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British History - Topic 4 > The Thatcher Governments > Flashcards

The Thatcher Governments Flashcards

1
Q

When was Thatcher Prime Minister?

A
  • 1979 - 1983
    (1979-1983
    1983-1987
    1987-1990)
  • leader of the CP from 1975-1990
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2
Q

What was Thatcher’s aims and political philosphy?

A
  • reverse UK’s economic decline
  • political and economic policies emphasised:
  • reduced state intervention,
  • free markets,
  • entrepreneurialism
  • the selling off of state owened companies
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3
Q

Summary of Thatcher’s time in office:
- industrial disputes
- re-election
- foreign
- leadership challenge

A
  • gained support after 1982 Falklands War; re-elected following year
  • hard line against trade unions
  • survived assassination attempt and opposed Soviet Union (iron lady)
  • re-elected 1987
  • following years difficult; her Community Charge plan largely unpopular
  • views regarding EC not shared by cabinet
  • resigned in 1990 after leadership challenge by Michael Heseltine
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4
Q

What was Thatcherism?

A
  • roll back the state, reducing activities drastically by privatisation and deregulation
  • fight against inflation
  • individuals should be weaned off welfare dependence and encouraged to provide for themselves (reduce eligibility for state benefits)
  • Deregulation mean to increase competitions + release creative energy of individuals; encouragement of private business —> further this
  • vehemently anti-socialist
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5
Q

What was Thatcher heavily influenced by that encouraged her economic philosphy?

A
  • The New Right thinkers
  • challenged Keynesian orthodoxy
  • drew on the work of Milton Freidman + Freidrich von Hyeck
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6
Q

Who were the Wets and Drys?

A
  • Wet: nickname for member of CP known for being soft and sqeamish about social consequences of monetarist economic policies
  • Dry CP who were firm and uncompromising in support for monoterism
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7
Q

What was Thatcher’s term like with first Cabinet?

A
  • 1979 Thatcher had to include ‘wets’ (traditionalists who held on to Keynesian inheritance)
  • Almost 3/4 of first Cabinet identified with mainstream Toryism of post 1945
  • limiting not until 1981 - could fight free
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8
Q

What were relations like with Ireland in her first term?
- describe some of the murders

A
  • Horrific events affected Anglo-Irish relations
  • Thatcher strongly Unionist and relations with Irish, Fianna Fail premier, Charles Haughey tense
  • 1979: freind and political ally, Airey Neave killed by an IRA car bomb at Westminister
  • IRA also claimed responsibility for huge bomb which killed 18 members of Parachute Regiment at Warrenpoint in Co. Down
  • In August 1980, Lord Mountbatten, member of Royal family killed whilst on yacht in Co. Sligo, Ireland
  • hardened British opinion against Irish nationalist movements
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9
Q

Relations with Ireland:
Maze Hunger Strike?

A
  • Republican prisoners went on hunger strike in Maze prison, Belfast in 1980 for political status
  • Thatcher under pressure to keep hardline stance
  • The first series of hunger strikes ended with some concessions
  • When prisoners demands not met further hunger strike at Maze
  • Between May and August 1981: 10 Republican prisoners belonging to IRA and INLA starved themselves to death at Britain’s refusal to treat them as political prisoners and not criminals
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10
Q

Maze Hunger Strikes:
who was the first to die?

A
  • Commanding officer of the Provisional IRA in the Maze: Bobby Sands
  • had been elected MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone during strike with over 30,000 votes
  • over 100,000 attended funeral
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11
Q

What was as a result of Thatcher’s stance in NI

A
  • hard line stance gave increased support to nationalist movement, particularly Sinn Fein
  • majority of Britain supported position
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12
Q

The 1983 Election
How did the Conservative campaign influence Thatchers win?

A
  • Fiercely attacked ‘pacifist’ unilateralist, particularly Michael foot, with much rhetoric aimed at ‘Marxist socialism’
  • had backing of most of the popular press
  • manifesto promised to reduce power of unions and abolish metropolitan councils
  • undertook to continue sale of nationalised industries to private buyers
  • traditional law and order brought to fore
  • conservatives had 320 agents compared to 63 for Labour
  • more efficient and unified
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13
Q

The 1983 Election
How was labour a reason the conservatives won the election?

