UK General Elections: 1979
Past Present Future
The Impact of Retail Politics on Elections
Elections are often perceived as retail politics, where parties sell their ideas like products. While Labour traditionally views elections as opportunities to engage with big ideas, conservatives have been effective in embracing retail politics. Labour's discomfort with this approach was evident in the 1990s, as seen in a chaotic launch of their 1983 manifesto. Michael Foot's leadership contrasted with the Conservatives' polished retail approach. He believed in beating such politics rather than imitating it, criticizing the Conservatives for capturing a blind, smug, somnolent, and somewhat evil national mood.
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