ABSTRACT
The landslide Conservative electoral win in May 1979 under Margaret Thatcher marked the end of consensus politics. The direction the party was moving in began when Sir Keith Joseph delivered his keynote speech 'Monetarism is not enough' in April 1976 which set out the principles of a more centre-right party ideology. The Merseyside Development Corporation (MDC) was one of the first Urban Development Corporations (UDCs) to be created, along with the London Docklands, because Liverpool had suffered from among the highest unemployment rates in Britain. The Museums and Galleries Act shifted responsibility away from the government, as it was concerned about undertaking cultural initiatives. Earlier Edward Heath's Conservative administration had overseen The British Library Act, which made the provision to create a separate institution from the British Museum. The communications and advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi had been appointed to create a campaign for the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 1979 election.