A
  • appeared feeble and lacking in conviction
  • divided by factionalism
  • Shirley Williams, David Owen and Bill Rodgers left 29 Labour MPs to from new Social Democratic Part
  • unpopular leader, Michael Foot
  • election manifesto describe “the longest suicide note in history” by Gerald Kaufman
  • too detailed in parts ambiguous in others
  • labour in terminal decline
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14
Q

The 1983 Election
Why did Healey argue labour lost?

A
  • healey believed labour’s confused defence policy lost party some traditional labour supporters
  • felt labour missed opps offered by TV to put ideas across
  • commented on Falklands war that Mrs Thatcher’s “gloried in slaughter” and was obliged to apologise
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15
Q

The 1983 Election
What did labour stand for that made them unpopular?

A
  • a left wing programme was formulated which was anti-NATO, anti Europe, unilateralist and commited the party to give consideration to various unpopular causes such as feminism, Irish nationalism and “green issues”
  • in deep disarray
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16
Q

The 1983 Election
How did the SDP help Thatcher win?

A
  • Social Democratic Party
  • Falklands factor wiped out initial momentum
  • Formed in 1981 as centrist movement
  • expected to draw in voters disillusioned with right and left extremism
  • an attempt to avoid splitting the centrist vote led to Alliance with Liberals in early 1983 - difficulties and popularity fell
  • To a certain extent, the existence of the Alliance/ SDP split vote for those against Tories - allowing huge victory
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17
Q

Result of 1983 election
what was the main reason for Thatcher’s win and why?
What was the election votes?

A
  • With the economy showing distinct signs of recovery and inflation falling fast, Thatcher successfully exploited Falklands Factor
  • 397 seats - CP (huge majority of 142)
  • 209 seats - L
  • Alliance 23 seats
  • Labour just managed to beat Alliance into third place on votes 28% vs 26%
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18
Q

The 1983 election
how was Thatcher’s vote not completely in her favour?

A
  • only 42.9% of the popular vote (less than what was polled in election’s between 1945-1979)
  • badly in scotland and Northern England
19
Q

The 1983 Election
How do the votes show labours decline?

A
  • 28% of votes (lowest percentage since 1918)
  • less than 40% of trade unionists and even less than half of unemployed voted Labour
20
Q

Thatcher’s second term was in?

A
  • 1983-1987
21
Q

Thatcher cabinet from 1983?

A
  • The New Cabinet
  • reshaped cabinet after decisive win
    e.g.
  • Deputy PM William Whitelaw - stalwart supporter granted hereditary peerage since 1964
  • Foreign Secretary: Geoffrey Howe: (Francis Pym too conciliatory during Falklands Conflict)
  • Exchequer: Nigel Lawson (monetarist)
  • Defence: Michael Heseltine
  • second term turned into a crusade of increasing radicalism
22
Q

1983 -
Why did Thatcher not like Local Governments?

A
  • Local authorities like Greater London Council (GLC) massive spenders
  • usually Labour controlled, in some cases by far left
  • e.g leader of GLC, Ken Livingstone and Liverpool council leader, Derik Hatton
  • in liverpool, city council became a symbol of ideological extremism and financial extravagance
  • became embroiled in disputes over rate capping to deal with excessive expenditure
  • local councils tried to defy gov by applying surcharges to compensate for gov spending cuts
23
Q

1983 -
What did Thatcher do to deal with problem of local governments?

A
  • 1986 Local Government Act abolished the metropolitan authorities and curbed powers of local councils in general.
  • GLC and Merseyside authority effectively disbanded
  • victory for T but severe blow to local democracy and participation in gov
24
Q

1983 -
What were problems with Ireland?

A
  • violence and murder con/ Thatcher and ministers came close to disaster during Annual Party Conference in Oct 1984: IRA bomb severely damaged the Grand Hotel in Brighton
  • NI: growing economic decay with rate of unemployment highest in Britain at 21%
  • The figure rose to 30 or even 40% in Catholic working class areas of Belfast and Bogside in Derry
25
Q

1983-
What did Thatcher do in responce to the problems of Northern Ireland?

