Swing Plot 1987-1992

The chart below shows the swings recorded in each of the 19 mainland regions between the 1987 and 1992 elections. Each region is represented by one point. The x co-ordinate of the point is the swing to or against the Conservatives, the y co-ordinate is the swing to or against the Labour party. A positive number represents a swing towards, and a negative number a swing against.

Election Swing Plot 1987-1992

Most regions reduced support for the Conservatives (and the Liberal/SDP Alliance) and boosted Labour. The average swing was about -0.5% against the Conservatives and +4% for Labour. The chart shows many regions clustering about that average, confirming the Uniform National Swing assumption. Some regions (South West, East Midlands, Scotland) are further away, but this is partly due to a reversal of the extreme movements those regions showed from 1983-1987.

We can also see the data in tabular form:

Region 1987 Election 1992 Election Swing
CON%LAB%CON%LAB%CON%LAB%
East Scotland27.334.028.731.21.4-2.8
West Scotland20.651.322.347.61.7-3.7
North32.346.433.450.61.14.2
Lancashire37.541.037.345.0-0.24.0
Greater Manchester35.944.035.547.3-0.53.3
Yorkshire41.835.342.239.60.44.3
Humberside36.541.337.745.01.33.7
West Midlands42.639.842.144.0-0.54.2
East Midlands47.531.945.039.5-2.67.6
Severn46.829.546.035.7-0.76.2
Wales29.545.128.649.5-0.94.4
East Anglia52.423.151.529.4-0.96.3
Essex54.018.654.323.30.34.7
West50.321.047.923.8-2.42.8
North London44.834.443.941.0-0.96.5
South London47.828.646.633.5-1.24.9
South West51.412.348.015.7-3.43.4
South57.113.655.916.9-1.23.2
South East56.416.554.120.3-2.33.8
Total43.331.542.835.2-0.43.7

Details of the regions' makeup can be seen on the file format page.