1974 uk general election 1974 October part 1

[@johnking5174]

3:40 - Take note that David Dimbleby was chosen by the BBC to report from the Heath campaign and here at Heath's election count for both elections in 1974 - this was due to Harold Wilson detesting and hating Dimbleby for his "Yesterday's Men" documentary on Labour in 1971, and his line of questioning to Wilson about his income from his book deal. Wilson despised him and so the BBC kept him well away from Wilson in 1974.

[@garrysimpson1395]

Remember it well. Reading about more about Harold Wilson today in The Times today.

[@johnphillipallfrey5834]

B

[@roddyteague6246]

David Butler-still with us at 96! Poor show by the BBC & ITV not showing him at all in the 2019 Election.

[@outherebrothers]

They showed him in 2010 & 2015, I can only assume he's probably frail and/or ill which may explain the no-show?

[@roddyteague6246]

@@outherebrothers Quite right Sir. I remember him on ITV back in 2015 when Cameron exceeded expectations. To the best of my knowledge Daviv Butler is still with us in sheltered accommodation. Michael Crick wrote a highly recommended book about him aptly titled The Sultan of Swing!

[@Svetlanka83]

I also remember Newsnight interviewed him during the 2017 campaign . It was over the Conservative social care U-turn . He said he'd never seen anything like it .

[@herondelatorre4023]

Roddy Teague : David Butler is now 97. He and David Dimbleby are probably one of the few remaining tv election commentators from the 60's & 70's who are still living.

[@roddyteague6246]

@@herondelatorre4023 Yes indeed. He turned 97 a couple of weeks ago on 17 October.

[@LostockGamerPlays]

Didn't know about this until my Uncle Graham's (Graham Pyatt) funeral after he passed away on the 4th Feb 2023. So lovely to see and what a fantastic life he had. :-)

[@chrislatimer675]

He was a very interesting man I’ve got footage of him from 64 70 and 74 can’t remember if he did 66 or not. You can see clearly the respect David Butler has for him

[@eelsemaj99]

you complete angel. the 2010 and oct 1974 elections are ones i couldn’t find anywhere before now

[@chrislatimer675]

I am gonna replace 2010 with a better copy part 2 of 74 coming during the week

[@ythomitnellum]

@@chrislatimer675 did part 2 of 74 appear as I can’t appear to find it?

[@chrislatimer675]

@@ythomitnellum I had issues with my copy but I do have the rest of this election now

[@ythomitnellum]

@@chrislatimer675 Thanks for the reply, I look forward to its upload; it’s my first memory of a General Election as my dad was a Polling Station Clerk and somehow managed to slip a disc in his back!

[@rjjcms1]

Until watching this I remembered little of the 1974 elections,apart from their results and their context in retrospect,is that for both we got a day off to mess about at home as our primary school was being used as a polling station and the signs people put up for whichever party they favoured at the time. Unlike subsequent General Elections,especially from the 80s onwards,I wasn't terribly politically aware yet and as such had only a vague idea then of what the Labour or Liberal parties stood for and in the absence of any other info thought Conservative might be something to do with (i.e. nature) conservation.

[@rotonda4068]

Those opening titles are superb!

[@kevinprior3549]

Seems ahead of its time.

[@Apexharper-z2k]

Great up load, such a different time, when politicians were big beasts not the talentless minnows we have now.

[@Dkentflyer]

Top quality stuff, thank you for sharing.

[@robcousins231]

Here’s a drinking game for you. Every time Alastair says “Dick Taverne” take a drink. You’ll be shit faced by the end.

[@EdmondCannon-q7g]

Pity we missed the first two minutes on this one and the dramatic impact of the poll prediction, the more the dramatic as it was wide of the mark!

[@markbunn4376]

The last time Labour won a general election with a leader who wasn't Tony Blair!!!

[@herondelatorre4023]

Mark Bunn : Do you think Labour will have a chance of winning a general election either in 2023 or 2024 with their current leader Keir Starmer ????