A
  • The Hillsborough agreement in 1985 agreed that Ulster should remain part of UK according to wishes of majority
  • ministers from Britain and ROI would meet regularly for reviews
  • caused uproar amongst Ulster unionist (P) who resigned their seats in mass protest
  • but provided hope for involvement of Ulsters Catholic minority
  • act changed little as violence continues
  • security remained severe - only 3% of RUC catholic
26
Q

1983-
What did Thatcher do with the BBC?

A
  • conflict over funding and anti-gov reporting (particularly over British participation in Libyan bombing raids of 1986)
  • focus on NI caused friction
  • gov banned interviews with Sinn Fein
  • Increasingly demoralised, BBC constantly challenged
  • gov appointed Thatcherite “Duke” Hussey as BBC chairman
27
Q

1983-
What did Thatcher do with GCHQ?

A
  • Concerns over security led to gov ban of trade union membership at the GCHQ security base in Cheltenham
  • Gov though it perfectly reasonable to equate union membership with disloyalty
28
Q

1983-
Describe Tory Revolts

A
  • Ted Heath “wet” most consistent Tory critic
  • led a spirited opposition to gov’s determination to dismantle GLC
  • opposed Poll Tax + gov’s stance on Europe
  • 1986 - serious revolt of 72 Tories threatened legislation of Sunday trading
  • Michael Heseltine, most serious revel with westland affair
29
Q

1883-
What and when was the westland affair?

A
  • failing Westland Helicopter sought govs approval to agree to rescue deal with American company Sikorsky
  • Heseltine, SoS: Defence, favoured Europan partner
  • his rows with Leon Brittan Sos: Trade and Industry embarrisingly public
  • Thatcher’s dictatorial manner criticised
  • 1986: Heseltine resigned from Cabinet in disgust at gov’s refusal to give matter full debate
  • doc referring to Heseltine leaked to press
  • Thatcher spared embarrassment when Leon Brittan took responsibility and resigned
  • Neil Kinnock failed to take advantage of sit in commons debate, crisis passed
30
Q

1983-
What was Spycatcher?

A
  • 1986 gov tried to suppress publication of book, Spycatcher, by ex-member of MI5, Peter Wright
  • included allegations that MI5 tried to destabilise Wilson’s gov
  • Cabinet Secretary, Robert Armstrong sent to prevent publication
  • referenced civil servants being “economical with the truth”: summed up Gov’s dictatorial attitude
  • published but not allowed to be sold in UK (easily bought abroad)
31
Q

How big was the conservative win in 1987?

A
  • Thatcher called general election June 1987
  • landslide victory
  • 375 seats + 42.2%
  • more women candidates had stood than ever
  • North-South divide strengthening
  • lost 11 of the 21 seats had in Scotland
  • Tories had no representation in many northern cities
  • Labour weak in south
  • main challenge in 3/5 of C seats was Alliance
32
Q

Generally why did Thatcher win the 1987 election?

A
  • marked height of Thatcherism
  • major innovations - sale of council houses, reform of the unions, privatisation of industry, tax reform - met with popular acclaim
  • genuine public image of national strength and rising prosperity
33
Q

How were Conservative parties a reason Thatcher won the 1987 election?

A
  • by 1987, the previous Thatcher policies appeared to produce “economic miracle” in a consumer driven boom, especially in already C prosperous areas
  • this was sufficient enough to secure 3rd victory
  • privatisation - which produced windfall profits - popular programme
  • also sale of council housing stock
  • real wages in prosperous areas were higher than inflation + many regarded gov stance on trade union reform positively
  • Lawson’s giveaway tax budget in March 1987 confirmed C popularity among those in work
  • Lawson regarded as main reason for gov post-Falklands electoral strength: enhancing rep for competence, enterprise and success
34
Q

How could you argue that labour was not the key reason for Conservative election win in 1987?

A
  • more effective campaign than in 1983
  • more up to date public relations techniques
  • A party political broadcast, titled Kinnock, enlisted talents of Hugh Hudson
  • Campaign showed how much LP managers had learned under Thatcherism: how to market their product in a way that appealed to customers
  • Some more radical proposals such as abolishing House of Lords, withdrawing from Europe and closing American nuclear bases - dropped
35
Q

How was labour a reason for conservative win in 1987?

