Third Thatcher ministry

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.

Third Thatcher ministry
1987–1990
Thatcher (1990)
Date formed12 June 1987 (1987-06-12)
Date dissolved28 November 1990 (1990-11-28)
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Prime Minister's history1979–1990
Deputy Prime MinisterSir Geoffrey Howe (1989–1990)
Total no. of members245 appointments
Member partyConservative Party
Status in legislatureMajority
Opposition cabinetKinnock Shadow Cabinet
Opposition partyLabour Party
Opposition leaderNeil Kinnock
History
Election(s)1987 general election
Legislature term(s)50th UK Parliament
PredecessorSecond Thatcher ministry
SuccessorFirst Major ministry

This article details the third government Thatcher led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 to 1990.

Election

The Conservatives were elected for a third successive term in June 1987, with a majority of 102 seats. It enabled Margaret Thatcher to become the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, as Britain's economic recovery continued.

Policies and economy

With the battle against inflation and strikes long won, an economic boom was in its early stages. Unemployment had fallen below 3,000,000 during the spring of 1987, and the tax cuts by chancellor Nigel Lawson sent the economy into overdrive. By early 1988, unemployment was below 2,500,000. A year later, it fell below 2,000,000. By the end of 1989, it was down to 1,600,000. A residential property price surge saw the average home price in Britain double between 1986 and 1989.

However, this led to the government doubling interest rates during 1988[1] and it chose to increase these further during 1989 and 1990[2] as inflation increased.[2]

As early as September 1988, economists were warning that the economic boom would soon be over and that 1989 could see a recession set in. For the moment, the economy defied these predictions; it continued to grow throughout 1989 and unemployment continued to fall, despite the United States entering recession that year.

Employment was booming by the late 1980s, above all in the financial and retail sectors, and particularly on new commercial developments that were built on old industrial sites. For example, the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in the West Midlands saw 6,000 retail jobs created between 1984 and 1989 on the former Round Oak Steelworks site that had shed just over 1,200 jobs when it closed in 1982. The comparable MetroCentre was built at Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, around the same time.

On 29 March 1988, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of Trade and Industry, Kenneth Clarke, announced the sale to British Aerospace of the Rover Group, the new name of British Leyland, which had been nationalised in 1975 by the government of Harold Wilson.[3]

The government's popularity declined in 1989 with the commencement of the unpopular "poll tax" (Community Charge), which was introduced in Scotland that year and to the rest of Great Britain a year later. By the end of that year, in spite of the economy remaining strong, many opinion polls were showing a double-digit Labour lead, and this was largely blamed on the poll tax. Sir Anthony Meyer, a 69-year-old back-bencher, challenged Mrs Thatcher's leadership in December; his challenge was defeated in a vote by Conservative MPs, although 60 of them failed to vote to keep her premiership.

Problems with the poll tax continued throughout 1990, including riots across London in early spring. Labour continued to benefit from the situation as their lead in the opinion polls widened, and they made gains from the Tories in local council elections and more than once in by-elections. The new Liberal Democrats, after a weak start, were starting to gain ground in the opinion polls, and seized the safe Eastbourne seat in its by-election in October.

The threat of recession finally became reality in October 1990, when it was confirmed that the economy had declined during the third quarter of the year. Unemployment started to rise again. Inflation, which the first Thatcher government had conquered by 1983, was touching 10% for the first time in eight years.

Fate

Then, on 1 November 1990, came the first of a series of events which would spell the end of Margaret Thatcher's years in power. Sir Geoffrey Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister, long resentful of being ousted as Foreign Secretary, resigned from the cabinet over its European policy. Soon afterward, in his resignation speech in the House of Commons, he publicly denounced Thatcher, having once been one of her closest allies, personally and for her hostility towards the programmes of the European Community. On 14 November, former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher's leadership. Thatcher polled higher than him in the first round of the leadership contest, but failed to gain an outright victory in the first round of voting.[4]

Within minutes of the result being announced, Thatcher informed reporters that she intended to let her name go forward for the second ballot.[5] However, on 22 November, before a second round of the contest could take place, Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party after more than 11 years, explaining that she was resigning to make way for a leader more likely to win the next general election.

Her successor was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major, who was elected on 27 November 1990, and who at 47 became the youngest Conservative Prime Minister of the 20th century.

