John Major case study (influence of PMs) - 3.3 PM & Cabinet - Parliament & Executive - UK Government

Question 1

John Major premiership

Answer 1

1990-1997

Question 2

Successes in handling policy

Answer 2

• Council tax

- Northern Ireland policy

Question 3

Successes in handling events

Answer 3

• First Gulf War

Question 4

Failures at handling policy

Answer 4

• Black Wednesday / economic policy

- Eurosceptics / European policy

Question 5

Failure at handling events

Answer 5

• Reacting rather than driving forwards

- Sleaze

Question 6

Cabinet style positive

Answer 6

Collegial style compared to Thatcher. More inclusive encouraging more discussion. Lack of ideologiacl commitment were attractive

Question 7

Cabinet style negative

Answer 7

Colleagues didn’t respect or fear him (compared to Thatcher) and some doubted if he had firm beliefs on important issues

Question 8

Council tax policy

Answer 8

Major replaced Thatcher’s unpopular poll tax with council tax in 1993.
Helped distance his government from the ‘uncaring’ reputation of his predecessor

Question 9

Gulf war event

Answer 9

Early 1991. Major worked effectively with US allies led by Bush. Major managed to deal successfully with forces & unite public opinion

Question 10

Black Wednesday / economic policy

Answer 10

Chancellor of Exchequer 1990 Major joined European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
September 1992 (Black Wednesday) market pressure forced pound out of ERM. Government raised interest rates to try maintain its place. It failed.
Major’s reputation for economic incompetence.
Public never forgot this despite economy recovering and unemployment falling later.
New Labour was also distancing itself from tax & spend so appeared more responsible against Major

Question 11

Eurosceptic / European policy

Answer 11

Conservatives had a hard core of Eurosceptic backbenchers - saw EU as threat to sovereignty
Major secured opt-outs from joining €uro & from ‘Social Chapter’ (would increase European intervention in social policy)
Wasn’t enough for some Conservative MPs
Backbench revolts
Major secured Maastricht Treaty by 1 vote July 1993

Question 12

Impact of divisions in party over Europe

Answer 12

Major didn’t take a strong side - succesfully balancing pros & antis.
However, this disunity looked like weak leadership leading to ridicule in media.
June 1995 Major ‘back me or sack me’ failed to achieve purpose but saw off Redwood as a challenger

Question 13

Northern Ireland

Answer 13

Major managed to establish trust with both sides through December 1993 Downing Street Declaration (ruled out imposition of united Ireland against the wishes of unionists but showed respect for the aspirations of the nationalist community)
Built the foundations for Blair to build on