Margaret Thatcher - Effects of Thatcherism on politics and party developments

Question 1

Statements that back up the idea that that Thatcher played a large role in politics and party developments

Answer 1

• Thatcherism led to a transformation of the Conservatives and even the Labour Party
• Thatcher winning three elections shows that she had the ability to create policies that struck a chord with Britain
• Forced Labour to go through ideological changes, ending with Tony Blair’s most radical changes in 1994

Question 2

Statements that refute the idea that that Thatcher played a large role in politics and party developments

Answer 2

• The transition and shift in UK Politics was not purely down to Thatcher
• A shift away from Left-Wing politics began in the 1970’s
• The Labour shift actually began in 1956 with Anthony Crosland’s The Future of Socialism

Question 3

Politics in Britain from 1945-1970

Answer 3

Post War Consensus - Centre-left leaning, Socialist policies implemented

Question 4

Politics in Britain from 1970-1979

Answer 4

Still centre-left but the failure of the PWC gives rise to Neo liberalism pushing things further right and more centrist politicians such as Wilson and Heath

Question 5

Politics in Britain from 1979-1990

Answer 5

Centre-right under Thatcher with Tories supporting her free market policies and rejecting the PWC

Question 6

Politics in Britain from 1990-1997

Answer 6

Centre-right with Labour now adopting Thatcherite policies mostly regarding the economy

Question 7

How did Thatcherism change the Conservatives

Answer 7

• United the Party: She gained support from a divided Conservative Party
• Rallied the Conservatives around her free-market, patriotic views before 1979
• Careful not to ignore the back-benchers