This is partially true having lived through that decade myself. Having said that, in the 1980s seriously unpleasant pieces of work like this would never had a sniff of getting elected as a MP https://manchestermill.co.uk/goodwins-gang-meet-the-reform-team-in-gorton-and-denton/
Granted, there were the likes of Dicks, Galloway around right and left, not to mention horrors like Cyril Smith and Morrison, but Matthew Goodwin and some of his hangers on are different level.