Fall Of Thatcher And The Rise Of Major Flashcards
Why did thatcher resign?
Economic issues:
-unpopular poll tax 1990
-(1987) stock market crash
-(1988) Lawson boom cause balance of payment problems
-(1990) inflation rose to 10.9% higher than 1980s
-Lawson resignation from thatcher spending more attention to economic advicers
Political issues:
-kinnocks leadership on labor looked stronger
-thatcher might be defeated in next election
-conservative lost Eastbourne seat in by election
-thatcher failed to win first ballot
-heseltine challenge leadership
-Geoffrey Howe resigned
-3rd term
Foreign issues:
-(1988) thatchers Bruges speech
-Westland affair (1986) lead to heseltine resignation
-thatcher a eurosceptic
-division from single European act (1986)
(Eu divisions)
Who was John major?
Prime minister 1990-1997
-Viewed as thatchers succesor
-Wanted Britain ‘at very heart of Europe’
-wanted to unify party
-from working class background
-(1987) chief secutary of treasury
-(1989) foreign secretary then chancellor
What occurred in the 1992 election?
(Was Called on last possible moment of 5 year parliamentary term)
John major used ‘soapbox’ political campaign
Labour had initially looked strong and ahead in poles, but poeple thought they hadn’t reformed enough.
Also the conservatives were viewed as more ideal to get country to economic prosperity
What were the results of the 1992 election?
Electoral votes:
Conservatives: 51.6%
Labour: 41.6%
Parliamentary seats
Labour: 271 seats
Conservative: 336 seats
What economic policy developments occurred between (1990-1997)?
-(1990) under thatcher, Britain joined ERM, Exchange rate Mechansim to combat inflation by limiting value of country’s currencies to stabilise exchange rates
-(1991/1992) increased public spending on unemployment, transport and NHS
-(1991) poll tax abandoned in favour of new council tax. It considered the value of your house when making m tax payments
-(1991) helesltine announced closure of 31 coal mines= short lived U turn from outcry by Nottinghamshire protests = BALANCE, still went ahead
-(1992) PFI (private finance initiative) public private partnerships: private companies fund infrastructure improvements and deliver public services that state would pay for over given time on contract
-(1992) Britain left the exchange rate mechanism ERM following black Wednesday
-privatisation policies:
• (1994) Coal industry
• (1996) railways industry
• failed to privatise post office
What was the economic situation in Britain like between (1990-1997)?
-unemployment rose from 1.6 million (1991) to 2.6 million (1992) but then decreased from 10% (1993) to 7% (1997)
-(1990-1995) house prices fell by 21%= home owners in negative equity
-black Wednesday: Britain left the ERM causing the value of the pound to decrease and for a reduction in high interest rates.
= lead to exchange rates of pound decreasing= improved exports = reduced unemployment = housing markets improving from rising prices
-after (1992) US economy coming out of recession= expansion of world trade
-(1996) British beef banned in Europe from outbreak of ‘mad cow disease’ BSE
- benefits from financial deregulation and flexible work practices occurred
What was black Wednesday?
Where speculative selling of pound on exchange rate caused £ to fall in value. Caused increase in interest rates by government from 12% to 15% to encourage foreign investment. But lead to Britains value of the pound to sink and for Britain to leave the ERM
What sleaze developments occurred in Britain between (1990-1997)?
Sex scandals: (1993) minister for environment and countryside resigned from birth of “love child” with conservative councillor
-(1994) Scott enquiry, investigated illegal arms dealing and proved ministers broke rules by enabling company “matrix Churchill” to supply army to Iraq
-(1995) Jonathan Atkin resigned from allegations that he had violated ministerial rules from connection to arms dealings with Saudi Arabia
-(1994) ‘cash for question’ affair from Neil Hamilton and other MPs m accused of accepting bribes from Mohammed Al Fayed, he refused to resign and defeated in (1997) election by Martin bell
-rise in satire of ‘sleaze’ : Steve bell, guardian cartoonist portrayed him as grey superhero wearing Y fronts on top of trousers
What domestic policies developed between (1990-1997)?
(1991) ‘Citizens charter’ gave public service users more power towards quality of service they receive
(1993) majors “back to basic” campaign, promote traditional values of decency, neighbourliness & courtesy
What Northern Ireland development occurred between (1987-1993)?
-(1988) britished government accused of “shoot to kill” policy when 3 IRA members shot to death in Gibraltar
-(1988) British government banned organisations believed to be supporting terrorism from broadcasting = ballygawley bus bombing in August
-(1989/1991) miscarriages of justice overturned that were wrongly accused of IRA bombing (Birmingham six 1991)
What significant Northern Ireland developments occurred in (1993)?
(1993) British government receive secret message from Sinn fein that they were open to discuss peace agreement
(1993) majors relations strong with Irish Taoiseach and US encourage IRA to give up bombs
(1993) Downing Street declaration: affirmed right of self determination of Irish Republic and Northern Ireland only transfer power if majority agreed
What Northern Ireland development occurred in (1993-1997)?
(1994) IRA and loyalist paramilitaries announced a ceasefire
Then (1994) ban on broadcasting organisations supporting terrorism was lifted
(1996) bombing in Canary Wharf killed 2 people and caused £150 million in damages
What were conservative divisions like from (1990-1997)?
-right wingers pushed more radical social policies
-eurosceptics got more confidant
-sleaze and scandals
-politicans dissatisfaction grew: potential candidates arose to replace major ( John redwood and Michael portillo)
=(1995) major calling leadership election to re-elect himself and defeat candidates, resulting in major winning majority ballot against redwood, and also Portillo who refused to challenge
-thatcher, eurosceptic, criticized major leadership
(1993) memories published. were lukewarm on major
mocked by Tony Blair saying “I lead my party. You follow yours”
