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Lecture 10: Labour's Challenge

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There were high expectations that Kinnock could take Labour to victory in the 1987 election.

We will explore the explanations for Kinnock’s defeat and particularly we will look at the role of the media and politicians' focus on the youth vote.

Following Thatcher's standing down as PM we will also touch on John Major’s successful election.

Some questions you need to consider before the lecture

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What convinces people to vote for a political party?
How much difference did the removal of Clause 4 make to Labour's politics?
Did the militants keep Labour out of office?

Readings

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Readings

Set Readings

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* MacAurther, B Penguin Book of Twentieth Century Speeches, Kinnock speech on Militant and Healey's 'She Elephant' speech, pp451-455

*Tony Benn’s reaction from Diaries 1980-1990 various pages Chapter 4.

BBC coverage of Kinnock at the 1992 Sheffield Rally

* Robinson, Lucy 'Sometimes I like to stay in and watch TV: Kinnock's Labour Party and Media Culture', Twentieth Century British History, January, 2011.

Seldon and Collings Britain under Thatcher p56-63,

Further Reading

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If you want to find out more about Red Wedge, see this Newsnight coverage from 1986 which includes some scathing criticism from The Police's Copeland.

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Lecture Resources

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Lecture Resources

1987 election by age

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file: Lecture_resources/Lecture_9/1987_election_by_age.xls

Election results

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file: Lecture_resources/Lecture_9/election_results.xls

Election spending

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file: Lecture_resources/Lecture_9/spending.xls

Lecture 9 - handout

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file: Lecture_resources/Lecture_9/wk9handout.doc

Lecture 9 - Powerpoint

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file: Lecture_resources/Lecture_9/lecture_9.ppt