Thatcher Flashcards
Why did thatcher win 1979
Voters were punishing labour for failure to deal with unemployment, inflation and trade union
She stressed the need for social reform and attacking socialism
Labour seemed divided with no clear strategy
Gained support from former liberal voters
Why did thatcher win in 1983
The rise in unemployment reduced popularity for the government
Privatisation was well under way and had increase public shareholding
Labour had split in 1981 due to Michael foot being elected as leader. Foot wanted nuclear disarmament and nationalisation of industry which seemed old fashioned
Foots manifesto was called the longest suicide note in history
Falklands increased thatchers personal popularity
Why did thatcher win in 1987
Some policies were popular
Inflation remained under control
Privatisation was increased
Burden of taxes had been shifted
Split of Labour Party was not considered as an important issue
Thatchers economic aims
Inflation
Lack of investment and modernisation
Unprofitable overmanned public sector
Lack of incentive to modernise
Thatchers economic policies
Privatisation became in 1979 with the sale of BP And only got bigger throughout the 80s
Government didn’t support failing industries
Shift of tax from direct to indirect
Impact of her economic policies
Unemployed more than doubled to over 3 million
productivity soared in newly privatised industries
she succeeded in bringing down inflation
extension of shareholding gave people a stake in society
what would critics say about her policies
economic succes came from north sea oil
privatised firms were run for profit and not the benefit of the customer
degregulation of the city caused a get rich quick attitude - increased the rich and poor divide
pushed up unemployment due to move away from manufacturing
thatchers social policies - NHS
a business model was applied to the health service
hospitals were in charge of their own budget so were GPs and Nhs services were expected to compete with one another to provide the most efficient and cost effective service
thatchers social policies - schools
o levels and GCE were replaced in 1986 with the GCSE a qualification open to all abilities
1988 government introduced a national curriculum to ensure all pupils gained core knowledge and teaching level was high
thatchers social policies - housing
wanted to create a property owning democracy
allowed people to own their own homes
she believed owning property gave people a stale in their communities and made them less likely to support socialism
property ownership increased by 12%
what were thatchers industrial aims
industry had restrictive practices that led to overmanned and inefficient businesses
union power made firms noncompetitive
what was thatchers legislation to industrial relations
employment act 1980 outlawed secondary picketing and increased rights for workers that did not join unions
1982 employment act restricted sympathy strikes and allowed closed shops if 85% supported
trade union act 1984 required unions to hold decret ballots of members before launching strike
why the miners were defeated
miners were not united
strike began in march - no need for coal- and thatcher had been stock piling coal
labour were not supporting arthur scargill
government protected the miners who did want to go to work
what was the impact of the miners strike
NUM memebership dropped 150,000 members
strike left union bankrupt
she forced the miners to come to terms with the declining industry
and demonstrated that trade union power could not defeat government
how dd thatcher manage her cabinet
she placed people who shared her views in key positions. geoffrey howe became chancellor of exchequer and keith jospeh was given department of trade and industry
why did thatcher resign - poll tax
introduced a community tax which was a flat rate tax on property
members of the cabinet opposed the poll tax due to unpopularity
introduced in scotland 1989 and millions refused to pay it
31 march 1990 day before it was to take effect in england there was a massive demonstration in trafalger square which turned into a violet riot
thatcher decision to press on made her unpopular and alienated voters
why did thatcher reign - economic difficulties
stock market crash wiped 24% off shares. lawson thought it would begin a recession so cut income tax stimulating a spending boom which put up the prices
1990 inflation was at 8%
to help this lawson increased interest rates but this meant mortage repayments became more expensive
why did thatcher resign -divisions over europe
thatcher accepted the single european act of 1986 and later regretted doing so as it committed britain to closure monetry union
lawson and howe were keen to join the ERM but thatcher disagreed which led to the resignation of lawson and howe
october 1990 thatcher joined ERM
thatchers fall
by 1990 labour was 16 points ahead in opinion polls
fall was triggered by howes resignation speech showed thatchers government was badly divided
what problems did major face
he was not elected through support and popularity
conservatives were divided about europe
europe moved towards closer intergration with the masstricht treaty 1991 which major negociated an opt out which intensified the critisism of eurosceptics in the party
what was black wednesday
measures to curb inflation had tipped brtiain into a recession
the pound fell sharply
major tried to support the pounds value by pushing up interest rates but these failed
in september 1992 britain withdrew from the ERM
what was new labour
neil kinnock had done a great deal to make the party electable
he expelled the members of the extreme left that caused divisions
tony blair became PM in 1994 and set about reconciling labour party to abolish clause IV
the party was rebranded
1997 general election
conservatives lost due to majors struggle with eurosceptics
withdrawal from the ERM
time for a change of style
why labour won
blairs youth appealed to voters
media presentation was slick
reform of clause IV made nonsense of tory campaign
