1997 general election

• resulte-Labour won with 419 seats and 187 seat majority, conservatives lost 178 seats and was their worst election and Lib Dem won 46 seats making a breakthrough
• Social factor- labour won more votes than tories in every demographic group and they also won back c2 skilled workers
• Valence issues- governing competenc- tories faces a number of scandals including arms to iraq , economic competence- labour promised to stick to tory spending plans and not raise income tax
• Party unity- Tory leader John major faced a leadership contest and the party was divided
• Salient issues labour promised to invest in education and health and be tougher on crimes
• Election campaigns- Tory attempts to say that Blair is a socialist
• Media influence- murdoch press switched support from conservative to labour
• Tony Blair labour. John major conservatives. Paddy ash down lib dem