#6. Thatcher And The End Of Consensus 1979-97 Flashcards
Why did thatcher win the 1979 election
Conviction politician
British electoral system
Appealed to marginal voters in midlands and London
Liberals were damaged after supporting labour
Why did the conservatives win the 1983 election
Polled fewer votes than 1979 Labour fell from 11.5 million to 8.5 million Inflation reduced Falklands war Split of labour vote “Longest suicide note in history”
Why did thatcher win the 1987 election
Lost 21 seats but still pulled through Increase in middle class Inflation lowest in a decade Privatisation working Burden of taxes to indirect tax Deregulation of financial sector Good relations with USA and ussr Dealing with TUs
What were thatchers views on the main issues of the economy
Inflation.
No investment
Costly and unprofitable publicly owned industries
A lack of incentive to modernise and increase productivity
When did privatisation begin
1979 October
Sale of BP
What did the budget of 1980-81 aim to do
Aimed to reduce the money of circulation
What act deregulated dealing stocks and shares
Financial services act 1986
What were the impacts of thatchers economic policy
Price rise fell from 18% to 4.5% in 1983
Stronger pound
Unemployment rose sharply in 1980s, goes from 1.5 million to 3 million by 1983
Foreign investment increased- for example Japanese firm Nissan in Sunderland
movements to different jobs increased
what were the issues with thatchers economic policies
get rich quick culture
less concern for workers rights
decline in manufacturing industry
loss of 15% of manufacturing base
what was thatchers social policy on the NHS
hospitals become governing trusts and had to look after their own budget
GPs given competitive choice on which service to use
GPs responsible for managing own budgets
what reforms were made to education
state schools could move out of local authority and manage own budgets
O levels changed to GCSE in 1986
research by universities more controlled
what scheme did thatcher introduce on housing
right to buy (council houses)
what was the term for homelessness under thatcher
cardboard cities
what are the examples of social unrest under thatcher
rioting in Brixton and liverpool in 1981
miners strike of 1984-85
1989- poll tax unrest
what distracted people from thatchers domestic policies
the falklands war 1982
who were the wets and dries
wets- those who were more cautious micheal heseltine
dries- supporters of thatchers
what was thatchers leadership style
energy and hard work- knew details of policies
intolerant of views and opinions which didnt match her rigid logic
she could be abrasive and capable of great charm
who resigned which caused her to become isolated
Geoffrey howe and nigel lawson
what were the main reasons thatcher disagreed with her party
economic issues such as growning inflation
ERM
change in public mood
why was the ERM an issue
thatcher didn’t want to join but most of the cabinet did, but she ended up joining anyways
when was the poll tax
1988- taxing those with property
when were the violent protests in london due to poll tax
march 1990
what caused micheal heseltine to raise a leadership contest
senior cabinet minister made a speech against her in november 1990
when did thatcher resign
22 november 1990
