3.3 (2) - Case Studies of Different Prime Ministers

Question 1

Thatcher - When PM and majorities

Answer 1

• PM from 1979-1990
• 1979 - 44 majority
• 1983 - 144 majority
• 1987 - 102 majority

Question 2

Thatcher - Political ideology and style of leadership

Answer 2

Political Ideology: Very anti-communist (friends with Reagan)
Style of Leadership: Capitalismmm - the ‘iron lady’

Question 3

Thatcher - Key policies

Answer 3

• Promoted the free markets and got sold off nationalised industries (state owned industries)
• Introduced a number of anti-union policies, many of the industries she privatised she realised they would have to have some sort of state control
• She also oversaw victory in the Falklands

Question 4

Thatcher - Advantages and disadvantages

Answer 4

• Advantages - She was an electoral asset for the better part of a decade, she improved things for the wealthy
• Disadvantages - Completely ruined the lives of working class communities, tried to introduce poll tax (a tax on your property that is not progressive)

Question 5

Thatcher - Circumstances of downfall

Answer 5

Became an electoral liability after she became very unpopular with the voters and with her party

Question 6

Blair - When PM and majorities

Answer 6

• PM from 1997-2007
• 1997 - 179 majority
• 2001 - 167 majority
• 2005 - 67 majority

Question 7

Blair - Political ideology and style of leadership

Answer 7

• Third way left wing politics (centre / centre left)
• Very new style of leadership - marginalised Cabinet

Question 8

Blair - Key policies

Answer 8

Devolution, Human Rights Act, Lords reform

Question 9

Blair - Advantages and disadvantages

Answer 9

• Advantages - Very charismatic and commanded a very united Labour Party for the better part of 10 years – very popular with the voters
• Disadvantages - Became very unpopular after the Iraq War and became an electoral liability

Question 10

Blair - Circumstances of downfall

Answer 10

Upon throwing the UK’s support behind the US in the Iraq War, it emerged that the supposed chemical weapons that Iraq had were simply not real, thus losing Blair a lot of support and leading to claims that he was the puppet of the US - he then handed the reins over to Gordon Brown

Question 11

Cameron - When PM and majorities

Answer 11

• PM 2010-2016
• Coalition gov with the LibDems from 2010-2015
• 12 seat majority in 2015

Question 12

Cameron - Political ideology and style of leadership

Answer 12

• Political Ideology - Modern compassionate conservatism
• Style of Leadership - Populism

Question 13

Cameron - Key policies

Answer 13

Rebuilding the UK economy after the 2008 financial crash

Question 14

Cameron - Advantages and disadvantages

Answer 14

• Advantages: Legalized gay marriage in 2013
• Disadvantages: Andy Colsen resignation over phone hacking scandal, Prime Minister for the 2011 riots, HOL defied the family tax credits bill, Piggate

Question 15

Cameron - Circumstances of downfall

Answer 15

Called the Brexit referendum with the intention of having an easy remain vote but lost the referendum and stepped down as a result

Question 16

May - When PM and majorities

Answer 16

• PM from 2016-2019
• Inherited Cameron’s 12 seat majority
• Loses this majority in 2017 and forms a confidence and supply agreement with the DUP

Question 17

May - Political ideology and style of leadership

Answer 17

• Political Ideology - One nation conservatism
• Style of Leadership - Clear in objectives but open to alternatives, as her term carried on she pushed advisors away and focused on delivering Brexit

Question 18

May - Key policies

Answer 18

Brexit means Brexit, initially wanted a soft Brexit but faced a walkout from her cabinet by leading Brexiteers because May’s Brexit wasn’t hard enough for them

Question 19

May - Advantages and disadvantages

Answer 19

• Advantages - Genuinely a competent leader and was dedicated to the service of the British people
• Disadvantages - Her task was almost impossible as she, as a Remainer, had to deliver Brexit in a time where the conservatives were tearing themselves apart

Question 20

May - Circumstances of downfall

Answer 20

Her decision to hold the 2017 snap general election backfired massively and undermined the rest of her tenure, she triggered article 50 without a real plan, and couldn’t decide on a proper Brexit deal

Question 21

Johnson - When PM and majority

Answer 21

• PM from 2019-2022
• 80 seats majority in 2019

Question 22

Johnson - Political ideology and style of leadership

Answer 22

• Political ideology - One nation Conservative
• Style of leadership - Flamboyant

Question 23

Johnson - Key policies

Answer 23

• Got Brexit done
• Ukraine

Question 24

Johnson - Advantages and disadvantages

Answer 24

• Advantages - Delivered Brexit and was generally popular with the voters and seen as a charismatic personality
• Disadvantages - Gripped by scandal more so than any other PM in recent memory

Question 25

Johnson - Circumstances of downfall

Answer 25

During Covid Johnson and his administration was gripped by a number of scandals through Partygate, this led to a vote of no confidence which he survived, but the writing was on the wall as key members of Johnson’s Cabinet resigned in July 2022 prompting the resignation of Johnson himself as his position was no longer tenable