On this day in 1983, Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party won a landslide second term election victory, taking 397 seats to Labour's 209.
Mrs Thatcher announced the forthcoming parliament would have a 'heavy programme' featuring some of the bills which fell before the election. She also pledged to re-organise local authorities and to introduce bills on trade unions and rates.
The prime minister said her first priority for the new term would be to reshuffle her cabinet. She insisted it would reflect a range of political views, saying "I haven't been extreme for the last four years and I'm not extreme now."
Parliament was to meet for the first time the following week, when the speaker of the house would be sworn in.
Defeated Labour Party leader Michael Foot described the result as a tragedy for the country. Mr Foot strongly attacked the SDP for siphoning support away from Labour - giving more seats to the Conservatives.
Among the reasons behind the Conservative Party's success was Mrs Thatcher's popularity after Britain's victory in the Falklands war and the continuing troubles of a divided Labour Party.
The biggest upset was in Bristol East, where former minister Tony Benn was defeated after 33 years in the Commons.
Michael Foot resigned as Labour leader later in the year, and was succeeded by Neil Kinnock.
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To watch a video clip of the victory celebrations click on the following link:
(Launch in stand alone player then watch in full screen mode).