A
  • Party still vulnerable on defence - committed to decommissioning of British nuclear deterrent despite unpopularity
  • labour changed very little
  • seemed happiest when proclaiming undying support for NHS and state education
  • hence backward looking
  • little to say on technological change and wealth creation - issues of the future
  • muffled on trade union reform and tax policy
  • confused on Europe
  • still based on old industrial areas of Scotland, Wales and North
  • hardly existed in south
  • outside parts of inner London, only held 2 seats in south and east
36
Q

How was falling influence on the Allience a reason for the Conservative win of the 1987 election?

A
  • decline of Alliance + impact of SDP on british politics
  • had the SDP defectors remained within the Labour party they could have made significant contribution to Labour’s early reform
  • thus Labour defeat in 1983 and 1987 would have been uncertain
  • the split opposition vote told in favour of the tories
37
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
- How was Party Structure a key weakness of labour?

A
  • By 1970s the outdated party structure problem
  • in past trade unions usually sided with leader at arty conferences - ensure passing of motions
  • however, a generation of left wing union leaders made this support less certain
  • TU become increasingly estranged from the party by action of labour gov concerning prices and incomes policy
38
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How was party machinery a key weakness of labour?

A
  • party machinery in country particularly poor
  • Wilson described it as “like a penny-farthing machine in the jet age”
  • membership declined
  • early 1950s had about 1 million members
  • by early 1980s declined to 250,000
  • party leadership remained complacent - believed that the need for local electioneering and other activities were “now largely a ritual”
39
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How was Neil Kinnock an ineffective leader of the labour party? - weakness

A
  • criticised by right-wing press
  • did achieve some positives
  • abandoned more left wing aspects of 1983 manifesto
  • publicly criticised prominent left wingers e.g Derek Hatton of Liverpool + Arthur Scargill
  • slowly left was marginalised + most electorally damaging policies dropped
  • process incomplete
40
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How was the battle for deputy leadership in 1980 a key labour weakness?

A
  • labour shaken to core by battle for deputy leadership by Denis Healey and Tony Benn
  • battle of social leadership as much as ideas
  • Healey: centre-right, older unions, traditional “broad church” section of P
  • Benn voice of far left, middle class zealots, unilateralists, college lecturers et
  • Healey won narrowly: 50.3% of popular vote
  • but it left the party looking damaged and fragile
41
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How was the adoption of new constitutional procedures a weakness of labour?

A
  • 1980 “committee of inquiry” at Bishop Stortford recommended new constitutional procedures
  • influenced by the “campaign for Labour Party Democracy” - small body of 1,200 members
  • In disastrous party conference at Wembley in jan 1981 new constitutional procedures adopted
  • decided there would be an “electoral college” to elect party leader and deputy leader
  • compulsory re-selection of all parliamentary candidates
  • consequence was to give far left power to remove right wing or moderate figures
  • labour party moving dangerously to left
  • this was point when Shirley williams, david owens etc left to form SDP
42
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How was the SDP a key weakness of the Labour party?

A
  • Jenkins, Williams and other pro-Europeans became increasingly alienated as left were particularly anti-europe
  • gang of three jenkins, owens, williams became 4 with rodger issued the limehouse declaration and left to form SDP
  • they were influential labour figures
  • joined by 10 L mps and 1 C
  • across country many labour councilors in local gov rushed to join party
  • within weeks party had ~ 50,000 members
  • opinion polls Nov 1981: up to 45% of electorate supported new “allience” (SDP and Liberal party)
  • 1983 -25.4% pop vote only 23 seats
  • 1987 mere 23% + 22 seats
  • david steel merged Liberal and SDP after election - damaged new Liberal democratic party
43
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
How were labour’s policies a key weakness?

A
  • labour became increasingly far-left: inc
  • hostility to NATO
  • Hostility to Europe and Common market
  • Hostile to system of national nuclear defence (during cold war)
  • commitment to mass nationalisation
  • reinforcing power of unions
  • the manifesto labour finally adopted in 1983 election paid deference to wishes of “greens”, Unilateralists, Irish republicans, homosexuals, and feminists
  • termed “the longest suicide note in history”
44
Q

Focus on Labour: 1979-1987
What were the election results like for labour?

A
  • By 1982 labour party in disaray
  • disastrous by election in feb 1982, Bermondsey, a docks constituency in east London, labour since 1918, labour’s candidate crushingly defeated by liberals

British History - Topic 4 (4 decks)

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