1997-2005: The Conservatives

Question 1

Who were in power in this time?

Answer 1

Labour

Question 2

Who resigned as Conservative leader in 1997?

Answer 2

John Major

Question 3

Name 3 key points of contention in the Conservative party in 1997

Answer 3

1. Europe
2. “The betrayal of Maggie”
3. The future of the party

Question 4

Who succeeded Major in 1997?

Answer 4

William Hauge

Question 5

Give a positive attribute

of William Hauge

Answer 5

1) He was young, and could be seen as a fresh start for the conservative party

Question 6

Give 3 reasons Hague was a bad choice for leadership

Answer 6

1) He was only 36 and very inexperienced
2) He was given leadership more for being Thatcher’s choice than his own merits
3) The right of the party felt that Portillo was the right choice, not Hague

Question 7

Who succeeded William Hague in 2001?

Answer 7

Iain Duncan Smith

Question 8

Give 2 reasons Iain Duncan Smith was a good choice to lead the conservative party

Answer 8

• Portello’s reinvention made him unattractive to his prior supporter base of the far right
• He identified poverty as a key issue in the UK

Question 9

Give 3 reasons Duncan Smith was a bad choice to lead

Answer 9

1) He had little charisma to challenge Blair
2) His Euroscepticism re-opened old wounds of party divisions
3) His support of the Iraq war gave the Liberal Democrats the chance to become the “anti-war” party as the war became increasingly unpopular

Question 10

What was to be Duncan Smith’s downfall?

Answer 10

A scandal involving how much he payed his wife to be his secretary. No wrong doing was done and this was proven, but the damage was irreparable

Question 11

Who succeeded Duncan Smith in 2003?

Answer 11

Michael Howard