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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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%
