Roll Back Of The State Flashcards
What political consensus favored state intervention after World War II?
A relatively large state apparatus and welfare state policies
This included the establishment of the NHS, family allowances, council housing, and unemployment benefits.
What did many Conservatives believe about a large public sector under Thatcher?
It led to individuals becoming lazy and dependent on the state
They also believed that state monopolies caused complacency in the public workforce.
What were the key moral values that influenced Margaret Thatcher’s political views?
Hard work, self-reliance, thrift, and determination
These values were rooted in her Methodist upbringing.
How did Thatcher perceive state interference in people’s lives?
As a major reason for British decline
She believed the welfare state had turned productive citizens into lazy dependants.
What was one of Thatcher’s views on state ownership of industry?
It led to complacency and a lack of competitiveness
This view was part of her broader critique of the welfare state.
In what year did Britain have three times the number of civil servants as in 1980?
By 1997
This was part of Thatcher’s efforts to reduce the size of the civil service.
What system was implemented to reduce civil service responsibilities?
MINIS (Management Information System)
This was aimed at promoting efficiency and collaboration with the private sector.
What was a consequence of the civil service reductions during Thatcher’s era?
A shift towards privatization and reliance on private sector partnerships
Historians note this was a significant change in government structure.
What did Thatcher think about local government?
It was one of the most troublesome aspects of government
She believed local governments were often ‘captured’ by special interests.
Fill in the blank: Thatcher believed the welfare state had become a __________.
nanny state.
True or False: Thatcher’s government aimed to expand the public sector.
False
Thatcher’s policies focused on rolling back state intervention.
What impact did Thatcher’s governments (1979-90) have on Britain?
Thatcher’s governments aimed to reduce the size of the state, decrease government interference, and lower taxes. This included promoting efficiency, privatisation, and contracting out government services.
What is the acronym TINA?
TINA stands for ‘There Is No Alternative’, used to defend Thatcher’s controversial policies in the early 1980s.
What is neo-liberalism?
Neo-liberalism is the belief that the free market is better at allocating goods and resources than the state, advocating for minimal government interference in the economy and people’s lives.
How did Thatcher slim down the civil service?
Thatcher reduced the civil service from 732,000 in 1980 by employing business-minded advisers, implementing the Management Information System for Ministers (MINIS), and sacking inefficient workers.
What was the outcome of the Financial Management Initiative?
By 1988, 22.5 percent of civil servants had been sacked, saving an estimated £1 billion.
What significant change occurred in the civil service by 1997?
By 1997, 76 percent of civil servants worked in almost 100 different agencies, which became the primary means of delivering public services.
What did the Local Government Act (1985) enable Thatcher to do?
The Local Government Act allowed Thatcher to abolish troublesome councils, including the Greater London Council and six other metropolitan councils.
Who primarily paid local rates before Thatcher’s reforms?
Local rates were only paid by people who owned or rented property of a certain value; many poorer people did not have to pay them at all.
What was Thatcher’s view on local rates and benefits?
Thatcher hated that some councils could promise generous benefits and services to people who would not have to pay for them.
What was the purpose of the Community Charge introduced by Thatcher?
The Community Charge aimed to widen a sense of financial responsibility by being based on individuals rather than property value.
What was the nickname for the Community Charge and why was it unpopular?
The Community Charge became known as the ‘poll tax’ and was unpopular because it meant the poor paid a higher percentage of their income than the rich.
What happened to the Community Charge after mass protests?
The Conservatives were forced to abandon the Community Charge and introduce a revised council tax linked to property values instead.
How did Thatcher promote efficiency in local councils?
Thatcher promoted greater efficiency through the ‘contracting out’ of council services, encouraging private firms to bid for contracts.
What was the impact of the Housing Act of 1980?
The Housing Act of 1980 gave some people the ‘Right to Buy’, enabling those who had lived in a council house for three or more years to purchase their house from the council.
What was one of the effects of the ‘Right to Buy’ policy?
The ‘Right to Buy’ policy aimed to cut council spending on property maintenance.
What was the change in local government employee numbers from 1979 to 1995?
Nationally, the total number of local government employees fell from 2.5 to 2.1 million between 1979 and 1995.
Who primarily paid local rates before Thatcher’s reforms?
Local rates were only paid by people who owned or rented property of a certain value; many poorer people did not have to pay them at all.
