John Major 1990-97 Flashcards
One key reason why John Major’s rise to leadership
Thatcherites saw him as ‘one of them’
When was the poll tax abandoned?
November 1991
3 key things that happened in John Majors first term (1990-1992)
- removal of poll tax 1991
-Gulf War: supported President Bush in removing the Iraqis from Kuwait 1991
-Signed the Maastricht treaty (dec 1991) which committed Britain into greater integration in Europe
What did the option polls place the conservatives as in the 1992 election?
29% compared to labours 41%
How did John Major run his electoral campaign in 1992
- won a lot of respect for old fashioned ‘soapbox’ politics, making impromptu speeches in tows such as luton on top of a soapbox
How did labour lose the 1992 election
- Kinnock ‘we’re alright!’ Speech did not go down well with supporters
-John Smith’s ‘alternative budget’ relentlessly attacked by torries which gave voters second thoughts about wisdom of labour - Legacy of Thatcher still apparent with labour shifting to the left e.g people could no afford foreign holidays
- Not seen as trustworthy as Major
Effect on the Lawson boom on house prices
House prices rose rapidly.
Contributed to a feeling of prosperity.
Rising prices led to people doing anything to buy a property.
Situation after the Lawson boom in early 1990s
House prices begin to fall.
Many people were left owning a property less than the loan they had taken out (negative equity).
Figure of houses in negative equity at start of 1992 compared to end of 1992
300,000
To
900,000
When did Britain join the ERM
October 1990
When was the run on the pound
Wednesday 16 September 1992
(Black Wednesday)
What were the events of Black Wednesday
Run on the pound
Bank of England puts interest rates up to 15% to defend its international valuation
Government forced to leave the ERM, devaluing the currency.
Consequences of Black Wednesday
- Economy picks up
-lower unemployment - lower inflation
(Not everyone agrees this was due to leaving the ERM) - Rise in interest rates led to increased mortgages- sinking government popularity
Economic situation by 1997
- Car ownership increased, negative equity a thing of the past but people reluctant to credit major for this due to Black Wednesday
What was ‘cash for questions’
MPs were paid by commercial businesses to ask questions in the House of Commons.
Neil Hamilton most accused
“Arms to Iraq” scandal
Matrix Churchill company caught help supply parts for the Iraqi weapons programme. MOD found to have provided advice on how best to obtain export licenses.
2 other scandals
- John Aitken accused of allowing a businessman to pick up his hotel.
- Jeffery Archer resigned in October 1986, accused of having been a sex workers customer.
Satire- Major
Major’s frustration and supposed lack of imagination were mocked in Private Eye magazine
When were the coal industry acts
1987 and 1994 paved a way for mines to be privatised
What was the Citizens Charter
Announced by Major in 1991
Project promised to increase accountability and responsiveness in the public sector, treating the public like more valued customers
Health care reorganised as an internal market this meant that different units within the NHS were free to buy services from one another.
When was the teacher training agency and national curriculum created
1994 and 1997
When and what was the ‘council tax’?
March 1991, Heseltine presented the idea of the the new tax.
Based and property values and is paid by everyone.
4 developments in homosexuality
- first case of AIDS recorded in 1981
-Section 28, a law which banned the promotion of homosexuality - Although not directly aimed at schools may people believe it made it illegal to discuss homosexuality in schools.
-Reduction of age of consent from 21 to 18 for gays
What did the divorce levels rise to from 1970 to 2000?
1970- 1% of men and 1% women divorced
2000- 8% men 9% women
What % of babies were born to unmarried parents?
from 12% to 30%
How was the anti-estblishment culture shown by the royals?
-marriages of 3 out 4 of the Queens children broke down
-debate led to the Queen paying tax on private income and reduction in the civil list
When was the start of the rave culture and what did this culture lead to?
1989, linked to the use of ecstasy and a moral panic about drug taking- criminal justice e and public order act 1994
What environmental campaigns were led?
protests against road developments in 1992, used various methods such as blocking roads
What changes were there for women?
- Start of ‘third- wave feminism’
-by mid 1990s message of ‘girl power’ became more prominent e.g spice girls - 1994 rape within marriage became a criminal offence
- by 1993, 68% of women of the age of working were in work
Who and when was the first woman speaker in the House of Commons?
1992, Betty Boothroyd
When and what impact did the death of Stephen Lawrence have on race relations?
1993, five suspects arrested however suspects released and there was no convictions for 20 years
Suspicion the police did not take the case as seriously as they could of have done.
Divides with conservatives of Maastricht
and what was the in the Maastricht treaty
Ken Clarke and Chris Patten backed the decision
Michal Portillo a eurosceptic did not.
EEC to turn into the EU and there to be single currency
Due to Major having good relations he managed to secure an opt-out clause for this currency
Back me or sack me
did not improve majors relations with eurosceptics