Cabinets

June 1987 to July 1989

Changes

July 1989 to November 1990

Changes

  • October 1989 
    • John Major succeeds Nigel Lawson as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
    • Douglas Hurd succeeds John Major as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
    • David Waddington succeeds Douglas Hurd as Secretary of State for the Home Department.
    • Tim Renton succeeds David Waddington as Chief Whip.
  • January 1990  Norman Fowler resigns as Secretary of State for Employment and is succeeded by Michael Howard.
  • May 1990  Peter Walker resigns as Secretary of State for Wales, having announced his intention in March. David Hunt succeeds him.
  • July 1990  Nicholas Ridley resigns as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Peter Lilley succeeds him.
  • November 1990  At the start of the month, Geoffrey Howe resigns and the title of Deputy Prime Minister is not reallocated. John MacGregor succeeds him as Lord President of the Council and is in turn succeeded by Kenneth Clarke as Secretary of State for Education and Science, who is succeeded by William Waldegrave as Secretary of State for Health.

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Minister for the Civil Service
Margaret ThatcherJune 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Havers13 June 1987 
The Lord Mackay of Clashfern26 October 1987 
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount WhitelawJune 1987also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the House of Lords
John Wakeham10 January 1988also Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Geoffrey Howe24 July 1989also Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons
John MacGregor2 November 1990also Leader of the House of Commons
Minister of State for the Privy Council OfficeRichard LuceJune 1987 – 24 July 1990 
David Mellor24 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Lord Privy SealJohn Wakeham13 June 1987also Leader of the House of Commons
The Lord Belstead10 January 1988also Leader of the House of Lords
Chancellor of the ExchequerNigel LawsonJune 1987 
John Major26 October 1989 
Chief Secretary to the TreasuryJohn Major13 June 1987 
Norman Lamont24 July 1989 
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryDavid Waddington13 June 1987 
Timothy Renton28 October 1989 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryNorman LamontJune 1987 
Peter Lilley24 July 1989 
Hon. Francis Maude14 July 1990 
Lords of the TreasuryMichael NeubertJune 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Peter LloydJune 1987 – 24 July 1988 
Hon. Mark Lennox-BoydJune 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Tony DurantJune 1987 – 19 December 1988 
David Lightbown26 July 1987 – 24 July 1990 
Alan Howarth27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
David Maclean27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
Kenneth Carlisle27 July 1988 – 22 July 1990 
Stephen Dorrell20 December 1988 – 3 May 1990 
David Heathcoat-Amory26 July 1989 – 28 October 1989 
John Taylor26 July 1989 – 29 November 1990 
Tom Sackville30 October 1989 – November 1990 
Michael Fallon10 May 1990 – 22 July 1990 
Sydney Chapman25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Greg Knight25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Irvine Patnick25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsSir Geoffrey HoweJune 1987
John Major14 June 1989 
Hon. Douglas Hurd26 October 1989 
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsLynda ChalkerJune 1987 – November 1990also Minister of Overseas Development from 24 July 1989
Chris PattenJune 1987 – 24 July 1989also Minister of Overseas Development
David Mellor13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
The Lord Glenarthur13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 
Hon. William Waldegrave26 July 1988 – 2 November 1990 
Hon. Francis Maude24 July 1989 – 14 July 1990 
The Lord Brabazon of Tara24 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 
The Earl of Caithness14 July 1990 – November 1990 
Tristan Garel-Jones14 July 1990 – November 1990 
Hon. Douglas Hogg2 November 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsTimothy EggarJune 1987 
Hon. Tim Sainsbury24 July 1989 
Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd24 July 1990 
Minister for Overseas DevelopmentChris PattenJune 1987also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Lynda Chalker24 July 1989also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentHon. Douglas HurdJune 1987 
David Waddington26 October 1989 
Minister of State for Home AffairsThe Earl of CaithnessJune 1987 – 10 January 1988 
John Patten13 June 1987 – November 1990 
The Earl Ferrers10 January 1988 – November 1990 
David Mellor27 October 1989 – 22 June 1990 
Angela Rumbold23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsHon. Douglas HoggJune 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Peter Lloyd25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn MacGregor13 June 1987 
John Gummer24 July 1989 
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn GummerJune 1987 – 26 July 1988 
The Baroness Trumpington28 September 1989 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodDonald ThompsonJune 1987 – 25 September 1987 
The Baroness Trumpington13 June 1987 – 28 September 1989 
Richard Ryder25 July 1988 – 14 July 1989 
David Curry26 July 1989 – November 1990 
