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I
OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
The Labour Victory of 1992

The lead up to the 1992 General Election was one of the most controversial in British Political history, one of newspaper sensationalism, scandal and huge rallies, one which saw a new birth for an old political party and the media’s destruction of one man.


Neil Kinnock had been Labour leader for nine years, he already knew that this election would be make or break for him. His party had been out of government for 13 years, finally they had a real chance to get back in power, they could not afford any slip ups. He had modernised his party to a true political force, he had done away with the red flag and had brought in the rose, he had defeated the Militants and had brought a new agenda of modern Social Democracy. However, although Labour were leading in the polls it was still not enough to yet claim victory. Something was needed to tip the balance.


John Major had been Prime Minister for just two years, succeeding Margaret Thatcher with the image of “caring” Thatcherism. He succeeded Thatcher in a government falling into recession, and a huge widening gap in popularity, however following the Gulf War he saw his opinion polls rise and many claimed him to be “the most popular PM since MacMillan”.

But as the first weeks of the election began to play out, something would change all of that.



“PRIME MINISTER IN AFFAIR SCANDEL”​
- Mirror Headline 5th April 1992​



“The Revelation of the Major/Currie affair left a huge impact on the election. I’m not sure we could have won without it.”
- Roy Hattersley in a 2012 Interview​



On the 5th April 1992, four days before the Election, John Major and the Conservative Party’s campaign was effectively destroyed. His affair with Edwina Currie had become public; the entire Party saw it as a disaster. A strong, soapbox campaign showing a working class side to the Tory’s, against the American style Labour campaign which showed strong but uncertain opinion polls had been lost in one instant. Some even called for his resignation.


Major refused to comment for hours, until finally emerging from No. 10 to admit the affair was true, before thanking his wife for being forgiving and apologizing to the nation before giving a cringe worthy faint smile. Later it emerged that that night; he was already packing his bags.










“All John needs to do now is grin and bear it”
- Margaret Thatcher when asked
about the Major/Currie affair​



“We got it lads, we’re back in power”
- Neil Kinnock on hearing the news of the Affair​



The immediate polls following the Major/Currie revelation showed a huge increase in Labour support, pushing at the most to a 10 point lead. Even so, Kinnock remained quietly optimistic ever since postponing the Sheffield rally to not seem too over confident. But following the new opinion polls of a clear lead they decided to host the rally.



“Now is the time for change, now is the time for fairness, for opportunity and for equality, now is the time for a Labour government”

- Neil Kinnock at the Sheffield Rally 7th April 1992​



The Sheffield Rally gave a large boost to the Labour Party, which a squeaky clean performance from all speakers as well as Kinnock remaining reserved yet still his friendly self before and after the serious speech. All in all, the rally was received positively in and outside the party apart from the grumblings of Tony Benn and other far leftists, about Kinnock’s apparent “betrayal of the working class”. Already political experts were predicting a handsome Labour majority. Meanwhile the Conservative Party campaigned on with a brave smile trying to save as many votes as possible.








“It had been thirteen years of opposition; it was the end of an era, I was almost sad to be going”​
- Taken From Neil Kinnock’s memoirs:
“Out From The Wilderness: My time in office”​



“The election night was one of the longest of my life, my emotions were not the joy of victory, but the fear of what was to come”
- Taken from Tony Blair’s Autobiography: “A Journey”​



“I almost cried that night, the dream had ended”​
- Michael Portillo in a 2012 interview​



Final 1992 General Election Results:

Labour – 344 Seats (+115)
Conservative – 234 Seats (-142)
Lib Dem – 47 Seats*(+25)
Others – 9 Seats
Labour Majority of 37


*AH Note: The large Lib Dem result was mostly due to the new constituency changes rather than a huge increase in votes. In this TL the vote has stayed the same for the Libs, rather than the swing to Labour OTL.



“We could all hardly believe it, a 7.5% swing to Labour, not to mention a huge increase in Liberal Seats, the Conservatives had been obliterated, we were seriously considering another term was already in the bag”
- Gordon Brown in a 2012 Interview​



The final election results were great news for not only Labour but the Lib Dems as well. The Liberal Democrats had formed just four years before after the merge of the SDP – Liberal Alliance. Their leader Paddy Ashdown was well liked for being candid and dynamic. Their education based campaign had been a huge success having reached their largest seat count since David Lloyd George. The new party had officially emerged as a true and serious political contender.

It was no longer a two horse race.



“I hereby tender my resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and call a leadership election to so that new suitable Leader can selected, as well as sending my warmest congratulations to Neil Kinnock and new Labour Government”
- John Major’s resignation​



John Major resigned as Conservative Leader two days after the election; he had become a broken man. The media had ridiculed and attacked him for days; the Sun went as far as a front page headline on Election Day saying:

“HE CHEATED NORMA, DON’T LET HIM CHEAT THE COUNTRY”​

However he was actually surprised by the result and even relieved to have not lost as many seats as some polls predicted. But still he had failed and swiftly retired to the back benches of Westminster. Norman Lamont became an acting Leader of the Opposition until the Leadership election.
It was dark days in the Conservative Party.




John Major.jpg





“The time of change has begun”
- Extract from Neil Kinnock’s speech before entering No.10​


TO BE CONTINUED....

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