The fall of Thatcher and the Rise of Major

Question 1

When did Thatcher resign?

Answer 1

November 1990

Question 2

I) What statistic about inflation was a key reason for Thatcher’s resignation?
II) Why did this happen?

Answer 2

I) It hit 11% in 1990 (the same as 1980)

II) Lawson’s economic policies

Question 3

Why was the increase in inflation so bad for Thatcher?

Answer 3

Monetarisms’ primary goal was to prevent it

Question 4

What shows the Poll tax was unpopular?

Answer 4

The 1990 riots

Question 5

How was Thatcher viewed by the Public and much of her party?

Answer 5

As out of touch. They accused her of developing a “hunker mentality”

Question 6

Which of Thatcher’s policies pitted her against Lawson and Howe?

Answer 6

Her hostility to the EEC

Question 7

Which safe-seat loss in the October 1990 by-election proved political issues?

Answer 7

Eastbourne

Question 8

Who was ahead in the opinion polls in 1990?

Answer 8

Labour

Question 9

Who’s resignation sealed Thatcher’s fate?

Answer 9

Geoffrey Howe (1 November 1990)

Question 10

Which politician announced a leadership challenge after Howe resigned?

Answer 10

Michael Heseltine

Question 11

How many votes did:
I) Heseltine
II) Thatcher
Get in the leadership election?

Answer 11

I) 152

II) 204

Question 12

What was the result of Heseltine’s challange?

Answer 12

The first vote was not conclusive and so a second ballot was to be taken. Thatcher was told by her confidants to step down, and she did

Question 13

Who won the second Ballot?

Answer 13

John Major

Question 14

I) Was Major Thatcher’s proffered replacement?

II) Why

Answer 14

I) Yes

II) He was a Thatcherite and supported Thatcherite economics

Question 15

Why was Major elected?

Answer 15

He was much more collegiate with his colleagues and was a new direction

Question 16

What was the result of Public Opinion when Major was elected?

Answer 16

The conservatives went ahead in the opinion polls

Question 17

What was a major Tax reform Major introduced?

Answer 17

Replaced Poll tax for Council tax in November 1991

Question 18

What was Major’s view on the EEC

Answer 18

Moderate between Favour and Scepticism

Question 19

Who won the 1992 election?

Answer 19

The Conservatives

Question 20

What was the Poll average for labour in 1992?

Answer 20

41% (to the conservatives 29%)

Question 21

What was an economic reason the conservatives won the 1992 election?

Answer 21

Voters did not believe that Labour could fix the economy, despite blaming the conservatives for the problems

Question 22

What did voters see Labour as in 1992?

Answer 22

The party of High Tax

Question 23

What did Labour’s Sheffield rally show?

Answer 23

That labour seemed Triumphalist and Complacent

Question 24

What was Major’s strategy in his campaign?

Answer 24

His old, soapbox tactics

Question 25

Who did the press support in the 1992 election?

Answer 25

The Conservatives

Question 26

What did unemployment increase to from mid-1991 to early 1992?

Answer 26

It went up from 1.6 Million to 2.6 Million

Question 27

What was the house pricing crisis under major?

Answer 27

Negative equity

Question 28

Why did the Conservatives increase public spending in 1992?

Answer 28

Rise of unemployment and to give greater funding to the NHS

Question 29

How did Major get the money to invest in public sectors?

Answer 29

Borrowing

Question 30

Why was Major’s high spending seem counter-productive?

Answer 30

It goes against monetarist principles