Chapter 17 (5)

Question 1

Reasons behind Thatcher’s resignation

Answer 1

1) Management style due to the multiple resignations of Lawson (1989) , Howe (1990), and Heseltine (1986)
2) Europe as it caused the resignation of many ministers including Howe
3) Poll Tax as it caused a lack of support within the party due to MP’s wanting to keep their marginal constituencies
4) Economy as it caused Lawson’s resignation and inflation was on the rise

Question 2

Major’s ’Honeymoon effect’

Answer 2

-Made a speech about Britain being ‘at the very heart of Europe’
-Had successes with the Gulf War in 1991 and kept the leaders of the opposition involved
-Removed the Poll Tax in 1991
-Able to consolidate the power issues post Thatcher

Question 3

Major’s portrayal in the media 1990-92

Answer 3

-Spitting image created a grey puppet and presented him as extremely boring and sexist. Focus of the sketches were on him eating peas
-Satyrical jokes about his wife Norma and Norman Lamont his Chancellor
-The Secret Diary of John Major (aged 47 3/4) in private eye which characterised him as hopelessly naive and optimistic in a childish way

Question 4

Who faced hostility from the hard right within the party?

Answer 4

Major

Major’s leadership was challenged by the Thatcherites.

Question 5

What was the Thatcherites’ reaction to the removal of Thatcher?

Answer 5

Refused to come to terms with it

The Thatcherites were loyal to Thatcher and resisted changes after her departure.

Question 6

What did Thatcher state about Major’s leadership?

Answer 6

‘There isn’t such thing as Majorism’

This reflects Thatcher’s disapproval of Major’s leadership style.

Question 7

Who opposed Major’s leadership and why?

Answer 7

Heseltine; he felt it was a loss of power for himself

Heseltine’s opposition stemmed from personal political ambitions.

Question 8

What was the attitude towards Major from those who felt betrayed?

Answer 8

Fierce determination for revenge

Some members believed Major had betrayed Thatcher, leading to animosity.

Question 9

What was the opposition’s belief about Major’s suitability for leadership?

Answer 9

He was not the right fit and incapable

Critics claimed Major rose too quickly through the ranks.

Question 10

What was the purpose of the ERM?

Answer 10

To stop inflation by pegging currencies to the Deutschmark (DM)

The Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) was intended to stabilize exchange rates and reduce inflation.

Question 11

What major issue did Britain face with the ERM between 1990 and 1992?

Answer 11

Inability to respond to recession and depression

The ERM’s constraints limited economic policy flexibility during economic downturns.

Question 12

What was the exchange rate at which the pound was pegged to the Deutschmark before Black Wednesday?

Answer 12

DM 2.95

This overvaluation contributed to the economic difficulties leading to Black Wednesday.

Question 13

What happened on September 16, 1992?

Answer 13

Britain withdrew from the Exchange Rate Mechanism, known as Black Wednesday

This event marked a significant failure in economic policy under Major’s government.

Question 14

How did the government attempt to maintain the pound’s value during the crisis?

Answer 14

By raising interest rates from 10% to 15% and buying pounds

These efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and highlighted the government’s struggles.

Question 15

What was the immediate impact of Black Wednesday on Major’s government?

Answer 15

Hugely damaging to the government’s reputation

The event was seen as a humiliating defeat for the Bank of England and the government.

Question 16

What effect did Black Wednesday have on the Conservative Party’s standing in opinion polls?

Answer 16

Labour’s rating increased by 15 points

The Conservatives, traditionally seen as the better party for economics, suffered a significant drop in popularity.

Question 17

What were some long-term economic benefits following Black Wednesday?

Answer 17

Fall in annual inflation, decrease in unemployment, and growth in purchasing power

These outcomes led to an economic recovery and expansion of world trade.

Question 18

What did some people refer to September 16, 1992, as, due to its eventual positive outcomes?

Answer 18

‘White Wednesday’

This term reflects the belief that exiting the ERM allowed for better management of the economy.

Question 19

What economic policy did Major introduce to prevent another recession?

Answer 19

Unpopular taxation on heating

This policy was part of Major’s efforts to stabilize the economy following Black Wednesday.

Question 20

True or False: The damage to Major’s party image was immediate and short-lived.

Answer 20

False

The damage to the party’s image was long-lasting, with lasting divisions occurring throughout the 1990s.

Question 21

When was the National Lottery established?

Answer 21

1994

Question 22

How much money has been given to projects across the UK from the National Lottery?

Answer 22

£9.2 billion

Question 23

How many projects have benefited from the National Lottery funding?

Answer 23

More than 52,000 projects

Question 24

What percentage of money spent on National Lottery games goes to the prize fund?

Answer 24

53%

Question 25

What percentage of money spent on National Lottery games goes to 'good causes'?

Answer 25

25%

Question 26

What is a common criticism of the National Lottery?

Answer 26

Some consider it a form of 'stealth tax'

Question 27

Fill in the blank: Of all money spent on National Lottery games, around _____ goes to the prize fund.

Answer 27

53%

Question 28

Fill in the blank: The National Lottery was established as a _____ franchised national lottery.

Answer 28

state

Question 29

True or False: The National Lottery has only funded a few projects since its establishment.

Answer 29

False

Question 30

What educational reform was implemented in 1991?

Answer 30

SATS ## Footnote SATS are standardized assessments in England.

Question 31

When was the National Curriculum finalized and fully launched?

Answer 31

1997 ## Footnote The National Curriculum sets out the subjects and content to be taught in schools.

Question 32

What was launched alongside the implementation of SATS to measure school performance?

Answer 32

League tables based on exam results ## Footnote League tables provide a ranking of schools based on student performance.

