'The Falklands war was the decisive factor in explaining the 1983 election result.' Discuss.

Summary of argument for A-Level response: At the 1983 election, Margaret Thatcher won a decisive electoral victory; the Conservative majority of 144 was the second largest seen in the twentieth century. Although the Conservatives' share of the vote actually fell by 1.5 per cent from 1979, the share for Michael Foot's Labour party fell by 9.3%, highlighting Labour weaknesses and the Social Democratic Party (SDP)- Liberal alliance as important factors in splitting the anti-Conservative vote and easing Thatcher's path to victory. That said, it was the political opportunity for Thatcher which arose from the Falklands war which primarily accounts for the Conservative landslide; having lagged six points behind Labour in the polls of March 1982, Thatcher opened up a nineteen point lead directly after the war's conclusion in June 1982. Positive press-coverage and public support for the war (70% in favour) overshadowed prevalent economic issues epitomised by an unemployment rate of 3 million and a report published by 364 leading economists in critique of monetarist economics. Under the political shield of a popular war, Thatcher was able to affirm her 'iron-lady' image through the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano, whilst embodying renewed national pride through her personal stewardship of military affairs.