Major's government

Question 1

Strength’s of Major’s government

Answer 1

• Priorities uniting party
• Government grew strongly
• His conduct during the war won praise from the press and public for his statesmanlike actions
• Abandoned poll tax in favour of new council tax
• Major was skillfully diplomatic
• created a cabinet that showed his desire for party unity
• Conservatives jumped ahead in opinion polls - newspapers welcomed his appointment - reflected how many people hated Thatcher
• Helped start a peace process in NI

Question 2

Weaknesses of Major’s government

Answer 2

• Party divided over issues like Europe, undermined by economic shocks such as ‘Black Wednesday’ and ridiculed over its ‘sleaze’
• Deep recession that followed the ‘Lawson Boom’
• Adopted a divided party over Europe
• Unemployment at 2.6 m in 1992
• Maastrichts was one of the reasons that Major delayed calling the election until 1992, even though he wanted one earlier
• 1991, Major committed his government to a ‘new citizen’s charter’ which was essentially a watered down version of Thatcherism
• Mps hated Hesseltine for what he done and many pro -Thatcher mps saw Major as ‘one of them’.

Question 3

Why did the Conservatives win the 1992 election?

Answer 3

Conservative strengths:
- They ran a successful campaign
- John Major’s soap box speeches
- John Major’s image and character
- Voters still trusted conservative economics
- The media support of the Conservatives

Labour weaknesses:
- A poor/ jazzed up American style campaign
- Controversy over truthfulness of some of their campaign
- There was promises of raising taxes if they were to succeed in government.

Question 4

What were the 1992 election results?

Answer 4

Cons - 271 seats
Lab - 271

Labour lost overall

Question 5

When did the Labour reval begin?

Answer 5

1987 election and by 1992 many voters who had abandoned them in the 1980s were returning

Question 6

What was John Majors’ character?

Answer 6

• Mild, quiet and moderate for many, this was his attraction
• he was not as abrasive or combative as Thatcher as he was not inspiring even though he was still likeable
• He hadn’t really made a lasting impression in any of the jobs he did under Thatcher
• Liked by general public because of his politeness, moderation and calmness.