Case study: Prime Minister John Major (November 1990 to May 1997) Flashcards
1) How well-known was John Major, when he took over from Thatcher?
2) What was his role before becoming prime minister?
3) Why was Major chosen?
1) He took over in November 1990, and was little-known.
2) He served for 4 years in the Cabinet, more than half of this time as chief secretary to the Treasury.
3) He would have a less divisive approach than that of Thatcher.
1) By how much did Major win in April 1992?
2) What happened during his second term?
1) He surprised many by winning with a small majority of 21 seats.
2) It was filled with problems, causing Blair to win in May 1997, with a majority of 179.
Assessing Major’s control over events and policy:
1) How was Major’s introduction of council tax, a success?
2) Who did this help him distance himself from?
3) Which elections did this help him win?
1) He replaced the unpopular poll tax, with council tax, which remains the system of local governments.
2) Thatcher, who was seen as uncaring and confrontational.
3) 1992
1) How did Major’s handling of the first Gulf War in 1991, help him be seen as a national leader?
2) What was the purpose of the war?
1) He worked effectively with the US, whilst also uniting public opinion and dealing with British forces effectively.
2) Expelling Iraq’s dictator, Sadam Hussain, from Kuwait.
1) How did leaving the Exchange Rate Mechanism, negatively impact Major’s economic policy record?
2) How did Labour moving away from its ‘tax and spend’ image, further negatively impact Major.
1) When Major was chancellor of the exchequer in October 1990, he persuaded Thatcher to join the ERM. Market pressure later forced him to leave in September 1992.
2) Labour appeared more responsible as a manager of the economy, than Major did.
1) How did Major’s lack of ideological commitments, impact him both negatively and positively?
1) He allowed discussion and his lack of ideological commitments made him attractive. However, this also meant people didn’t fear him.
1) How was Major’s control of the party undermined, during his second term, as a result of a split between pro- and anti-Europeans.
2) How did Major attempt to reassure them?
3) What would a sympathetic view of Major be?
4) How would someone like Michael Heseltine, have caused a bigger split?
5) What did this image of weak leadership cause?
6) How did Major attempt to restore his authority in June 1995?
7) Did this work?
1) There were many ‘Eurosceptic’ backbenchers who saw the EU as a threat to sovereignty.
2) Opted out from the European currency, and from the ‘Social Chapter’.
3) He balanced pro- and anti-European ministers by taking a moderate line.
4) He had more pronounced views.
5) Open ridicule in parliament and the media.
6) By resigning the party leadership, and inviting his critics to run against him. He comfortably defeated John Redwood.
7) No, infighting continued, leading to his defeat 2 years later.
1) Examples of crisis management, that Major had to carry out:
2) Did Major manage to make public services more accountable to their users?
3) Was the ‘Citizen’s Charter a success?
4) Why was Major’s management of the railways criticised?
1) Had to cover the cracks on Europe, but also cope with financial and sexual scandals involving junior ministers and backbenchers.
2) Little came of this.
3) It was an attempt to highlight the expected performances of schools and hospitals, but it didn’t catch the public’s imagination.
4) He decided to separate the responsibility for tracks, from that of running train services.
1) How was the December 1993 Downing Street Declaration a success?
2) Was there a return to violence?
1) This declaration ruled out the creation of a united Ireland, if the unionists didn’t want it, and it also respected the views of the nationalists.
2) In Major’s final year there was a return to violence, however the foundations for Blair had been set.
1) How did Major help Northern Ireland?
1) His premiership marked the beginning of economic recovery and peace in Northern Ireland.
