Strident Campaign In Britain (Press, 18 May 1987)

On 18 May 1987, Deborah Telford reported for Reuters NZPA on the intensifying General Election campaign in Britain, where Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was aiming for a record third term. The Conservative Party was encouraged by recent opinion polls indicating a significant lead over the Labour Party. In an effort to solidify this advantage, they launched a provocative advertising campaign featuring billboards that promoted their economic growth achievements while attacking Labour's stances on education. One billboard posed the question, “Is This Labour’s Idea Of A Comprehensive Education?” and included controversial book titles, while another highlighted Britain's economic growth with an illustration of different dog breeds. In response, Labour planned to initiate its own advertising campaign focused on criticizing Conservative policies, particularly safety and law enforcement. They released leaflets featuring a picture of Thatcher and the caption questioning who had the "Worst Criminal Record in Britain," playing off statistics that pointed to rising crime rates since the Conservatives took office. The campaign was fraught with conflict, exemplified by reports alleging that Liberal leader David Steel was involved in a relationship with the ex-wife of a former Liberal Party official. Steel vehemently denied these claims and planned legal action against two newspapers that had published the allegations. Polling data rounded up the political landscape, revealing a 14 per cent lead for the Conservatives in the "Sunday Times," with figures reported as Conservatives 44 per cent, Labour 30 per cent, and the Liberal-Social Democratic Alliance at 25 per cent. Another poll for the "Observer" showed similar trends, with the Conservatives at 42 per cent, Labour at 33 per cent, and the Alliance at 23 per cent. The Conservatives aimed to leverage Labour's focus on social issues such as homosexual rights during the campaign, framing it as "loony left" policies. Conversely, Labour and the Alliance criticized Thatcher's perceived arrogance as she campaigned for a fourth term in the lead-up to the elections scheduled for 11 June. Additionally, during a period rife with scandal, Conservative candidate Harvey Proctor resigned from his candidacy after being charged with gross indecency, related to allegations involving young male prostitutes. His resignation underscored the high-stakes and tumultuous nature of this election cycle. Meanwhile, Peter Mandelson, a key strategist for Labour's campaign, faced scrutiny regarding his personal life, which inadvertently added to the election's drama. The intensity of the campaign foreshadowed what could become one of the most contentious electoral contests in Britain's modern history.

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