Towards a New Consensus: Political

Question 1

Why did Thatcher fall due to government policy?

Answer 1

• 1987 stock market crash and 1988 Lawson’s budget
• inflation 10.9% in 1990
• poll tax
• europe eg Howe’s resignation and hostile approach

Question 2

Why did Thatcher fall due to leadership style?

Answer 2

• presidential domineering style eg ‘handbag politics’
• failure to listen to criticism/advice
• introduction of policy through special advisers and think tanks

Question 3

Why did Thatcher fall due to cons party politics?

Answer 3

• Hesseltine opportunism eg waiting after post-resignation over Westland 1986
• loss of support from cabinet colleagues eg Howe and Lawson
• unsuccessful personal interviews with cabinet to seek support on eve of resignation, “it was treachery, treachery. It is something I will never forget and never forgive.”
• fear defeat in own constituencies by Labour resurgent turning on party leader eg Eastbourne to Liberals in 1990 by-election

Question 4

Why did Thatcher fall due to Labour party?

Answer 4

• Kinnock leadership strength, faced militance and made party more central and united
• 1987 policy review: end to unilateralism, withdrawal from EEC and radical nationalisation/taxation
• detachment from unpopular TU practices eg no longer supporting closed shop
• Slick PR and communications under Peter Mandelson
• John Smith as talented and assured shadow chancellor

Question 5

How did Major’s leadership win him the 1992 election?

Answer 5

• Thatcherites saw him as ‘one of them’
• aim to unify party as some claimed ‘betrayed Maggie’
• successful end to Gulf war March 1991
• aimed to place Britain ‘at the very heart of Europe’
• poll tax replaced by council tax Nov 1991 (£1.5bn wasted)
• lot of respect in old fashioned ‘soapbox’ politics

Question 6

How did Labour’s weaknesses lose them the 1992 election?

Answer 6

• Labour reputation still damaged due to poor economic record
• no clear identity with electorate eg ‘loony left’
• over confident campaigning eg 1st April Sheffield rally “we’re all right”

Question 7

How did other factors win the conservatives the 1992 election?

Answer 7

• national press positive eg ‘honeymoon effect’

- opinion polls 29% cons, 41% labour and 15% liberals then swung back towards cons

Question 8

How did sleaze and satire play a role in Major’s premiership?

Answer 8

• dozen affairs eg cabinet ministers Tim Yeo and David Mellor
• conviction for perjury of 2 leading cons (Jeffrey Archer and Jonathon Aitken) over matrix churchill arms supplies to Iraq + 1994 Scott Enquiry revealed ‘economical with the truth’
• Neil Hamilton “cash for questions” in commons leading to defeat to white-suited BBC journalist Martin Bell in 1997 election (refused to resign)
• Private eye, spitting image and Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell portrayed him as weak leader

Question 9

How did black wednesday and economic recovery affect Major’s premiership?

Answer 9

• Sep 1992 forced to leave ERM as Thatcher joined at wrong time and wrong rate, but Major was chancellor
• fierce media attack and decrease in support
• Major’s attempts to remain and avoid devaluation of pound bad decision (interest rates 12-15%)
• helped British exports and unemployment slowed eg 1991-92 1.6-2.6mill + negative equity resolved
• consumer spending and car ownership increased
• but influenced by Thatcher’s deregulation + flexible working practices in 1980s

Question 10

How did europe divisions affect Major’s premiership?

Answer 10

• right wing press called for stronger leader to ‘save the party’ and 1995 Major called leadership election
• ‘back me or sack me’; Hesseltine’s support defeated John Redwood
• Blair commented ‘I lead my party. You follow yours.’
• Thatcher encouraged eurosceptics and rebel MPs who blocked Major’s attempt to ratify the Maastricht treaty 1993
• “do we want three more of the bastards out there”

Question 11

How did Major’s policies affect his premiership?

Answer 11

• 1994 coal privatised then railways 1996 + attempts at post office (ineffective and unpopular)
• private finance initiative (PFI) allowing ST infrastructure improvement
• “Citizen’s charter” 1991 allowed info about public services eg school results
• ‘Cones Hotline’ seen as pointless
• 1991 Hesseltine pit closure of 31 in Nottinghamshire (ST U-turn but went ahead)
• BSE (mad cow disease) 1986 ban exports to Europe