Thatcher’s Domestic Policies

Question 1

What were the positive outcomes of the right to buy?

Answer 1

-2m new property owners
-council housing sold at discount rates - 25% below market prices
-created ‘feel good’ mentality + generated good will towards gov

Question 2

What were the negative outcomes of the right to buy regarding poorer areas?

Answer 2

-people in poorer areas/areas of high unemployment couldn’t get mortgages
-some didn’t want to buy property in areas of high deprivation/crime

Question 3

What were the positives of privatisation regarding stakeholders?

Answer 3

-created stakeholder mentality in Br
-popular capitalism: no. of shareholder tripled 1979-90

Question 4

What did privatisation introduce?

Answer 4

-competition + thus improved customer choice + service
-ability priv business raise investment through the open market - didn’t require gov loans or subsidies = tax cuts for public

Question 5

What were the negative outcomes of privatisation regarding businesses?

Answer 5

-competitive businesses made staffing cuts - led to higher unemployment + demands on gov provide welfare
-e.g. unemployment benefits

Question 6

What were the negative outcomes of privatisation regarding shareholders?

Answer 6

-small shareholders sold off their shares quickly at small profit
-shareholdings were accumulated by corporations, pension funds + foreign investors

Question 7

What were the successes of thatchers education policy?

Answer 7

-assisted places scheme 1980 provided financial aid for bright children of low income families
-allowed attendance of private schools allowing more access elite education

Question 8

What was a success of the education policy regarding teachers?

Answer 8

-increased investment in teacher training
-addressed concerns over quality of teaching + ensured teachers adequately prepared + equipped

Question 9

What were the limitations of the education policy regarding the 1980 scheme?

Answer 9

-diverted public funds to private institutions
-only benefitted small number + reinforced social divisions by encouraging 2-tier education of private + state schools

Question 10

How did unions respond to the new teacher training schemes?

Answer 10

-felt undermined their professional autonomy + driven by political ideologies not educational expertise
-1984 teachers strikes over pay + conditions - felt she scrutinised their performance