What was Thatcher’s view on local rates and benefits?
Thatcher hated that some councils could promise generous benefits and services to people who would not have to pay for them.
What was the purpose of the Community Charge introduced by Thatcher?
The Community Charge aimed to widen a sense of financial responsibility by being based on individuals rather than property value.
What was the nickname for the Community Charge and why was it unpopular?
The Community Charge became known as the ‘poll tax’ and was unpopular because it meant the poor paid a higher percentage of their income than the rich.
What happened to the Community Charge after mass protests?
The Conservatives were forced to abandon the Community Charge and introduce a revised council tax linked to property values instead.
How did Thatcher promote efficiency in local councils?
Thatcher promoted greater efficiency through the ‘contracting out’ of council services, encouraging private firms to bid for contracts.
What was the impact of the Housing Act of 1980?
The Housing Act of 1980 gave some people the ‘Right to Buy’, enabling those who had lived in a council house for three or more years to purchase their house from the council.
What was one of the effects of the ‘Right to Buy’ policy?
The ‘Right to Buy’ policy aimed to cut council spending on property maintenance.
What was the change in local government employee numbers from 1979 to 1995?
Nationally, the total number of local government employees fell from 2.5 to 2.1 million between 1979 and 1995.
What was John Major’s role in local government?
John Major was involved in local government service, focusing on reducing costs and inefficiencies.
What impact did Thatcher’s governments have on property ownership?
Thatcher’s policies increased home ownership from 35% to 63% between 1979 and 1997, benefiting individuals but making it harder for councils to house the poorest.
What was Thatcher’s approach to the National Health Service (NHS)?
Thatcher aimed to reduce NHS costs and inefficiencies, preferring private health insurance over tax funding.
How did public perception affect Thatcher’s NHS reforms?
Despite her intentions, Thatcher had to be cautious due to public approval of the NHS’s provision of free care.
What significant change occurred in NHS spending between 1980 and 1987?
NHS spending rose by 60% during this period, increasing its share of total government spending from 12% to 15%.
What was the ‘internal market’ proposed in the 1989 White Paper?
The ‘internal market’ aimed for health authorities to purchase services from hospital trusts managed by professionals.
What were the outcomes of the NHS reforms under Thatcher?
The reforms were unpopular with doctors and did not achieve expected cost savings, with NHS management costs rising significantly.
How did the number of people with private health insurance change by 1990?
The number of people with private health insurance grew from 500,000 in 1955 to 6.6 million in 1990, but only 1% of manual workers had private cover.
What were Thatcher’s goals for education reforms?
Thatcher aimed to raise educational standards and deliver better value for money, believing the teaching profession was resistant to necessary changes.
What significant educational reform was introduced in 1988?
The 1988 Education Act imposed a National Curriculum and new assessment methods, including the GCSE examination.
What was the purpose of league tables in education?
League tables were designed to empower parents to choose better schools and drive up educational standards.
What was the impact of the 1988 Education Reform Act on school funding?
The Act allowed schools to become grant-maintained, meaning they were directly funded by the central government, giving headteachers and governors control over budgets and spending.
What percentage of secondary schools became grant-maintained after the 1988 Education Reform Act?
19 percent of all secondary schools became grant-maintained.
What was the effect of the National Curriculum introduced by the 1988 Education Reform Act?
The introduction of a National Curriculum increased central government interference in education despite the increased independence of grant-maintained schools.
Which services did Thatcher focus on for reform?
Thatcher focused on health services, housing, schools and universities, urban renewal, and local government.
What was Thatcher’s view on socialist institutions?
Thatcher believed these services were afflicted by socialism and needed to be purged by bringing them under central control.
What approach did Thatcher take towards local government?
Thatcher applied private sector disciplines and top-down reorganization to local government.
What was the outcome of Thatcher’s reforms on public services?
The outcome was continuous upheaval and dissatisfaction, leading to a demand for more reforms.
Who is Simon Jenkins?
Simon Jenkins is a journalist who mainly writes for the left-of-centre daily newspaper, the Guardian.
What is the title of Simon Jenkins’s book that discusses Thatcher?
The title of the book is ‘Thatcher & Sons - a Revolution in Three Acts’ (2006).
What is the significance of the conservative think-tank in relation to Thatcher?
The conservative think-tank influenced Thatcher’s policies and approach to governance.
