Fall of Thatcher and Her Legacy (AQA A-Level History): Revision Notes
Fall of Thatcher and Her Legacy
The loss of ministerial support
The withdrawal of backing from senior cabinet colleagues proved central to Thatcher's fall from power. Heseltine had already resigned in 1986, marking an early rupture. Nigel Lawson, who served as Chancellor, generally maintained workable relations with the Prime Minister during much of the 1980s. However, tensions mounted as Thatcher grew more reliant on Alan Walters, her chief economic adviser from 1981 to 1983, whom she reappointed in 1989.
Walters' function was to brief the Prime Minister directly and support her position in any dispute with the Treasury. His presence on the Prime Minister's staff indicated that Thatcher intended to interfere directly in economic policy.
Eventually, Lawson concluded he had lost the Prime Minister's confidence and resigned in 1989. This departure damaged Thatcher's authority and exposed growing fault lines within the government over economic strategy.
Geoffrey Howe and Europe
Following the 1983 election, Thatcher had moved Geoffrey Howe to the Foreign Office. An already tense relationship deteriorated further, with the EEC (European Economic Community) becoming a source of conflict. At one stage, Howe was publicly stating that the government might consider joining a European currency, whilst Thatcher was announcing this was out of the question.
Howe's resignation letter in 1990 was couched in moderate terms. However, in his resignation speech, Howe attacked Thatcher's approach to European negotiations in which he had been engaged. More damagingly, he criticised her treatment of cabinet colleagues, using a cricket analogy:
Howe's Damaging Cricket Analogy:
'It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find, as the first balls are being bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain.'
This public rebuke from a previously loyal minister proved particularly damaging, exposing deep divisions at the heart of government.
Thatcher's legacy
Assessing Margaret Thatcher's legacy presents a complex process, not least because competing claims are put forward. Some of what her governments undertook continued policies already begun under the preceding Callaghan administration. Nevertheless, several areas stand out as defining features of her time in office.
Economic transformation: The workplace and the labour market became more flexible and therefore able to respond to changing economic conditions. This represented a shift away from the rigid structures and trade union power that had characterised the 1970s.
This economic flexibility represented a fundamental transformation of British industrial relations, moving away from the confrontational union-management dynamics that had defined much of the post-war period.
Foreign policy: She made a contribution to the end of the Cold War, though the extent of her influence remains debated among historians.
Party divisions: Another element of her legacy consisted of the divisions within the Conservative Party itself. The resignation of such ministers as Heseltine and Howe reflected policy differences beyond individual issues. These divisions would contribute to the Conservatives losing the 1997 election (and the two that followed), indicating the long-term damage to party unity.
The Long-Term Impact of Party Divisions:
The internal conflicts that emerged during Thatcher's final years had lasting consequences:
- 1997 Election: Conservative defeat after 18 years in power
- 2001 Election: Second consecutive loss to Labour
- 2005 Election: Third consecutive loss
This decade-long electoral drought demonstrated how the wounds inflicted during Thatcher's fall continued to affect the party's cohesion and electoral appeal.
Major as leader
John Major presented a marked difference to his predecessor, something which formed part of his appeal. He tended to speak slowly and quietly, and in political parodies was shown coloured grey. Like Heath and Thatcher, he came from a notably lower social class than Churchill, Home, Eden, or Macmillan. Unlike Heath and Thatcher, he had never been to university (let alone Oxford) and his family had none of their respectability.
Major's Background:
His father had been a circus performer and Robert Blake describes his family life as 'shabby genteel'. This background may have helped him win the leadership: a substantial rival, the Foreign Secretary (and experienced diplomat) Douglas Hurd, had been to Eton – this may have been judged too patrician, a backward step and an electoral disadvantage.
Major's career had been directed by Margaret Thatcher. She had been persuaded to stand down partly on the basis that if she continued to campaign to be re-elected leader, Heseltine would win, but if she stood down, Major could be victorious. The question for voters (and for Conservative MPs) was whether Major would be his own man.
Thatcher's Continuing Shadow:
'I shall be a very good back-seat driver', Thatcher told the press. The comment was not malicious, but according to Major himself, 'it had a malign effect', suggesting he would remain under her influence rather than establishing his own political direction.
Key Points to Remember:
- Thatcher's fall resulted from the loss of ministerial support, with Heseltine (1986), Lawson (1989), and Howe (1990) all resigning over policy differences.
- Geoffrey Howe's 1990 resignation speech proved particularly damaging, using a cricket analogy to attack Thatcher's treatment of colleagues and her approach to Europe.
- Thatcher's legacy included greater workplace and labour market flexibility, a contribution to ending the Cold War, but also deep Conservative Party divisions that harmed the party electorally for over a decade.
- John Major presented a stark contrast to Thatcher in style and background, coming from a "shabby genteel" family with no university education, which helped his appeal as leader.