How successful was Thatcher's management of her Cabinet? Flashcards
Why was Thatcher less successful at first?
Few allies in her Shadow cabinet as many had been loyal members of Heath’s government
Limited experience in government
Gender divided opinion
How was she successful?
Established a small band of loyalists, including Whitelaw
Backed in the Commons by an energetic group of MPs
Popular with grassroots members
What did Thatcher feel obliged to do?
Appoint a number of ‘wets’, including Pym, Prior, and Heseltine
What did she make sure of?
Her allies who shared her view on economic policy occupied key ministries: Howe was appointed Chancellor and Joseph was given the DoE
What happened in 1981?
Moved Prior from the DoE and replaced him with the loyal Tebbit
Sacked two other ‘wets’
Promoted Lawson
What was she careful to do?
Keep the support of key figures like Whitelaw
What happened after 1983?
The prestige of winning an election and her strength in the Falklands War allowed her to be more commanding
Who was sacked and hired?
Pym as foreign secretary and was replaced by Howe
Lawson made Chancellor and played a key role in implementing Thatcher’s radical economic policies
What won administration and what did she not tolerate?
Her hard work and preparation
Woolly thinking
What won her respect?
The Brighton bombing of 1984
What did some resent?
Her inflexibility of style and unwillingness to accept alternative arguments
By the mid-1980s what had Thatcher achieved?
Such domination that critics thought her Cabinet had been completely cowed (she became increasingly intolerant of disagreement from even her most loyal supporters)
What happened in 1986 and what was the impact?
Heseltine resigned as defence secretary over the Westland affair
Thatcher survived but he became a potential alternative leader
What happened in 1987?
Lost the unifying figure of Whitelaw
What happened in 1989?
She fell out with Lawson and Howe over economic policy and Britain’s role in Europe
