Retrospect and Prospect

Abstract

In the end each side was relieved not to have done worse. The Conservatives had a clear margin of victory in votes and in seats. The Labour party had beaten Mr Kinnock’s early announced target of thirty seats and confirmed itself as a close challenger to the Conservatives. The Alliance, despite the initial polls, had received a fifth of the vote and a new demonstration of the unfairness of the British electoral system; they had also won the Portsmouth by-election.