3.3 (2) - Case Studies of Different Prime Ministers Flashcards
Thatcher - When PM and majorities
- PM from 1979-1990
- 1979 - 44 majority
- 1983 - 144 majority
- 1987 - 102 majority
Thatcher - Political ideology and style of leadership
Political Ideology: Very anti-communist (friends with Reagan)
Style of Leadership: Capitalismmm - the ‘iron lady’
Thatcher - Key policies
- 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
Thatcher - Advantages and disadvantages
- 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)
Thatcher - Circumstances of downfall
Became an electoral liability after she became very unpopular with the voters and with her party
Blair - When PM and majorities
- PM from 1997-2007
- 1997 - 179 majority
- 2001 - 167 majority
- 2005 - 67 majority
Blair - Political ideology and style of leadership
- Third way left wing politics (centre / centre left)
- Very new style of leadership - marginalised Cabinet
Blair - Key policies
Devolution, Human Rights Act, Lords reform
Blair - Advantages and disadvantages
- 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
Blair - Circumstances of downfall
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
Cameron - When PM and majorities
- PM 2010-2016
- Coalition gov with the LibDems from 2010-2015
- 12 seat majority in 2015
Cameron - Political ideology and style of leadership
- Political Ideology - Modern compassionate conservatism
- Style of Leadership - Populism
Cameron - Key policies
Rebuilding the UK economy after the 2008 financial crash
Cameron - Advantages and disadvantages
- 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
Cameron - Circumstances of downfall
Called the Brexit referendum with the intention of having an easy remain vote but lost the referendum and stepped down as a result
May - When PM and majorities
- 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
May - Political ideology and style of leadership
- 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
May - Key policies
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
May - Advantages and disadvantages
- 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
May - Circumstances of downfall
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
Johnson - When PM and majority
- PM from 2019-2022
- 80 seats majority in 2019
Johnson - Political ideology and style of leadership
- Political ideology - One nation Conservative
- Style of leadership - Flamboyant
Johnson - Key policies
- Got Brexit done
- Ukraine
Johnson - Advantages and disadvantages
- 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
Johnson - Circumstances of downfall
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
