Although industrial relations and how best to manage the economy and the trade unions featured heavily in this election, there was also much talk of how to deal with the prospect of a hung parliament.

In their manifesto - Firm Action for a Fair Britain - the Conservatives pledged to amend their hated Industrial Relations Act, disapproved of by the unions and disowned by business.

While Labour attempted to get one up on the Conservatives by claiming that it could put in place a "social contract" with the unions and bring the seemingly endless strife to an end.

Labour’s manifesto - which was not entirely finished when Heath called the poll - also presented the voters with an opportunity to vote in a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Common Market.

Heath had taken the UK into Europe after a vote in parliament, leaving many people feeling they had not been properly consulted over what was a major change. Labour was responding to this feeling and to the deep splits within its own party on the issue.

The Liberals put forward a traditionally radical package.

As well as their focus on the constitution with the promise of a bill of rights, their manifesto, Change the Face of Britain, called for permanent prices and incomes policies, better pensions and a minimum earnings level.