United Kingdom general election, 1987

The UK general election, 1987 was held on June 11, 1987 and was the third victory in a row for Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives. She was the first leader since Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool to win three successive elections although this has since been matched by Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Related Topics:
June 11 - 1987 - Margaret Thatcher - Conservatives - Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool - Tony Blair

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The Conservative government had survived the industrial disputes with mine workers (1984–85) and print unions (1985–86), the 1986 Westland problems had been put aside with the loss of Michael Heseltine and Leon Brittan and the economy was performing well. Labour was in the throes of modernization and a return to more centrist policies under Neil Kinnock but expected to do better than in 1983. The SDP and the Liberals renewed their Alliance and continued to split the non-Conservative vote; neither Alliance leader (David Owen and David Steel) could agree to support either one of the major parties in the event of a hung parliament.

Related Topics:
1984 - 85 - 1986 - Westland - Michael Heseltine - Leon Brittan - Labour - Neil Kinnock - 1983 - SDP - Liberal - Alliance - David Owen - David Steel - Hung parliament

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The Conservatives' advertising campaign by Tim Bell was dominated by anti-Labour sentiment, attacking mainly on taxation but also with rapid-response campaigns to pick up on Labour errors. The Labour campaign was a marked change from previous efforts; professionally directed by Peter Mandelson and Bryan Gould, it concentrated on presenting and improving Kinnock's image to the electorate.

Related Topics:
Tim Bell - Peter Mandelson - Bryan Gould

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The Conservatives were returned with a 102-seat majority, 42 down on 1983 with a swing of about 1% toward Labour. There were increasingly marked divisions across the country, as the Conservatives dominated southern England but performed poorly in northern England, Scotland, and Wales.

Related Topics:
Southern England - Northern England - Scotland - Wales

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Almost all the 'big names' held onto their seats. Of the more notable failures there were Enoch Powell and two Alliance members - Liberal Clement Freud and former SDP leader Roy Jenkins.

Related Topics:
Enoch Powell - Clement Freud - Roy Jenkins

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In Northern Ireland the various unionist parties maintained an electoral pact (with a couple of dissentients) in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Unionist - Anglo-Irish Agreement

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Turnout: 32,530,204 (75.3%)

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