impact of thatcherism on society Flashcards
(23 cards)
key aim of thatcher government
turn britain into a property owning democracy
housing act 1980
gave council tennants the right to buy their council houses
recieved 30-50% discount depending on how long they had lived there
stats by 1988
almost 2 million new home owners had taken advantage of the scheme
labour party opinion on right to buy
initially opposed
but it was so popular, espcially in the south, so it dropped its opposition
negative consequences of right to buy
sale of council housing was predominantly in better off areas and had little impact in less desireable estates
councils used profits to reduce debts NOT build new council homes
number and quality of houses available for rent sharply reduced
many people were then in emergency B&B accomodation
arthur scargill
revolutionary socialist
wanted to see miners strike develop into a general strike
wanted a form of communism across europe
unpopular with miners as they beliebed he was not doing what was best for the miners
ian macgregor
head of the national coal board (NCB)
approved by thatcher
scargill concered of macgregor’s uncompromising business methods
provoked yorkshire miners
long term causes of miners strike
NUM broight down conservative gov in 1974 - historic roots
winter of discontent turned the public opinion away from the TU movement
thatcher had a prepared strategy for dealing with the NUM
short term causes of miners strike
NUM was triggered bu thatcher’s determination to reform british mining and union rights
government controlled the british coal corporation
why did miners fail
breakaway miners weakened the force
key unions refused to join
scargill alienated many and looked like he was forcing the union
government had carefully planned their reaction
tebbit’s employment acts meant government had powerful weapons against strikers
police well prepared
coal was no longer as vital
impact of miners strike
estimated total cost of £3 million
11,000 arrested
mining communities were scarred and many never recovered
more than 50% ex-miners out of work for a year post strike
major success for government anti-union campaign
strenghtened thatcher’s confidence
led to further riot
1987 election victory for conservatives
aim of poll tax
to male local councils more accountable to their electors by ensuring that everyone contributed
old council tax system
local taxation was based on property so was only paid by homeowners
poll tax in scotland
introduced in 1989
very unpopular
conservative reputation in scotland already severly damaged
poll tax in england and wales
introduced in 1990
despite the unpopualrity in scotland
reaction to poll tax introduction
anti-poll tax unions were set up urging people to not pay
anti-poll tax demonstration in 1990 in trafalgar square
200,000 attended
turned into a riot and 5000 injured
cars set on fire, shop windows smashed
300 arrests made and police lost control
opposition parties at the time of thatcher
weak and divided
too many internal issues to make a formal attack on thatcher
oxford opposition to thatcher
voted against giving thatcher an honoury degree
not given due to spending cuts on higher education
it had been given to every other oxford-educated post-war PM
arts opposition to thatcher
tended to be anti-thatcher due to cuts in public spending to the arts
plays written that satirised thatcherism
number of TV shows which showed the consequences of thatcherote policies EG. boys from the blackstuff
church of england opposition
1985 report called faith in the city
called on the government do do more to help deprived communities
pressure group opposition
worked through direct action not parliamentary politics
eg. shelter, age concern and CND
greenham women
september 1981 a group of women set up a camp outside the greenham common base where missiles were to be based
april 1983 70,000 protesters formed a 14 mile chain
women proteted until 1991
environmental awareness
bhopal gas leak 1984
chernobyl nuclear accident 1986
discovery of antarctic ozone hole caused by CFCs
damage by acid rain
pressure groups such as greenpeace and friends of the earth grew in strength
