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Britain 's Victory Of The Falklands War

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Britain’s victory in the Falklands War undoubtedly contributed to the Conservative Party’s election victory in 1983. However, it should not be considered essential to this triumph. Historians such as Helmut Norpoth have suggested that the Falklands factor significantly increased the popularity of the Thatcher administration and resulted in her re-election. Dennis Kavanagh noted the effect on the war on Margaret Thatcher’s image and emphasised the importance of this during the election campaign. Nevertheless, the Conservative success in 1983 must be attributed primarily to the pre-war circumstances including the poor public perception of the Labour Party following their tenure in office prior to 1979 and Thatcher’s social and economic policies. The Conservative victory was not down to a singular event, but a combination of events that all affected her image and her perception by the British electorate. Had Labour been a stronger opponent, the Conservatives may not have won in 1983. The most valid conclusion drawn is that of Peter Riddell; the 1983 election was a result of opposition weaknesses and the dividing role of the Alliance rather than the Falklands factor.
The Falklands conflict was, in the opinion of both Thatcher and many historians believed to be a key reason for Thatcher’s re-election. The fact that the Conservatives had a jump in support of 11 per cent between February and July 1982 showed that the conflict was beneficial to the party, despite initial resistance

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