Thatcher’s political successes, and fall

Question 1

Thatcher included ‘One Nation’ Conservatives in her first cabinet. What were they nicknamed?

Answer 1

The ‘wets’

Question 2

Who were some notable ‘wet’ Conservatives in Thatcher’s cabinet?

Answer 2

Jim Prior, Francis Pym, Michael Heseltine

Question 3

Who were the ‘dries’ in Thatcher’s cabinet?

Answer 3

Conservatives who believed in her neoliberal economic agenda.

Question 4

Which key ‘dry’ was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 4

Geoffrey Howe

Question 5

Which department did Keith Joseph lead?

Answer 5

Department of Trade and Industry

Question 6

How did Thatcher shift her cabinet over time?

Answer 6

Replaced ‘wets’ with ‘dries’, e.g. Jim Prior replaced by Norman Tebbit.

Question 7

When did Nigel Lawson become Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 7

1983

Question 8

What happened at the 1984 Conservative Party Conference?

Answer 8

IRA bomb exploded in the Grand Hotel, Brighton.

Question 9

How did Thatcher respond to the Brighton bombing?

Answer 9

Ordered the conference to continue, earning praise for her courage.

Question 10

What was Thatcher’s famous nickname, and who gave it to her?

Answer 10

The ‘Iron Lady’, given by a Soviet journalist.

Question 11

What was ‘handbagging’?

Answer 11

Term for Thatcher dressing down her ministers.

Question 12

What was the ‘Westland Affair’?

Answer 12

Dispute over a British helicopter company in 1986.

Question 13

Which ‘wet’ resigned over the Westland Affair?

Answer 13

Michael Heseltine

Question 14

Which of Thatcher’s key allies retired in 1987?

Answer 14

William Whitelaw

Question 15

Why did Thatcher fall out with Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe in 1989?

Answer 15

Disagreements over Europe.

Question 16

Which event showed Thatcher’s authority in cabinet was declining?

Answer 16

Resignation of Geoffrey Howe in 1990.

Question 17

What was the tax on property owners and businesses before the Poll Tax?

Answer 17

The ‘rates’

Question 18

Why did Thatcher want to replace the rates system?

Answer 18

Believed councils would be more accountable if every citizen paid taxes to them.

Question 19

What was the Poll Tax officially called?

Answer 19

The ‘Community Charge’

Question 20

How was the Poll Tax structured?

Answer 20

Flat rate tax paid per individual.

Question 21

Which historic tax was similar to the Poll Tax?

Answer 21

The last major Poll Tax in Britain in 1379, which led to the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.

Question 22

When was the Poll Tax introduced in Scotland?

Answer 22

1989

Question 23

What happened when the Poll Tax was introduced in Scotland?

Answer 23

Millions refused to pay.

Question 24

When was the Poll Tax introduced in England and Wales?

Answer 24

1990

Question 25

What was the reaction to the Poll Tax in England?

Answer 25

Mass protests, including a huge demonstration in Trafalgar Square with 300 arrests.

Question 26

How many people refused to pay the Poll Tax?

Answer 26

30% of the population.

Question 27

Which MP refused to pay the Poll Tax and was jailed?

Answer 27

Terry Fields

Question 28

Which event caused an economic crisis in October 1987?

Answer 28

Black Monday - stock market crash.

Question 29

How much did share prices fall on Black Monday?

Answer 29

0.24

Question 30

What was Nigel Lawson's response to Black Monday?

Answer 30

Cut income tax, leading to a spending boom.

Question 31

What did the Lawson Boom cause by 1989?

Answer 31

Inflation rose to 8.3%.

Question 32

What measure was taken to control inflation in 1989?

Answer 32

Interest rates raised to 15%.

Question 33

Which group was hit hardest by high interest rates?

Answer 33

Mortgage payers.

Question 34

What was Thatcher's original stance on the EEC in 1975?

Answer 34

Supported remaining in the EEC.

Question 35

Which act did Thatcher push in 1986 regarding the EEC?

Answer 35

Single European Act.

Question 36

What did the Single European Act do?

Answer 36

Embedded free market principles in the EEC.

Question 37

Why did Thatcher later oppose the EEC?

Answer 37

Feared European integration would create a 'European superstate'.

Question 38

What monetary system did some of Thatcher’s ministers want the UK to join?

Answer 38

Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM).

Question 39

Which ministers wanted to join the ERM in 1989?

Answer 39

Howe and Lawson.

Question 40

How did Thatcher respond to pressure to join the ERM in 1989?

Answer 40

Refused, leading to Geoffrey Howe's demotion and Nigel Lawson's resignation.

Question 41

When did the UK finally join the ERM?

Answer 41

October 1990.

Question 42

What was Thatcher's famous reaction to European integration?

Answer 42

'No, no, no!'

Question 43

Which 1989 election results indicated Thatcher’s declining popularity?

Answer 43

Vale of Glamorgan by-election and European elections.

Question 44

Which 1990 by-election loss was particularly significant?

Answer 44

Mid-Staffordshire by-election.

Question 45

How far ahead was Labour in the opinion polls in 1990?

Answer 45

16 points ahead.

Question 46

Who launched a leadership challenge against Thatcher in 1989?

Answer 46

Anthony Meyer.

Question 47

What was the purpose of Anthony Meyer's challenge?

Answer 47

A 'stalking horse' to encourage a future leadership contest.

Question 48

How many MPs either voted against Thatcher or abstained in the 1989 leadership challenge?

Answer 48

60 MPs.

Question 49

What speech led to Thatcher's downfall in November 1990?

Answer 49

Geoffrey Howe’s resignation speech.

Question 50

Who challenged Thatcher for the leadership in 1990?

Answer 50

Michael Heseltine.

Question 51

What was the result of the first round of the 1990 leadership election?

Answer 51

Thatcher won 204-152 but failed to win outright.

Question 52

What was Thatcher’s reaction to the first-round result?

Answer 52

'I fight on, I fight to win.'

Question 53

Why did Thatcher resign instead of contesting the second ballot?

Answer 53

Realized she would not win.

Question 54

Who won the leadership contest after Thatcher resigned?

Answer 54

John Major.

Question 55

When did John Major become Prime Minister?

Answer 55

28 November 1990.