‘The longest suicide note in history’ – deconstructed Compare your analysis with your neighbours’.

“We must use unilateral steps taken by Britain to secure multilateral solutions on the international level.” The Labour Party wanted unilateral disarmament – it was a key issue for Foot, but seen as outdated by the 1980s. It was unpopular with many voters because the Cold War was still at a dangerous point. Falklands victory boosted world status – disarmament would be suggesting the opposite. US President Ronald Reagan had only just announced a new, more advance missile defence system (Strategic Defense Initiative – SDI).

“On taking office we will open preliminary negotiations with the other EEC member states to establish a timetable for withdrawal.” Opposition from the top of Labour was based on the traditional concerns about protecting workers’ interests and exploring trade links with the rest of the world. Britain had voted in favour of staying in the EEC in 1975 with a strong margin – 17 million ‘yes’ votes to 8 million ‘no’s. The benefits of more favourable trade deals with Europe was being felt by 1983.

It committed Labour to an extensive home-building programme. Wanted to rebuild British industry, supported by government investment overseen by “a powerful new Department of Economic and Industrial Planning”. The manifesto promised more spending on social services and other aspects of the welfare state, promising to increase spending by at least 4% in real terms every year. It committed Labour to an extensive home-building programme. Promised an extension of legal aid. Abandon the cap on local authority spending. Industry is in inevitable decline – laws of free market. Increasing reliance on the welfare state is a social and economic mistake. There are enough homes with Tory programme; extending right-to-buy is want people want. Local authorities are too socialist – they are wasting public money.

Their policies weren’t rejected by EVERYONE, but … Aspiration was a more attractive proposition than restraint and traditional Labour values of equality. Despite high public spending in the 70s, many people were frustrated at the lack of improvement in their living standards under Keynesianism. Thatcher’s alternative seemed worth a try. 8 years after a decisive referendum result in favour of staying in the EEC, it wasn’t a popular issue to resurrect. Increased Cold War tension made British nuclear disarmament seem risky, if not foolish.

Why weren’t the Tories opposed more effectively in the 80s? Learning objectives: Know how the Labour Party changed under the leadership of Neil Kinnock. Understand the lack of progress made by the SDP and why the Liberal Democrats were formed. Analyse the election results of 1983 and 1987.

Kinnock as Labour leader Create a mindmap/spider diagram as we discuss. Demographic change: long-term industrial decline eroded Labour’s traditional support base. Could no longer count on working-class vote. Also affected union support – public sympathy harmed by Winter of Discontent (but not dramatically). Kinnock realised need to modernise. Foot resigned after 1983 election disaster, Kinnock elected leader with 71% of vote.

Kinnock as Labour leader Why didn’t Tony Benn run? He lost his Bristol seat in 1983 after 20 years following boundary changes and a moderate Labourite was nominated to contest the new seat – a sign of rejection of the hard left? Kinnock saw his main task as ‘dragging Labour back to the mainstream’. Bennites and other hard-left activists were prominent at a local level.

Kinnock as Labour leader The most significant and challenging of these groups was Militant Tendency – an ‘entryist’ organisation who wanted revolutionary socialism. Militant was successful in Bradford and some London boroughs but especially Liverpool where it controlled the city council. Kinnock had Militant members expelled from party by 1986 but their influence damaged Labour’s image amongst many voters.

Timeline of the SDP You’ll need pages 110, 111, 113 and 114.

Electoral results analysis Complete the grid.

Homework – 1 week to complete Essay Q (bottom of your SDP timeline). Tips on p116. Draw essay plan on board to consider: unpopularity of Foot; left-right divisions as demonstrated by Benn-Healey dep leadership contest; SDP split and perceived unelectability of Labour; influence of Militant Tendency; Thatcherism was popular amongst enough voters, as shown by the election results; demographic change and loss of faith in postwar consensus and Keynesianism. Simpler structure – three parts: 1) Left-right split; 2) Unelectability; 3) Thatcher ideology.