1979: United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland

Archives consist of articles that originally appeared in Collier's Year Book (for events of 1997 and earlier) or as monthly updates in Encarta Yearbook (for events of 1998 and later). Because they were published shortly after events occurred, they reflect the information available at that time. Cross references refer to Archive articles of the same year.

The political arts that had kept James Callaghan's cautious Labor government in power without an assured parliamentary majority failed it at last in March. The government lost a confidence motion in the House of Commons, and a general election was called for May 3. British voters gave a decisive... ...