PM and Cabinet Flashcards
(82 cards)
What are the biographical details of Margaret Thatcher?
Studied chemistry at oxford, known as the iron lady, married with 2 children.
What is the political background of Margaret Thatcher?
Youngest conservative candidate in the country, when she first stood for election, education secretary, longest serving PM of the 21st century.
What were Thatcher’s relations with her cabinet?
Mix of Thatcherites and wets, no women, no cabinet member served for her whole premiership.
What were Margaret Thatcher’s relations with parliament?
She won a majority in every election, landslide victory in 1983, 1987, didn’t struggle to pass bills.
What were Thatcher’s relations with the media?
Was masculine, right wing press dominated during her premiership, Sunday trading laws.
What was the strength of opposition to Thatcher?
Labour were weak when she was prime minister, no labour leader who opposed her became PM. She became PM through a vote of no confidence.
What is the biographical detail of John Major?
Born in 1993, PM for 7 years, didn’t go to university.
What is the political background of John Major?
Elected as an MP in 1979, held 3/4 great offices of state, seen as pragmatic.
What were John Major’s relationships with the cabinet?
Divided over EU, collective responsibility was suspended, mix of Eurosceptics and wets, less time was spent on policy.
What were John Major’s relationships with parliament?
He was able to do more with the majority he inherited from thatcher, small majority, deregulation, party leadership election.
What was John Major’s relationship with the media?
Saw him as back to basics, no spin, family values, riddled with scandal, and media capitalised on this.
What was the strength of opposition to Major?
He felt threatened under new labour, Tony Blair and Neil Kinnock, was up against spin, wasn’t good at PMQ’s.
What is the basic biographical detail of Tony Blair?
Lived in Durham, studied law at oxford, father ran for parliament in 1963.
What is the political background of Tony Blair?
Elected as an MP in 1983, joined shadow cabinet in 1998, 1992 - Shadow home secretary. 1994-1997 - LOTO.
What were Tony Blair’s relations with the cabinet?
Had to elect his cabinet, had a deal to stand down with Gordon brown. Led a sofa style governmet.
What were Tony Blair’s relations with parliament?
Suffered a rebellion with Iraq war, some saw him as honest, won huge majorities.
What was Tony Blair’s relationship with the media?
Many right-wing media supported Labour and Blair in 1997, met Rupert Murdoch, media image was carefully maintained.
What was the strength of opposition to Blair?
Opposition capitalised in Iraq war, where WMD’s were never found.
What is the basic biographical detail of Gordon Brown?
Born in 1951, PHD in history, went to university at 16, one child died.
What is the political background of Gordon Brown?
1983 - Elected as an MP, 1992 - Shadow chancellor, 1997 - chancellor, 2007 - Prime minister.
What were Gordon Brown’s relations with the cabinet?
Cash for honours scandal, expenses scandal.
What were Brown’s relations with parliament?
Popularity fell from 2007-2008. Criticised by his own party, European elections didn’t go well, financial crisis.
What were Brown’s relationship with the media?
Bigoted woman, Arctic monkeys, tried to leave the HOC during a vote, claimed he was unfairly treated.
What was the strength of opposition to Brown?
Conservatives were able to capitalise on the Financial crisis, labour were seen as weak.