6. Thatcher And The End Of Consensus,1979-97

Question 1

why thatcher won The election of 1979, 1983 and 1987

Answer 1

See coursework plan

Question 2

Thatcher identified 4 main economic problems

Answer 2

Question 3

Thatcher views on economy

Answer 3

Her views only way to tackle problems.
She believed state sector grew at expense of private
She prioritised dealing with inflation by controlling prices by reducing £ in circulation.
Unemployment was preferred to inflation

Question 4

Thatchers econ policies

Answer 4

Privatisation began oct 1979 sale of British petrol and continued thought the 80s
No support for failing industrys = job loss
Budget of 80-81 reduce money by fall in gov spending and raising indirect tax
Gov policies increased confidence abroad and value of the pound rose.
Direct tax on business reduced
IR remained high

Question 5

Impact of thatchers econ policies

Answer 5

Prices fell from 18% 1980 to 4.5% 1983 and further fall in 1956

£ was stronger.

Tax change = growth of financial services

Unemployment 1980 1.5 million and 3 million by 1983 didn’t fall until 1986.
1990 over 2 million

FDI ^^

Question 6

Was there an economic revolution

Answer 6

Question 7

NHS under thatcher ( business model was applied to NHS under thatcher)

Answer 7

Hospitals became self governing and had to look after their own budgets.
GPS had to manage budget

Question 8

Thatcher and education

Answer 8

More inline with business.
State school allowed to control budgets.
Uni budgets cut ( self funding)

National curriculum more rigerous
Gcse 1986
Control over teachers in uni

Question 9

Thatcher and housing

Answer 9

Improve coucils tenants sense of responsibility allowed them to buy their homes.
Reducing spending and create property owners

Leading to Social stability

Question 10

Wealth occupation and the balance of this shifted in the 1980s …

Answer 10

Came away from traditional mining industry towards finance services, consumer goods, entertainment and manufacture and use of new technology.

Question 11

Unrest under thatcher

Answer 11

Employees had fewer rights as employees were concerned of profits more than welfare.
Poverty was apparent (cardboard cities)

Riots in Brixton, Liverpool and more in 1981
Miner strikes 1984-85 violence between police
1989 poll tax demostrations 

Falklands distracted all of this

Question 12

Thatchers style won her both admirers and enemies

Answer 12

Energy and hard work ensured she mastered the details of her policies.

Intolerant of views that she thought were flawed

Abrasive and tactless in discussion but also charming

Question 13

Increasing isolation under thatcher

Answer 13

1982 GB won but have thatcher to much confidence and she didn’t listen to others

Question 14

Key elements of thatchers fall

Answer 14

Fear of Con losing election as she was unpopular.
Senior cabinet minister Howe made a speech against her 13 Nov 1990.
Heseltine stood against her for leadership he failed but won many votes to have another vote.
She resigned 22 November 1990

Question 15

Fall of thatcher 1990
Economic Europe

Answer 15

1. Econ progress was flat, inflation rising again and Gov relied on high IRs to control boom.
   2.con divided over Europe and made them seem vulnerable to election defeat.
   Thatcher agreed to join ERM making her seem weak

Question 16

Thatchers fall
Public mood

Answer 16

Tories did baldly know the European election 1989.
Lost in by elections 89 and 90

Public opinion polls had labour ahead
Poll tax

Sir Antony Meyer stood against thatcher and won 33 votes