Question 33

What agency was created in 1994 to address teacher shortages?

Answer 33

The Teacher Training Agency ## Footnote This agency aimed to improve the quality of teacher training.

Question 34

What tax replaced the poll tax?

Answer 34

Council tax ## Footnote Council tax is based on the value of the property occupied.

Question 35

What was the cost of scrapping the Poll Tax?

Answer 35

£1.5 billion ## Footnote The Poll Tax was deemed essential to replace despite its high cost.

Question 36

The current system of council tax is almost the same as that introduced by whom?

Answer 36

Major in 1991 ## Footnote This refers to John Major, the British Prime Minister at the time.

Question 37

Fill in the blank: The Teacher Training Agency was created to address a shortage in _______.

Answer 37

teachers

Question 38

True or False: The National Curriculum was implemented before SATS.

Answer 38

False ## Footnote SATS were implemented in 1991, while the National Curriculum was finalized in 1997.

Question 39

What was the declaration made by Home Secretary Michael Howard in 1993 regarding prison?

Answer 39

'Prison works'

Question 40

What reforms did Michael Howard introduce to the justice system?

Answer 40

Increased arrests, prosecutions, and convictions ## Footnote Included new Secure Training Centres for children and mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders.

Question 41

What was the average prison population in the UK in 1993?

Answer 41

44,500

Question 42

What was the average prison population in the UK by 1997?

Answer 42

61,100

Question 43

What are Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs)?

Answer 43

Arrangements where a private company handles up-front costs for government projects ## Footnote The government pays the private company over the long term.

Question 44

What is the payment structure under a PFI?

Answer 44

'No service, no fee' basis

Question 45

How long are most PFI contracts typically?

Answer 45

25-30 years

Question 46

What sectors have PFIs been used to fund?

Answer 46

* Hospitals * Schools * Roads * Prisons * Military equipment

Question 47

What criticism did PFIs face?

Answer 47

'Privatisation through the back door' and poor value for money for taxpayers

Question 48

What did the National Audit Office find in January 2018 regarding PFIs?

Answer 48

The UK incurred many billions of pounds in extra costs for no clear benefit

Question 49

What was the purpose of the Citizen's Charter introduced in 1991?

Answer 49

To give public service users more power over service quality

Question 50

What methods were used to improve public services under the Citizen's Charter?

Answer 50

* League tables * Questionnaires * Inspections * Targets * 'Charter Mark' awards

Question 51

What criticism did the Citizen's Charter receive regarding its implementation?

Answer 51

It invited 'hoop jumping' and 'target practice' rather than genuine service improvement

Question 52

How did Marr describe the level of bureaucracy resulting from the Citizen's Charter?

Answer 52

'Homegrown superstate'

Question 53

What was the purpose of the Cones Hotline established in 1992?

Answer 53

To allow members of the public to enquire about roadworks and report traffic cones deployed without reason. ## Footnote The hotline was staffed by a single person and was criticized for being a waste of government resources.

Question 54

When was the Cones Hotline closed?

Answer 54

September 1995. ## Footnote The hotline faced significant criticism and was viewed as lacking ambition.

Question 55

In what year was the coal industry privatised in the UK?

Answer 55

1994. ## Footnote This was part of a larger trend of privatization occurring in the UK during the 1990s.

Question 56

What was the outcome of the railway privatization in 1996?

Answer 56

It was disastrous, leading to higher prices and no improvement in services. ## Footnote The railways were split into franchises and a company called Railtrack managed the infrastructure.

Question 57

How did railway privatization affect travel across Britain?

Answer 57

Required dealing with multiple companies for travel. ## Footnote This fragmentation resulted in a more expensive and less efficient service.

Question 58

What nickname was given to the railway privatization due to its impact?

Answer 58

The poll tax on wheels. ## Footnote This nickname reflected public dissatisfaction with the costs and service quality.

Question 59

What happened to less profitable railway routes post-privatization?

Answer 59

They were cut and investment slowed. ## Footnote This negatively impacted the overall service and accessibility.

Question 60

What occurred in Nottinghamshire during the railway privatization?

Answer 60

Pits closures continued, despite local opposition. ## Footnote Heseltine was forced to U-turn, but ultimately, 31 closures went ahead.

Question 61

What was the outcome of attempts to privatise the Post Office?

Answer 61

The privatization did not go ahead. ## Footnote This reflects the complexities and challenges of privatizing public services.

Question 62

What is BSE commonly known as?

Answer 62

Mad Cow Disease. ## Footnote BSE was identified in the mid-1980s but was recognized as a human threat in the mid-1990s.

Question 63

What practice contributed to the spread of BSE in cattle?

Answer 63

Feeding cows mashed up cow offal in their feed. ## Footnote This practice was linked to the outbreak of the disease.

Question 64

What actions were taken by farmers regarding BSE in the mid-1990s?

Answer 64

Farmers were instructed to change cow feed and destroy infected cattle. ## Footnote The government provided millions in compensation for farmers affected by the disease.

Question 65

How many deaths were caused by a disease similar to BSE in humans?

Answer 65

8 deaths from CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). ## Footnote CJD was alarming as it was associated with BSE.

Question 66

What significant action did the EU take in response to BSE?

Answer 66

Banned the sale of British beef and extended the ban to exports outside the EU. ## Footnote This was a major blow to the British beef industry.

Question 67

What measure was taken regarding cows over 30 months old during the BSE crisis?

Answer 67

All cows over 30 months were slaughtered. ## Footnote This was part of the effort to control the spread of BSE.

Question 68

What was a major criticism of the government and industry during the BSE crisis?

Answer 68

They acted too slowly. ## Footnote This slow response contributed to the severity of the crisis.