakdown across the UK and control trade unions, who had been striking following attempts to impose a 5% limit on pay increases in early 1979. Named the "Winter of Discontent"
• • Margaret Thatcher used publicity specialists Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in her campaign and had a number of photo opportunities.
• • Jim Callaghan, the Labour Party leader, was higher than Thatcher in the opinion polls with voters approving of his political experience.
• • Both Conservative and Labour Party manifestos were moderate and both parties prioritised lowering inflation.
  • Thatcher mentioned privatising recently nationalised industries and reducing trade union power, but did not outline the extent to which she would do so.
• • Age has become a more important factor in determining UK voting behaviour.
  • In 1979 age was less significant, with a similar level of support for Labour (41%) and the Conservatives (42%) from voters aged 18-24.
• • In 1979 class was important with the Conservatives winning 59% of the middle-class vote, whilst Labour won the largest share of the unskilled working class vote at 49%.
• In 1979, 47% of women supported the Conservatives compared to 35% of women supporting Labour.