john major (1990-1997) Flashcards
‘Honeymoon effect’.
The good feel and press following a new government, experienced strongly by Major especially after Thatcher’s unpopularity.
When did the First Gulf War end.
1991.
What did Major replace the poll tax with and what.
Council tax, with 1991.
Why did Major struggle with the poll tax.
Because it could split the party.
How much was lost when moving from poll tax to council tax.
£1.5 billion.
How much was Labour ahead in 1992 opinion polls.
41%.
‘Soapbox politics’.
Political style of making impromptu speeches in street towns on soapboxes.
Economic problems inhereted by Major.
- Declining manufacure output.
- High unemployment.
- High interest rates.
- Slump in housing prices.
What was unemployment at in 1992.
2.6 million.
‘Negative equity’.
Repaying mortgages higher then their homes value. Often led to home reposession.
Who did the issue of negative equity effect.
Working class and traditional Tory voters.
What did Major increase public spending in during 1991-92.
Subsidies on transport and the NHS.
ERM.
Limits on how much European currencies could change to stabilise exchange rates.
When did Britian leave the ERM.
1992.
When had Britian joined the ERM.
1990 (under Thatcher).
What did leaving the ERM cause.
Black Wednesday.
Black Wednesday.
A wave of speculative selling of pounds causing value to sink.
Positive effects of leaving the ERM.
- Britian didnt need to raise interest rates to protect the sterling.
- Exchange rates floated downwards.
- Housing market picked up.
Negative effects of leaving the ERM.
- Conservatives were no longer seen as competent with Britians economy.
- Steep drop in support.
- Major was criticised for his lack of authority.
What did Major see the economic events of 1992 as.
“The beginning of the end”.
Economic positives by 1997.
- Productivity up.
- Consumer spending up.
- Car ownership up.
- Housing prices raised and negative equity stopped.
Which two Tory Mp’s had to resign due to extramartial affairs.
Tim Yeo and David Mellor.
When was the Scott Enquiry set up and what for.
1994 to investigate illegal arms dealings.
What did the Scott enquiry uncover.
Government ministers were enabling arms companies to sell weaponary to Iraq.
‘Cash-for-questions’ scandal.
When Tory MPs were found to be taking money from Harrod’s owner in return for lobbying.
Main sites of satire against the Torys.
- The Secret Diary of Jon Major, Private eye.
- Spitting Image.
Which industries were successfully privitised.
- Coal.
- Railways.
Which industry failed to be privitised and why.
The Post Office due to public concern.
Private Finance Initiative.
Public-private partnerships where private companies would fund infratructure improvements, then deliver public services that the State would pay for over contract length.
Citizens Charter (1991).
Provides information to public about services they should expect.
Why was Citizens Charter ridiuled by press.
The Cones Hotline.
When did Heseltine close Nottinghamshire pits.
1991.
Why was closure of Nottinghamshire pits criticised.
Nottingham miners were the ones who stood with the governent against Scargill.
What did the ‘mad cow disease’ outbreak lead to.
Banning of British beef in Europe in 1996.
What was revealed in the 90s about the Troubles that caused criticism.
Miscarriages of justice revealed, such as the Birmingham Six and Guilford Four.
What did Britian recieve from Northern Ireland from 1993.
Messages that Sinn Fein was open to negotiations on peace agreements.
What were unionists afraid of.
Being ‘sold out’ to the British.
Who was the Irish Taoiseach of the time.
Albert Reynolds.
Bill Clinton’s contribution to Irish-British peace negotiation.
Persuaded Sinn Fein away from armed struggle.
When was the Downing Street Deeclaration made public.
1993.
When was ceasefire called by the IRA.
1994.
When did the IRA bomb Canary Wharf.
1996.
What did right-wing press commonly call for.
A stronger leader to replace Major and “save the party”.
When did Major call for a leadership challenge and what was his slogan.
1995; “back me or sack me”.
Who was Major’s main competitor in the leadership challenge.
John Redwood.
Why did John Redwood not win the leadership challenge 1995.
Heseltine agreed to be Major’s deputy Prime Minister and made it public he had voted for Major.
How did Thatcher contribute to Major’s downfall.
- Encouraged eurosceptics to demand a referendum on Europe.
- Memoirs published in 1993 were lukewarm about Major.
- Supported Redwood in the 1995 leadership challenge.
