Margaret Thatcher - Extent of social and political in Britain

Question 1

Points that agree with the idea of wide societal division

Answer 1

• There were the deepest social divisions in Britain, at the end of the 1980s than there had been before WW2
• There were riots, industrial conflict, protest movements and controversy over Section 28 and the British response to AIDS
• Thatchers economic policies divided the country

Question 2

Points that disagree with societal division

Answer 2

-The division was down to longer-term economic and social changes

Question 3

In 1980’s the country was more divided than it had been in WW2. Give examples to back up this statement

Answer 3

• Gap between rich and poor widened under Thatcher
• Only 55% of middle-class voted for Thatcher in 1987
• London and the SE became more productive while NE and NW became less productive
• North-South divide worsened
• South Wales suffered with the decline of Mining Industries

Question 4

There were riots, industrial conflict and people were outraged at the governments response to AIDS. Give examples to back up this statement

Answer 4

-Unemployment in Wales led to an increase in social problems such as drug use and homelessness
1,308 drug offences reported in Wales in 1990, compared to 605 in 1979

Question 5

Thatchers economic policies were to blame for the divides in society. Give example to back up this statement

Answer 5

• Income of the richest rose by 61% while income of the poorest decreased by 18%
• Regressive taxes took more money from the poor than from the rich
• 90% of the work force in Wales was unemployed
• By 2001 1/5 of men in former coalfields were unemployed, up from 1/10 in 1981

Question 6

Social division was actually the result of longstanding economic and social issues. Give examples to back up this statement

Answer 6

• North-South divide worsened but already existed since 1918
• Just 3000 people working in mining in Wales by 1990 as traditional industries declined
• Gap widened between the rich and poor