BBC Election 1997 exit poll

When Big Ben struck 10 pm on 1 May 1997, the BBC announced the result of their exit poll which showed that Tony Blair would become Prime Minister with a landslide majority in the House of Commons.

Although the result was correct, the exit poll percentages were not quite right. In reality, Labour had 43.2%, the Conservatives had 30.7% and the Liberal Democrats had 16.8%.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• United
• Kingdom
• general
• election
• 1997
• Tony Blair
• John Major
• Paddy Ashdown

[WorldNews92]

1832! Not 1932! Dimbleby!

[RedcoatMic24]

@kkwillsaveus Not really, before 9/11 and the later corrupt bloated years Labour got off to a good start, minimum wage and Ireland peace.

[ukamerica8]

@chouslop15 It was

[Jam369100]

Completely Disagreeing with that comment!! on all levels!

[YARROWS9]

I knew they were Stealth taxing, but before Labour got in about a dozen schools in my local area were in a shambolic state.We now have new primary and Secondary schools to be proud of.Also people aren't working in McDonalds for £3:00 an hour anymore..

[pipoo1]

@ailingequation It also gave us never before seen levels of mass unemployment, never before seen interest rates, and never before seen levels of people losing their homes when the "prosperity" they created collapsed under the weight of thier incompetence. It amazes me that Tory supporters still don't understand why they were so hated in 1997 and why that hatred still prevents them being trusted to hold power on their own.

[pipoo1]

@Kozzy06 Not as long lasting as the collapse of British industry, two decades of record mass unemployment and multiple recessions of the last Tory Government.

[CybderDude93]

@irishgodfatherchris I see your point and to an extent I do agree with you. However, and this is also from a neutral standpoint, I also acknowledge that if the coalition does break-up it will not be from the Liberal Democrats end, as they have too much to lose

[petehall1985]

a global economic disaster meant a small budget deficit of around 2% rocket to 8% as brown made decisions which whilst unpopular are day by day clear that he got right. Had blair got his way we would be floundering in the euro. The 5 economic tests and some very stubborn decisions saved us from total collapse. Labours error was to spend everything, not save and assume there would never be a drop in growth.

[irishgodfatherchris]

@CybderDude93 that is providing that the Tories last that long because as it is even standing from a neutral standpoint from here in Australia I can see that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition will not last the 4 years.

[CybderDude93]

Its funny, back in 1997 it was the Conservatives were the ones who had ruined Britain and in 2010 it was Labour were the ones that had ruined Britain .... does this mean in 2023, the Conservatives would have ruined Britain again??