[@markbunn4376]

@@herondelatorre4023 It is a tall order for them just in terms of the electoral math. To get a majority of 1 seat, they would need a swing of 10% which is what Tony Blair got in 1997. Personally the best I think they could hope for would be the largest party without an overall majority. Say between 280-310 seats.

[@herondelatorre4023]

@@markbunn4376 But then without an overall majority Labour would then probably have to go into a coalition with another non-conservative party in the House of Commons. After the Tory and Labour parties the next biggest party would be the SNP. However, with them as a partner Starmer would have to agree to a second independence referendum and I don't know if he would want to do that. So Starmer could seek a partnership with either the LibDems or Greens depending on how they perform in a future general election. Or Starmer could just opt out of any coalition partnership and just lead a minority government until the next time he believes another general election would be necessary .

[@thequestioner5916]

Since 1945, only three labour leaders have been elected prime minister clement attle,harold wilson,Tony blair compared to the 9 conservatives leaders winston churchill,Anthony Eden,harold macmillan,Edward heath,Margaret thatcher,John major,David cameron,thersea May,boris johnson just shows that britain is a conservative country

[@venmis137]

@@herondelatorre4023 Honestly it seems like it. Mostly due to Tory incompetence, but Starmer not being too controversial definitely helps push things in Labour's direction (although he's no Tony Blair).

[@TheNorliss]

Seeing Alistair Burnet reminded me of how he was depicted on Spitting Image "Your Royal Scrumptiousness" 😂

[@DDandrums]

And "your royal applecrumbleness" lol

[@johnking5174]

"Lick lick, slop slop, cringe fawn"

[@johnking5174]

Also known as Arselicker Burnet

[@davidbull7210]

Election 74 was the only TV election that had two series!

[@ToryTerminator]

We did a good job with the Netflix series though ;

[@jezt42]

4:07:55 - According to Sue Lawley, victorious newly-married candidate Helene Middleweek “spent the campaign honeymooning”... I’m hoping Sue meant “the candidate spent the honeymoon campaigning”!! Great and fascinating upload, thank you! 👍

[@alanfleming4823]

Hilarious! She really ballsed up that one. And what was that 'posh' voice she was trying so hard to put on? So fake!

[@grahamfigg5817]

@@alanfleming4823 Helene Hayman was a great MP for Welwyn Hatfield. She lobbied the government to provide finance for the HS/BAe 146.

[@roddyteague6246]

Ashamed of her native Dudley vowels? Surely some mistake! Although elsewhere some wag said that she only went to bed for exercise!! @@alanfleming4823

[@robcousins231]

Always amazing to think that at that time the Second World War was just 30 years earlier. I mean 30 years from now was only 1991!

[@herondelatorre4023]

Rob Cousins : Yes, amazing. I was only 3 yrs old during the October 74 UK election and 20 yrs old in 1991. Now I am 50 yrs old in 2021.

[@JJVernig]

in colour, with computer, and at least 15-20 outside broadcast direct on the air.

[@ejl7666]

Got part 2? October 1974 and 1987 are the only ones I don't have in my collection of elections since 1970 so if you do have those I'd really appreciate it 🤗

[@joeydebus1329]

Need alert

[@andrewrobinson8305]

Amazing climbdown over the first 45 minutes. 0:09:20: Lab majority of 135 is predicted. David Butler says: “I think that may even be an underestimate because Labour supporters vote later in the day”. 0:37:40: Keighley exit poll shows a smaller-than-expected swing. Butler says: “I think we’ve overestimated the swing to Labour. Their majority will be under a hundred”. 0:43:12: Labour majority prediction slashed to 45. Butler says: “I don’t think Tory supporters should give up hope yet!”

[@alanberkeley7282]

125. If that had happened it would have been very unlikely Thatcher would have won in 1979

[@klp5001]

8:57 GB exit poll 10:48 Scotland exit poll

[@Myndir]

They were pretty wrong for GB, very wrong for Scotland.

