Topic 4: Politics (1979-87) Flashcards
1
Q
5
Describe the main aims of Thatcherism
A
- Roll back the state through privatisation
- Reduce inflation to virtually nothing to encourage saving and economic confidence
- Gradually reduce state benefits
- Deregulation to encourage competition
- Monetarism
2
Q
4
Describe the New Right ideological influences on Thatcher
A
- Chicago School of Economics and Milton Friedman
- 1974, anti-Heath Keith Joseph and Thatcher founded CPS to promote free-markets following election loss
- 1977, ASI founded to promote neo-liberal ideas
- Became central policy engines of Thatcher government
CPS - centre for policy studies
ASI - Adam Smith Institute
3
Q
5
Describe Thatcher’s first cabinet
A
- Not yet secure in her position to rely on loyalists - limited agenda until 1981
- 3/4 of cabinet could be associated with mainstream keynesianism/Macmillan ideals
- Included ‘wets’ and ‘dries’
- ‘monetarists and dries prevalent in Treasury
- ON Willie Whitelaw (HS/DPM) served as link
4
Q
3
List ‘wets’ in Thatcher’s first cabinet
A
- Lord Carrington - FS
- Michael Heseltine - Env Sec
- James Prior - Employment
5
Q
4
List ‘dries’ in Thatcher’s first cabinet
A
- Sir Geoffrey Howe - CX
- Keith Joseph - Trade and Industry
- David Howell - Energy Sec
- Monetarist John Biffen as Chief Sec of Treasury - prevents opposition to monetarist econ plans
6
Q
4
Describe relations with Northern Ireland in Thatcher’s first term
A
- Thatcher staunchly unionist
- Relations with Irish Fianna Fail premier, Charles Haughney, were tense
- Growing sectarian murders hardened British stance
- Hunger Strikes
7
Q
3
Describe sectarian murders in the Troubles in 1979
A
- 1979, aide Airey Neave killed by IRA car bomb in Westminster
- Warrenpoint Ambush 1979 - IRA claimed responsibility for bomb which killed 18 British parachute regiment members in Warrenpoint
- 1979 (same day as Warrenpoint), Lord Mountbatten killed on yacht in County Sligo, Ireland
Lord Mountbatten - Cousin of Queen
8
Q
5
Describe Maze Hunger Strikes 1980 and 1981
A
- 1980, Republican inmates went on strike for political status at Maze prison, Belfast
- Thatcher under pressure to retain hardline stance, but conceded significant concessions to prevent ‘martyr effect’
- e.g. offered concession deal that would have met most of prisoner demands
- May-August 1981, 10 IRA/INLA prisoners starved themselves to death after protesting British govt’s refusal to treat them as political prisoners rather than criminals
- Bobby Sands became first to die in May
9
Q
5
Describe Bobby Sands
A
- Commanding officer of IRA at Maze
- Had been elected an MP during imprisonment and hunger strike with over 30k votes
- over 100k attended funeral
- Thatcher’s unyielding approach to terrorists won her praise in Britain
- Yet hardened SF and nationalist support in NI
10
Q
6
Describe reasons for conservative victory in 1983
A
- Falklands War victory
- ‘Right to buy’
- Economic success (e.g. inflation falling from 22% to 5%)
- Trade Union reform
- Campaign
- Labour failures
11
Q
3
Describe the electoral impact of the Falklands War
A
- Thatcher went from being most unpopular PM since polls began to spiking in popularity
- Labour held 6 point lead in March despite leftist tilt
- By May Conservatives held 12.5% lead over Alliance (with Labour in 3rd place)
12
Q
5
Describe the results of the 1983 election (for the conservatives)
A
- Expected result - due to Falklands
- 144-seat Conservative majority
- However won only 42.4% of popular vote, lower than any other conservative victory from 1945-79
- Performed poorly in Northern England and Scotland
- Relied on Southern England + Greater London where more seats were now located following expansion from 635 to 650 MPs
13
Q
3
Describe the impact of the SDP in the 1983 election
A
- June 1981, formed ‘Alliance’ with liberals to prevent split of centre vote
- November 1981 poll showed that 45% of electorate supported Alliance (though in context in unpopular Thatcher and Labour in dissaray)
- Split vote with Labour to certain extent
14
Q
5
Describe evidence that shows the impact of the SDP in the 1983 election
A
- Won 25.4% of popular vote, only 2.2% behind Labour
- FPTP system led to Alliance coming 2nd in 209 constituencies
- Conservatives gained 58 seats despite 1.5% decrease in popular vote
- Though Alliance only achieved 23 MPs, with only 6 beng SDP
- Comparatively, Alliance made little gain compared to past results by Liberals in Conservative territory
15
Q
3
Describe the 1983 election results for Labour
A
- Labour won 27.6% of pop votes (lowest since 1918)
- Labour fell by 60 seats to 209
- less than 40% trade unionists and less than half of unemployed voted for Labour
16
Q
4
Describe the conservative campaign in 1983
A
- Thatcher attacked pacifict unilateralists and embodied strong leadership (this stance was facilitated by Falklands victory)
- Conservatives held overwhelming backing of popular press
- Manifesto promised further legislation against trade unions, abolition of metropolitan councils and continued privatisation
- Conservative campaign held 320 agents compared to Labour’s 63
17
Q
7
Describe the issues with the Labour campaign in 1983
A
- Riven by factionism
- SDP split centre-left vote
- Manifesto described as ‘longest suicide note’ in history
- Foot pillaged by right-wing press
- Missed opportunities to campaign via TV
- Radical defence policy lost traditional supporters - anti-NATO/Europe, pro-UDI
- Incorporated irish nationalist, feminist and environmental movements
18
Q
6
Describe the ‘longest suicide note in history’ 1983
A
- 39-page manifesto
- UDI
- Higher personal taxation
- Withdrawal from EEC
- renationalisation of privatised companies e.g. British Aerospace
- abolition of HoL
