what were reasons that led to thatchers downfall
- 1987 economics crash after deregulation
- poll tax protests
- 1988 budget led to a balance of payments problem and 10.9% inflation
- loss of safe seats saw a loss i confidence of Thatcher
- cabinet resignations
how did major and the conservatives appeal to voters
major- soapbox politics where he would make speeches in the middle of the street
conservatives- seen as the party to fix the economy
name some 1991 economic developments
- employment rose from 1.6-2.6m
- inflation 5.87%
what was majors response to 1991 economic developments
- resorted to high public spending
- huge gov borrowing was used for NHS and transport subsidies
what was black wednesday
when the UK was forced to withdraw from the ERM in order to not being able to maintain the fixed exchange rate
what was public and political response to black wednesday
- was labelled the beginning of the end as many saw it as a failure and placed distrust in the conservative government
how was black wednesday good for the economy
- prevented UK from keeping high interest rates to maintain £ value
- devalued £ helped exports
- unemployment fell
- world trade expanded
- benefits from deregulation showed
- house prices rose
what political sleaze and scandals occurred
- a dozen sex scandals involving MP’s
- illegal arms dealing of MP’s dealing arms to Iraq
- cash for questions, MP’s accepted cash in order to ask questions in parliament
what industries did major privatise
-coal
-railways
-post office (failed)
what is PFI
private finance incentive
what was the PFI
Private companies would would fund infrastructure improvements and deliver public services (all funded by the gov.)
what is citizens charter
a policy to try to give the public more power over the quality
what evidence was there of mis carriges of justice in northern ireland by the state
the birmingham 6 and Guilford 4 were all wrongly convicted of bombings that occurred in the 70s
what breakthrough did major make
the downing street declaration which gave ireland the choice to stay in the uk or leave
when was a ceasefire agreed
1994
what involvement did america have in the peace
- Clinton encouraged sinn fein to lay down arms
- clintins representative george mitchell mediated the peace agreements
what were the main conservative party divisions between the left and right
- radical social policies
- europe
- leadership of the party
what policies did new labour ditch from the 1983 manifesto
- high taxation
- unilateral disarmament
- withdrawl from eec
-clause IV
how did john smith and neil kinnock give the unions less power
- smith abolished the trade union block vote
- kinnock ended labour support for closed shop
when did labour ditch clause iv and why
ditched clause iv in 1995 as since the ‘fall of communism’ in 1990 the socialism ideology seemed largely dead