[@klp5001]

​​@@Myndir yes it's true

[@ksay7649]

Millie Miller beat Tom Ironmonger! those were the days , thanks for posting

[@ritchwaghorn6541]

Alastair Burnet found his bottle of "Just for Men" between February and October 74 :)

[@johnking5174]

Not necessarily, hair gel can make hair look darker on screen. Here his hair has more gel in it than the whole of One Direction would use. They really poured it into his hair as you can see the studio lights reflecting off his hair.

[@dpf2122]

Desmond Wilcox hated being out there and didn't even try to hide it.

[@vincentsmit1935]

Wouldn't you?

[@roddyteague6246]

To make matters worse for him at the end of the shift he had to go back home to Esther Rantzen!

[@daviniarobbins9298]

Can't believe this is 48 years ago already.

[@ritz2467]

what is the music used in the intro?

[@Pharoux]

Enemy Invasion - Umberto Santucci: music.kzbin.info/www/bejne/raawpJxnbdqCa6c&feature=share

[@ryanohara476]

The 2024 United Kingdom General Election will be very intresting!

[@angelacooper2661]

I would have been just four here and too young to understand or remember that period. Play School, a programme for the five and under age group, was the only thing that I knew about in those days!

[@markbunn4376]

I like Jim Callaghan, great interview around 4.15 mark

[@MrWidmerpool99]

David Jessel looks like one of the Glitter Band.

[@robcousins231]

Some roar at 1 hour 56 in for Margaret Becketts win!

[@russellbishop1633]

The decor at The Huyton Labour club. Very 1970s.

[@Compleme_Cunm]

In provincial towns up and down the land, many a nightclub still has that decor

[@russellbishop5995]

@@Compleme_Cunm I got married at Tunbridge Wells registry back in 92 and the wallpaper was just like Huyton Labour Club. Just a thought.

[@Compleme_Cunm]

@@russellbishop5995 Haha! I wouldn't be surprised if it's still the same.

[@vhayes2257]

1:16:04 very awkward moment kicks off there, ending with Robin Day calling Alastair Burnett (lead presenter) and Bernard Levin of The Times (not present) 'parasites'. Alastair Burnett at 1:17:50 is demonstrably offended by the remark, and is again, providing more context, at 1:22:26.

[@johnking5174]

I think you read too much into it. Robin Day was well known for these type of remarks. He never meant it, it was all for television. Robin had worked with Alastair from the early days of ITN, they knew each other very well.

[@insertclevername4123]

@@johnking5174 I think you're right; it seems like the good-natured joking "offending/offense-taking" between Callaghan and Mikardo later in the video.

[@markbunn4376]

Around 5 hours, they say that Indep Labour MP Eddie Milne had won Blyth, but he lost it 78 votes to the "official" Labour candidate

[@Rintin07]

Exit poll at about 10 mins in is MILES off!!!

[@nottmjas]

What was it LAB 380 CON 200 whilst in reality it was LAB 319 CON 277 The BBC should have asked the pollster for their money back

[@garrysimpson1395]

As a then 10 years old I seem to remember B.B.C. South showing it*s caption with the z shaped s in a circle and the letters at the bottom and not joining the network coverage until 1974. Maybe B.B.C. South were on strike or on a tea-break.

[@Dave-kj4vr]

The constant betting references are hilarious. One of the producers clearly thought that would make this more interesting

[@chrislatimer675]

To my knowledge this was the last election results show they made such a big deal about the betting

[@MichaelArnold-in6xk]

Ian Mikardo was spot on about the date for a challenge to Heath

[@darren2514fv]

This on the night finished as billed at 4am whereas in February the Thursday night results programme was billed to finish at 4am but on the night it finished at 4:15am

[@keithatkinson7649]

Boothby sitting there smoking 😂🚬

[@dawnupton8668]

Wait I didn't know there was computers back in 1974 I thought computers weren't invented until like 1977! 😮

[@herondelatorre4023]

@crazyclive haha I very much enjoyed your hilarious description of those large industrial sized computing machines. Haha No other person could have described them better. Haha

[@rjjcms1]

I think some companies still had mainframes that occupied an entire room in their HQs through a good two-thirds of the 80s as well as the 70s.

