Political Developments: Back me or Sack me Flashcards
When did Back me or Sack me occur?
1995
What was Back me or Sack me?
A Conservative Leadership election
Why did Major create Back me or Sack me?
To reimplement his authority over the Conservative Party
Who challenged Major in Back me or Sack me?
John Redwood
What was John Redwood’s position on Europe?
He was a Eurosceptic
Name another prominent Eurosceptic who did not challenge Major to leadership
Michael Portillo
Name a newspaper and an individual who supported John Redwood
The Sun, Margaret Thatcher
What did Major do before the leadership ballot?
He made Michael Heseltine deputy Prime Minister
What did Heseltine tell everyone in the Conservative party about who he was voting for?
He said he would be voting for Major
How many votes did Major win in the Back me or Sack me ballot?
219 votes
How many votes did Redwood win in the Back me or Sack me vote?
89 votes
Although Major won the ballot, how can it be seen Conservative opposition to him had grown since May 1993?
In May 1993 only 46 Conservative MP’s opposed a European affair passing in favour of Europhiles
Why did Back me or Sack me make Major look weak to the public?
He felt he needed to reimplement his authority into the Conservative Party
