We're Not Alright Kinnock, You've Lost - The 1992 BBC Election Coverage, the Full Thing on Youtube

Election 1992 - Part One



An absolutely brilliant upload here. This is certainly the "jewel in the crown" for our politics genre. And we'll see more here hopefully, in the months leading up to the 2010 UK election in May/June. However, not the only election "up" on Youtube. 52 parts in total. That must be about 8 hours of coverage on Youtube. Amazing! This features the Election Night, running into sunrise.

David Dimbleby anchors the show along with the steely mouth Jeremy Paxman to grill the politican mouthpieces who appeared in the studio as the night began. The best reporters would be stationed around the country and at party headquarters and polling stations, as you'd expect. Political satrisist Rory Bremner was on hand to pass comment on proceeding out-of-studio throughout the night, with the odd impression of the campaigning leaders. Also we have the legend that is John Snow to present from the most up-to-date computer graphics of all the statistics on the election on a giant TV screen, profiling the target seats for each party, regional breakdowns and so on. An enthusiam that was hard to contain from John, and leapt to viewers' attentions.

The main comparison between this and our upcoming election, is this will be the first closely contested election since 1992, with the prospect of a "hung parliament" still in the air. This mean the party with the most seats has not reached a certain number to claim a majority, and will have to share the power with another party or parties, who, added together, can break the number barrier for majority territory.

In the build up to the 1992 election, polls were pointing towards a change in government, and a possible Labour majority govenrment under Labour leader and Welshman Neil Kinnock. Come the time of the infamous Sheffield Rally, the celebration for Labour's "looming" election were already under way, and Kinnock, perhaps taken in too much by the enthusiasm of the crowd, exclaimed "We're Alright, We're Alright". Well in the aftermath, the party were left with pie in their face, along with the official BBC exit polls, saying the best Conservative party could do, was a minority government. Also add to the fact, that the UK were in a worsening economic recession. Well, well, it was a turn-up for the books...

In this hugely important election, after voters had suffered or sailed under Margaret Thatcher's drastic reforms on free trade, manufacturing, property and privatisation in the 1980s, Thatcher had become increasing unpopular and became increasingly dictorial, the party rebelled against her. The thought was the next, this time unelected PM John Major, did not have the charisma and speaking prowess of Kinnock, but the catch was, many voters did not trust the man to run a country. A somewhat hysterical and blairy-mouthed individual, it was understandable. Major came across very differently from Thatcher, appearing gentlemanly and honourable.

In the end, the Tories tallied up with 336 seats, and were left with a surprising 21 seat majority. Kinnock's Labour gained 42 seats to a lacklustre 279 seats. The newly merged Liberal Democrats, after the late- 80s failure of the SDP-Lib Alliance, struggled to make a mark with leader Paddy Ashdown, losing 2 seats, down to 20 seats. The movement under the Nationalist parties like Plaid Cymru and SNP (Scottish National Party) stood solid with only Plaid gaining 1 seat. The Conservatives bubble was to burst 5 years later, with all worthwhile parties happily scrambling for seats in the next election.

Back to a Time when Politicians were Much Respected and Admired...

UK General Election 1950 - Election Night Report



At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.

Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.

The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.