[@Dave-kj4vr]

Otherwise known as E.R.I.C.

[@Hynallall]

It’s pretty sobering watching these elections from 50 years ago knowing everyone involved are either in their 90’s or dead by now. Fascinating snapshot of a very interesting period of history.

[@Adam-ws7jo]

HAROLD WILSON STAN ACCOUNT

[@johnclark4593]

Same. I'm convinced Larry the Cat is Harold Wilson reincarnated.

[@content-mu8bo]

Sue Lawley looks great, still around

[@Apexharper-z2k]

Hilarious Roy Jenkins condemning Labour MPs wo left the party for going too far to the left as they wanted a more "social democratic" party. How quickly things can change.

[@alanmansell9845]

The one & only, The late but extremely great Harold wilson takes his Huyton seat with ease & he would reign supreme for just 2 more years, if only starmer learnt his politics from the great man and didn't become a thatcherite tyrant, despicable how a labour prime minister has more tory policies than the tories themselves. Shameful 😢

[@garrysimpson1395]

David Dimbbledy with Heath maybe wishing he had not tiltled his 1971 Labour party film Yesterday*s Men!

[@johnwpolsce9401]

They were well out with the prediction, were the BBC. Useless.

[@johnking5174]

ITN did the same on ITV, but their prediction was a little more accurate, but still long off what the actual result was

[@gregmunn2945]

The old days of a union strong Labour party ❤️

[@ToryTerminator]

My life has come full circle lol. For the record, I forgot how classy women were back in the day.

[@markbunn4376]

The Keighley exit poll was not far off, Labour did 0.68% better, Con did 2.10% worse, Liberal was almost spot on doing just 0.40% better.

[@kevinprior3549]

That's one big scoreboard behind the presenter... and I think Heath still has a lot to answer for if he was still alive.

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

Guildford Con Hold ,,,,Cheltenham Con Hold,,,"variation betweeen areas" This UK General Election in 1974,,,"a lot were bewildered by the campaign" Salford West Lab Hold, Wigan Lab Majorit of 18,xxx, Romford Conservative Majority of 2,651 votes, Constituency of Ilford North Labour Gain with Labour Majority of 778,,,

[@frankdsouza2425]

Ted Heath: A truly great, good and courageous Man. But the Far Right Press Barons did nothing to grant him the credit he so richly deserved.

[@beasleybrother1]

I find it interesting that the UK had 2 elections in one year…. A lot of anxiety

[@johnking5174]

Feb 1974 brought no overall majority for either Conservative or Labour - Labour won the most seats with 301 and formed a minority government. However Harold Wilson knew he needed a stronger mandate and so called another election in Oct 1974, sadly the voters weren't thrilled with any party but gave Labour a tiny majority of just 3 seats. That majority eventually was lost come March 1977 and so Labour did a deal with the Liberal party to form a pact, not a coalition, just a pact to give them a majority.

[@liamb8644]

3:27:00

[@rogerpenroset.blaine4233]

Little did he know....

[@liamb8644]

@@rogerpenroset.blaine4233 Literally 4 months later she replaced him as leader lol!

[@rogerpenroset.blaine4233]

@@liamb8644 yeah

[@herondelatorre4023]

@@liamb8644 But he got the last laugh. When she herself was forced out of the party leadership about 15 yrs later he was quoted as saying to other party colleagues the words " REJOICE, REJOICE, REJOICE ".

[@Apexharper-z2k]

What was the book mark for?

[@adetrants7380]

The last time to date that a centre left party won a general election in the uk.

[@SenorAtomic]

2005

[@herondelatorre4023]

@@SenorAtomic Maybe Ade Trants doesn't think that Labour was center left anymore in 2005 ????

[@liamb8644]

I don’t think that is quite right. Labour in those days were firmly left wing as a government. Wilson had a gift where he was able to seamlessly keep harmony between the factions of the party. It all fell apart in the 80s when Foot and Kinnock couldn’t do the same.

[@Apexharper-z2k]

Very true

[@Apexharper-z2k]

@@SenorAtomic In 2005 they were more right wing than Thatcher.