John Major 1990 - 1997 Flashcards
(36 cards)
1
Q
Why was John Major chosen to succeed Thatcher in 1990?
A
- Seen as a unifying figure between Thatcherites and moderates
- limited political enemies
- Thatcher’s support
2
Q
What challenges did Major inherit in 1990?
A
- Deep party divisions (especially over Europe)
- unpopular poll tax
- looming recession
- declining public trust.
3
Q
How did the Gulf War affect Major’s standing?
A
- Boosted image as decisive and competent
- enhanced Britain’s international prestige.
4
Q
How did Major respond to the poll tax crisis?
A
- Replaced Community Charge with Council Tax in 1991 to distance from Thatcher.
5
Q
What was Council tax?
A
- a property-based local tax calculated on the value of one’s home and the number of adult residents.
- aimed to be fairer and more acceptable, restoring public trust
6
Q
How did the Conservatives win the 1992 election despite predictions?
A
- Major’s soapbox campaign
- Labour’s tax fears
- Kinnock’s overconfidence
- high voter turnout
7
Q
What was Major’s ‘soapbox’ campaign?
A
- informal, unscripted ‘soapbox’ speeches in town centres
- presented him as honest and reliable, contrasting with Labour’s stage-managed image
8
Q
What was the Fear of Labour’s tax plans?
A
- conservative campaign portrayed Labour’s economic policy as irresponsible
- highlighted a so-called ‘tax-bombshell’ that claimed Labour would raise taxes on the average family
9
Q
What was the 1992 Sheffield Rally
A
- Neil Kinnock held the night before the election
- backfired as it came across as overconfident
- boasted Labour’s chance of winning which alienated undecided voters
10
Q
What were the 1992 election results?
A
- Conservatives: 336
- Labour: 271
- Lib Dems: 20
- Turnout: 77.7%
11
Q
What problems emerged after the 1992 win?
A
- Small majority made party management difficult
- Maastricht Rebellion
- Black Wednesday
12
Q
What happened on Black Wednesday?
A
- 1992
- Major spent 15bn to prop up £ as well as raising interest rates to 15%
- Markets kept selling the pound, making it useless
- Pound collapsed
- UK exited ERM after failing to keep it above its agreed level
13
Q
What was the political impact of Black Wednesday?
A
- Shattered Tory economic credibility
- Labour took and held poll lead.
- party divisions deepened, as Eurosceptics blamed Europe
14
Q
What was the long-term economic impact of Black Wednesday?
A
- Economic recovery
- interest rates were lowered allowing pound to float
- inflation dropped below 2%
- unemployment fell from 3m to 1.6m
15
Q
What was Major’s approach to the Maastricht Treaty?
A
- Pro-European but aimed to protect British sovereignty
- Negotiated opt-outs from the Euro
- Faced Eurosceptic rebellions in parliament
16
Q
Why did Maastricht divide the party?
A
- Eurosceptics feared a loss of sovereignty
- 30 Tory MPs defied the whip
17
Q
What was the ‘bastards’ incident?
A
- 1993
- on a private interview with ITV Major
- unaware his mic was on, called 3 cabinet members ‘bastards’ over their Eurosceptic loyalty
18
Q
What was the ‘Back to Basics’ campaign?
A
- 1993
- push for moral values: family, discipline, responsibility.
19
Q
Why did ‘Back to Basics’ backfire?
A
- media saw it as a moral crusade
- Tory sex and sleaze scandals followed, ironic
20
Q
What was the ‘Cash for Questions’ scandal?
A
- Mid 1990s
- Tory MPs were accused of taking money from Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed to ask favourable questions
- exposed corruption and lack of integrity among MPs
21
Q
Who was David Mellor and what scandal forced his resignation?
A
- Culture Secretary
- resigned after affair with actress Antonia de Sancha
- undermined ‘back to basics’
22
Q
What was the scandal involving Piers Merchant?
A
- 1997
- Tory MP was caught having an affair with teenage nightclub hostess
- fuelled further mocking of ‘back to basics’
23
Q
What was the scandal involving lying under oath?
A
- Jonathan Aitken
- In 1995, Aitken sued The Guardian and Granada Television for libel after they alleged he got improper hospitality
- During the trial showed he lied under oath and fabricated evidence
- jailed for 18 month
24
Q
What impact did sleaze have on the Conservatives?
A
- eroded public trust
- undermined ‘back to basics’
- big factors in Conservative loss in 10997
25
Why did Major call a leadership contest in 1995?
- To reassert authority amid division
- told them to 'put up or shut up'
26
What was the result of the 1995 leadership contest?
- Major beat Redwood 218–89
- but over 100 MPs didn’t support him.
27
How did the economy recover after Black Wednesday?
- By 1997
- inflation fell to 2%
- UK exports grew by 7%
- inflation fell by 1.4 mil
28
Why didn’t Conservatives benefit from economic recovery?
- Loss of economic credibility
- Sleaze and scandals distracted public
- Labour's 'New Labour' rebranding made them seem better economically
29
What was Major’s role in Northern Ireland?
- Downing Street Declaration (1993)
- encouraged inclusive talks with all
- laid groundworks for Blair's good Friday agreement
30
How did Labour transform under Blair?
- 'New Labour' rebranding
- abandoned Clause IV commitment to nationalisation
- modernised the party image
- used greater media strategies
31
What were the 1997 election results?
- Labour: 418
- Conservatives: 165
- Lib Dems: 46
- Turnout: 71.4%
32
Why did the Conservatives lose so heavily in 1997?
- Internal divisions, especially over Europe
- Sleaze and Scandals
- Black Wednesday
- Labour's modernisation
33
How successful was John Major as PM?
+: long-term economic recovery, 1992 win despite poor odds, Northern Ireland progress
-: Divided party, sleaze and scandals, Black Wednesday
34
Was Europe the main reason for Tory defeat in 1997?
- key factor
- symbolised party divisions and leadership failure
- But Sleaze, economic distrust and Labour's rise were also decisive
35
Was scandal the most important reason for 1997 defeat?
- key factor
- undermined moral credibility
- humiliated 'back to basics'
- But Blair's leadership was also important
36
Were party divisions the main reason for the 1997 defeat?
- Critical factor
- destroyed party discipline
- other factors also played a key part
