challenges to parliament and democracy

Question 1

how was margaret thatcher presented as a villain?

Answer 1

• removed rights
• suffered protests
• poor suffered as a result
• unfeeling - negative relationship with family
• her appearance was mocked
• likes control
  makes cuts of welfare state
• tried to appear like churchill
• ran the country in a presidential manner

Question 2

how did margaret thatcher decrease state regulation and clash with unions?

Answer 2

• wanted businesses to have more independence - allow them to thrive
• cut taxes on businesses so they could have control over their own money
• privatised some of britains major industries like british steel + utilities like the telephone system
• thatcher thought the welfare system didn’t inspire people to achieve things for themselves - cut back on welfare spending
• 1990, introduced poll tax - which was the same tax for everyone, regardless of wealth. people thought this was unfair
• removed popular policies like free milk for school children

Question 3

how was margaret thatcher seen as a hero?

Answer 3

• strong willed
• passionate
• sort problems out - USSR
• first female PM - surrounded by men
• courageous - strong + tough
• won the Falklands war

Question 4

how was tony blair similar to thatcher?

Answer 4

• continued along the same lines as thatcher
• presidential style (as opposed to managing his party and working closely with others)
• good speaker
• involved in war
• continued to privatise some major industries
• restrictions placed by conservatives were continued by blair
• increased power of central government in some areas like education
• continued to reduce amount of government spent _ encouraged business
• remained close to america
• forced to stand down by party

Question 5

how was tony blair different to thatcher?

Answer 5

• appointed his supporters to house of lords
• “failed” (lost) the war with iraq
• different parties
• won 3 elections

Question 6

why did tony blair want to avoid the term ‘socialism’?

Answer 6

• unpopular term + seen as expensive - thatcher removed a lot of costs of the government (welfare state) and the country had to accept this