Towards a new consensus:Major as leader and the Fall of Thatcher

Question 1

What was John Major’s background?

Answer 1

• Working class background
• Worked in banking
• PM in 1990

Question 2

What were the three main problems that caused Thatcher’s downfall?

Answer 2

• Economic
• political
• Poll tax

Question 3

What were the economic problems that caused thatcher downfall?

Answer 3

• Stock Market crash after the ‘big bang’
• “Lawson Boom”–> balance of payments issue
• ‘90 high inflation- 10.9% (issue for gov that priotaised low inflation)

Question 4

What were the political problems that caused the downfall of Thatcher?

Answer 4

• Thatcher support already waning before ‘90 election
• > Loss of safe Eastbourne seat to the liberals raised alarms
• Splits over Europe in the Party
• resignations E.g Geoffrey Howe ( over rejection of Euro)
• > Leadership challenged Hesseltine –> Thatcher lost and resigned

Question 5

How did Poll tax help cause the downfall of Thatcher?

Answer 5

-Thatcher’s refusal to drop the tax affected popularity within polls
=>Helped show how out of touch she was

Question 6

How was Labour Labour in a stronger position by the 1990’s?

Answer 6

• Centralisation was in progress and Labour less radical

- > Throughout the 90’s Lab ahead in the polls

Question 7

What were Major’s initial intentions as PM?

Answer 7

Unify the party after splits caused by Thatcher –>

Question 8

Why was there still hostility between the two sides of the conservative party?

Answer 8

• Hostility to heseltine

- Determination to take revenge on thatchers betrayers

Question 9

What was Major’s Views over Europe?

Answer 9

• Europhile:Wanted Britain to take place ‘at the very heart of Europe’

Question 10

What was done with poll tax? What was it replaced with?

Answer 10

-‘91 poll tax abandoned for Council Tax

–> This Wasted £1.5 Billion but allowed cons to move away from an unpopular policy