Case studies of PMs Flashcards
(10 cards)
Main policies of Thatcher
-Viewed as an agenda-setting post-war PM, along with Clement Attlee
-Weakened trade unions using legislation and won the miners’ strike of 1984
-Privatization of British Gas, British Airways and water companies.
-Victory in Falklands boosted approval ratings, played an important role in 1983
-Nicknamed ‘Iron Lady’ as she was given credit for defeating the USSR
Failures of Thatcher
-Thatcher was unpopular until 1982 due to her unpopular economic policies
-Sidelined cabinet, was unpopular with her cabinet at the end of her reign.
-Poll tax introduced in 1989/90, despite opposition from all sides, was unpopular, led to huge riots in London and many people refusing to pay.
-Thatcher failed to contain the violence of the IRA, 1984 Brighton bombing
Strengths of Thatcher
-Refused to compromise, extremely dominant personality. Reflected in her refusal to tone down the monetarist budget of 1981
-Policies such as the Right To Buy Scheme garnered support from the working class
-Centered her authority by managing cabinet effectively, important allies such as Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe were brought in.
Weaknesses of Thatcher
-Made less use of her cabinet than her predecessors. Senior ministers accused her of neglecting cabinet. This led to her having few allies in cabinet, which led to her forced resignation by 1990
-Stubborn and uncompromising even in the face of heavy criticism. Section 28 in 1988 was extremely homophobic, as well as ignored warnings to not introduce poll tax
Blair’s policies/achievements
-Won decisively in 1997 and 2001.
-Centrist ‘Third Way’ leader
-Revived the peace process in Northern Ireland, resulted in the creation of power-sharing institutions following Good Friday
-Captured and repesented the public mood in his response to Princess Diana’s death, approval ratings reached 90% just after
Blair’s setbacks
-Blair lost credibility after taking Britain to war in Iraq in 2003.
-Critics focused on Blair’s willingness to go to war on the basis of unsubstianted claims of WMDs, as well a failure to create a plan of reconstruction in Iraq
-Faced criticism months into his premiership due to a 1M pound donation from Bernie Ecclestone, alleged there was a link between this and a delay in implementing a ban on tobacco advertizing in F1
Blair’s strengths
-Insisted upon party unity and discipline in contrast with Major ‘I lead my party, he follows his’
-High popularity gave him a mandate to make significant policy changes
-Empowered the centre of government, from 2001, Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit drove public sector reform
-Bilateral, informal meetings with colleagues and advisors increased power to direct events ‘sofa government’
Blair’s Weaknesses
-‘Sofa government’ marginalized Blair’s Cabinet. E.g. although Iraq did feature on the cabinet agenda, there was little discussion and ministers were denied access to many key documents
-Criticized by former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler in a 2004 review, said that exclusion of Cabinet ‘risks reducing the scope for informed collective political judgement’
Gordon Brown as chancellor under Blair
-Increasingly difficult relationship between the two in Labour’s third term created significant limitation on Blair’s power
-Blair had to concede control over some policy areas.
-E.g. Brown denied Blair his wish to join the European Single Currency, devised 5 economic tests that would have to be passed, insisted the treasury would determine when they had been met
