P141 BEEBFAX 122 Thu 31 Dec --:--/--                             By the start of 1982, unemployment had  passed the 3,000,000 mark  - for the first time since before the  Second World War - and the economy had  been in recession for nearly two  years.  However, British victory in the  Falklands War later that year sparked  a dramatic rise in Tory popularity,  and as Mrs Thatcher's newfound  popularity continued in 1983 the  Tories were most people's firm  favourites to win the election.   Next       Prev       Home        End