Effects of Thatcherism on party politics and development
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- Created on: 27-03-17 20:30
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- Effects of Thatcherism on politics and party development
- The Conservative Party
- Had begun changing before Thatcher; Heath tried to modernise party and steer rightwards
- Heath retreat back to interference; bail out Rolls Royce and Upper Clyde
- Thatcher hate Heath's U-turn
- Aware neo-liberal views minority 1975; careful not to alienate 'one nation tories' - enlist on 'wet'' - William Whitelaw
- Had faith in free-market liberalism, strong patriotism and champion 'middle class values'
- Use press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham to leak info to newspapers about ministers who oppose her
- Careful not to ignore Conservative backbenchers or rank and file party members
- Changing party
- Computers target potential voters in marginal constituencies
- Chairman Cecil Parkinson organise direct mail campaign - reach 500,000 voters
- Party less posh
- More self-made businessmen and fewer inherit wealth
- Little advance to women in politics - no. female MPs increase 19 to 41
- Conservatives after Thatcher
- Resignation and Poll Tax = revolt against Thatcher in cabinet
- John Major continue Thatcher policies
- Privatisation of British Rail 1994-7
- Extension of trade union legislation
- Lower direct tax: basic income tax reduce 25% to 23% 1997
- Preference to indirect taxation. Chancellor Norman Lamont incr. VAT 15% to 17.5% 1991
- The Labour Party
- Why was there a need for change?
- Make adjustments to make self electable; 1983 28% vote
- Attack on manufacturing accelerate erosion of natural labour supporters
- Disillusionment with Labours record under Wilson and Callaghan 1970s (strikes)
- Moderate Labour supporters concerned + switch allegiance to Social Democratic Party 1981
- Militant tendencies: extreme control of Liverpool branch; attacked as loony left
- Kinnock's reforms, 1983-92
- Kinnock replace Michael Foot as party leader 1983; had to take action against Militant Tendency and unite Labour
- Labour reject unilateral nuclear disarmament
- Move Labour to pro-Europe stance
- 1988 trade unions lost casting vote on selection of parliamentary candidates
- Tony Blair and New Labour
- Labour leader 1994 realise they needed to reach out to middle class
- 1994 announce Clause IV replaced by "Party formally embrace free-market policies"
- Reject commitment to nationalisation
- Aim to continue policy of low indirect tax
- Big business embraced + free-markets embraced
- Why was there a need for change?
- Other Parties
- SDP for 1981 - felt there was need for centre left party. SDP allied with Liberals in 1983 election and gained 1/4 vote, 23 seats. Little success; merge into Liberal Democrats in 1988
- Thatcher years hit Scotland and Wales badly; coal mining both regions. SNP form 1934 for greater independence; perform bad 1979, 1983, 1987 elections until Thatcher poll Tax in Scotland. Vote for devolution 1997
- Welsh Nationalist Party, Plaid Cymru form 1925 and seen as left on spectrum.
- The Conservative Party
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