Who was Major and why did he win 1992 election?

Question 1

What problems did the British government face by 1992?

Answer 1

• Bitter internal divisions
• Economy was in a recession

Question 2

Describe the relationship between Major and Lamont (Chancellor of the Exchequer)

Answer 2

• A sense of distrust and disunity
• They disagreed over the economy: Major wanted to stay in ERM and Lamont wanted to devalue the pound

Question 3

Why was there a recession in Britain?

Answer 3

• ERM was increasing inflation - high unemployment and businesses going bust

Question 4

What was Major determined not to do?

Answer 4

• Devalue the sterling as he wanted to make it stronger

Question 5

Why did Major write to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl?

Answer 5

• To make deutshmark go down = lower German interest rates

Question 6

What triggered mass selling of the pound on 16th September 1992? How did Major intervene to prevent this?

Answer 6

• Attitude of German bank/ Chancellor that called for the devaluation of the £
• Major wanted to raise interest rates to keep the value of the pound

Question 7

Describe the differences in views between John Major and Norman Lamont on 16th September 1992

Answer 7

• Struggled to communicate with each other and Major seemed unbothered despite the crisis

Question 8

What was the highest interest rates were raised on Black Wednesday

Answer 8

-15%

Question 9

What was announced at 7.30 on Black Wednesday?

Answer 9

• Announced the pounds suspension from the exchange rate mechanism

Question 10

What was the impact on Black Wednesday on Major’s government and what was the impact on the economy?

Answer 10

• Lost 4 billion pounds which is equivalent to £70 from every person
• It was a turning point for Major

Question 11

How did the media respond?

Answer 11

• Shifted to blame Major and fabricated stories

Question 12

Describe the atmosphere at the Conservative Party Conference in 1992. How did Norman Tebbit address John Major? How did Thatcher attack Major?

Answer 12

• Norman Tebbit criticised Major’s European policy and ERM - devestating attack
• Thatcher accused Major of damaging Britains constitutional freedom with the Maastricht treaty

Question 13

What was announced shortly afterwards that came as a huge blow to working class communities? How did Major justify this?

Answer 13

• The closure of pits
• Major justified it by giving money to mines after their redundancies

Question 14

What part did Thatcher and Tebbit have in creating a division over Europe?

Answer 14

Thatcher encouraged back benchers to vote against the government

Question 15

What impact did negative media coverage have on John Major?

Answer 15

• Constant leaks in the press
• Constant criticism - causing Major upset

Question 16

What announcements were made in the budget to control public spending? What impact did this have?

Answer 16

• Raise tax (a policy they don’t like to follow)

Question 17

What did Norman Lamont say about Major’s government in his resignation speech?

Answer 17

• Damaged Major (reputation and standing)

Question 18

How did Major threaten to rebel MPs in order to pass the Maastricht Treaty?

Answer 18

-“if you don’t back me, you sack me” so they backed Major because they believed they would lose a general election

Question 19

What similarities and differences can you see between Thatcher and Major’s government?

Answer 19

• Major - more laid back, calm, moderate, mild, delays the Maastrichts treaty
• Thatcher - mote forceful, handbag diplomacy, abrasive
• Major + Thatcher - both believed in their own policies

Question 20

What do you think will be the biggest challenges for Major for the rest of his time as Prime Minister?

Answer 20

• Disunity/ support
• Divisions over Europe
• Inflation/ devaluation of the pound

Question 21

What do you think will be the impact of Major’s government in the long term?

Answer 21

• negative press
• economic policy
• Divisions over Europe