Why were the Conservatives under Major so badly defeated?

Question 1

What were the three main problems when he came PM?

Answer 1

• He lacked authority
• Conservatives were divided about Britain’s role in Europe
• Labour Party was revitalised under New Labour

Question 2

Why did Major lack authority in Conservative Party?

Answer 2

• Major was elected by Conservative MPs because the majority of Conservatives did not want Heseltine, whom they blamed for engineering the fall of Thatcher
• Thatcher’s supporters voted for him because she has recently appeared to mark him out as her successor
• He was affable reliable and conscientious and may well have appealed to those MPs who had become tired of Thatcher’s bossiness
• Limited experience
• Uncharismatic personality ridiculed by media

Question 3

Major’s limited experience

Answer 3

• MP since 1979
• Cabinet member since June 1987
• Foreign secretary June-October 1989
• Chancellor of the Exchequer

Question 4

Major’s credits:

Answer 4

• Conservative victory in April 1992 general election –> vigorous campaigning, often speaking to crowds on a plastic container

Question 5

Failings of 1992 election:

Answer 5

Only won Conservative Majority of 21 seats

Question 6

2 problems due to low majority in 1992 election:

Answer 6

• Conservative MPs who disagreed with his policies could threaten him with defeat in parliament
• Any by-election defeats would increase the danger of a parliamentary defeat

Question 7

Eurosceptics

Answer 7

Disliked European Community’s move towards closer monetary and political union.

Question 8

Maastricht Treaty:

Answer 8

• Signed December 1991
• Full integration into Europe of European member states
• Common currency
• Foreign policy
• Defence
  Known as European Union

Question 9

Majors role in European Union:

Answer 9

• Negotiated British opt-outs from two key aspects –> Social Chapter and single European currency
• Unlikely alliance between sceptics in own party
• Major had to force ratification bill through parliament by telling MPs that, unless they voted in favour, the government would resign.

Question 10

Black Wednesday: causes

Answer 10

September 1992 –> measures to curb inflation had tipped the British economy into depression.
- Unemployment rose, businesses went under and GDP fell.
- Exchange rate clearly too high

Question 11

Black Wednesday: event

Answer 11

• Pound fell sharply in value as international bankers sold it at its artificially high rate before it was devalued.
• Major and his chancellor (Norman Lamont) tried unsuccessfully to sustain the pound’s value by pushing up interest rates and getting the Bank of England to buy pounds.
• These failed
• 16th September (Black Wednesday) Britain withdrew from Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM)

Question 12

Major’s leadership election 1995