John Major case study (influence of PMs) - 3.3 PM & Cabinet - Parliament & Executive - UK Government Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in John Major case study (influence of PMs) - 3.3 PM & Cabinet - Parliament & Executive - UK Government Deck (13)
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1
Q

John Major premiership

A

1990-1997

2
Q

Successes in handling policy

A
  • Council tax

- Northern Ireland policy

3
Q

Successes in handling events

A
  • First Gulf War
4
Q

Failures at handling policy

A
  • Black Wednesday / economic policy

- Eurosceptics / European policy

5
Q

Failure at handling events

A
  • Reacting rather than driving forwards

- Sleaze

6
Q

Cabinet style positive

A

Collegial style compared to Thatcher. More inclusive encouraging more discussion. Lack of ideologiacl commitment were attractive

7
Q

Cabinet style negative

A

Colleagues didn’t respect or fear him (compared to Thatcher) and some doubted if he had firm beliefs on important issues

8
Q

Council tax policy

A

Major replaced Thatcher’s unpopular poll tax with council tax in 1993.
Helped distance his government from the ‘uncaring’ reputation of his predecessor

9
Q

Gulf war event

A

Early 1991. Major worked effectively with US allies led by Bush. Major managed to deal successfully with forces & unite public opinion

10
Q

Black Wednesday / economic policy

A

Chancellor of Exchequer 1990 Major joined European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
September 1992 (Black Wednesday) market pressure forced pound out of ERM. Government raised interest rates to try maintain its place. It failed.
Major’s reputation for economic incompetence.
Public never forgot this despite economy recovering and unemployment falling later.
New Labour was also distancing itself from tax & spend so appeared more responsible against Major

11
Q

Eurosceptic / European policy

A

Conservatives had a hard core of Eurosceptic backbenchers - saw EU as threat to sovereignty
Major secured opt-outs from joining €uro & from ‘Social Chapter’ (would increase European intervention in social policy)
Wasn’t enough for some Conservative MPs
Backbench revolts
Major secured Maastricht Treaty by 1 vote July 1993

12
Q

Impact of divisions in party over Europe

A

Major didn’t take a strong side - succesfully balancing pros & antis.
However, this disunity looked like weak leadership leading to ridicule in media.
June 1995 Major ‘back me or sack me’ failed to achieve purpose but saw off Redwood as a challenger

13
Q

Northern Ireland

A

Major managed to establish trust with both sides through December 1993 Downing Street Declaration (ruled out imposition of united Ireland against the wishes of unionists but showed respect for the aspirations of the nationalist community)
Built the foundations for Blair to build on

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