The Conservative manifesto, Forward - the Challenge of Our Times, showed a party hoping to become more radical during a second term.
Reform of the trade unionsí political levy was floated, as was a programme of privatisation that was to include British Telecom, British Airways and British Steel.
And the metropolitan councils, all Labour strongholds, as well as the Greater London Council were to be scrapped.
Labourís left wing programme, rambling and radical in equal measure, was referred to by a member of the shadow cabinet as the "longest suicide note in history".
It contained pledges towards unilateral nuclear disarmament, withdrawal from the European Community as well as the abolition of the House of Lords.
While the Alliance in its offering - Working Together for Britain - promised to reduce unemployment by up to a million.
It also pledged proportional representation and devolution for Scotland and Wales, and called for compulsory balloting before unions could undertake strike action.