David Maclean26 July 1989 – November 1990 
Minister for the ArtsRichard LuceJune 1987 
David Mellor26 July 1990 
Secretary of State for DefenceHon. George YoungerJune 1987 
Tom King24 July 1989 
Minister of State for the Armed ForcesIan Stewart13 June 1987 
Hon. Archie Hamilton25 July 1988 
Minister of State for Defence ProcurementThe Lord TrefgarneJune 1987 
Alan Clark24 July 1989 
Under-Secretary of State for the Armed ForcesRoger FreemanJune 1987 – 15 December 1988 
Michael Neubert19 December 1988 – 23 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Defence ProcurementHon. Tim Sainsbury13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
The Earl of Arran25 July 1989 – 26 July 1990 
Kenneth Carlisle26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Secretary of State for Education and ScienceKenneth BakerJune 1987 
John MacGregor24 July 1989 
Kenneth Clarke2 November 1990
Minister of State, Education and ScienceAngela RumboldJune 1987 – 24 July 1990 
Timothy Eggar24 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Education and ScienceBob DunnJune 1987 – 26 July 1988 
The Baroness Hooper13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Robert Jackson13 June 1987 – 24 July 1990 
John Butcher26 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
Alan Howarth24 July 1989 – November 1990 
Michael Fallon24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for EmploymentNorman Fowler13 June 1987 
Michael Howard3 January 1990 
Minister of State, EmploymentJohn Cope13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Timothy Eggar25 July 1989 – 23 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, EmploymentJohn LeeJune 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Patrick Nicholls13 June 1987 – 28 July 1989 
The Lord Strathclyde26 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 
Robert Jackson24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Eric Forth24 July 1990 – November 1990 
The Viscount Ullswater24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for EnergyCecil Parkinson13 June 1987 
John Wakeham24 July 1989 
Minister of State, EnergyPeter Morrison13 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, EnergyMichael Spicer13 June 1987 – 3 January 1990 
The Baroness Hooper26 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 
Tony Baldry3 January 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Hon. Colin Moynihan24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for the EnvironmentHon. Nicholas RidleyJune 1987 
Chris Patten24 July 1989 
Minister of State for Local GovernmentMichael Howard13 June 1987 
John Gummer25 July 1988 
David Hunt25 July 1989 
Michael Portillo4 May 1990 
Minister of State for HousingHon. William Waldegrave13 June 1987 
The Earl of Caithness25 July 1988 
Michael Howard25 July 1989 
Michael Spicer3 January 1990 
Minister of State, EnvironmentThe Lord Belstead13 June 1987 – 10 January 1988 
The Earl of Caithness10 January 1988 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Howard25 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
David Trippier24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for SportHon. Colin Moynihan22 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 
Robert Atkins26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990
Under-Secretary of State, EnvironmentChristopher ChopeJune 1987 – 22 July 1990 
Marion Roe13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
David Trippier13 June 1987 – 23 July 1989 
Virginia Bottomley25 July 1988 – 28 October 1989 
The Lord Hesketh31 January 1989 – 2 November 1990 
David Heathcoat-Amory28 October 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Patrick Nicholls26 July 1990 – 12 October 1990 
The Lord Strathclyde26 July 1990 – 7 September 1990 
The Baroness Blatch7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Robert Key12 October 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Health and Social SecurityJohn Moore13 June 1987Reorganised into Office of Health and Office of Social Security 25 July 1988
Secretary of State for HealthKenneth Clarke25 July 1988 
Hon. William Waldegrave2 November 1990 
Minister of State, HealthTony NewtonJune 1987 
David Mellor25 July 1988under separate Office of Health
The Lord Trafford29 July 1989 
Virginia Bottomley28 October 1989 
Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social SecurityEdwina CurrieJune 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Portillo13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
The Lord Skelmersdale13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Under-Secretary of State, HealthEdwina Currie25 July 1988 – 16 December 1988 
Roger Freeman16 December 1988 – 4 May 1990 
The Baroness Hooper29 September 1989 – November 1990 
Stephen Dorrell4 May 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Social SecurityJohn Moore25 July 1988 
Tony Newton23 July 1989 
Minister of State, Social SecurityNicholas Scott13 June 1987under separate Office of Social Security 25 July 1988
Under-Secretary of State, Social SecurityThe Lord Skelmersdale25 July 1988 – 26 July 1989 
Peter Lloyd25 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 
The Lord Henley25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Gillian Shephard25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterKenneth Clarke13 June 1987 
Tony Newton25 July 1988 
Kenneth Baker24 July 1989also Chairman of the Conservative Party
Secretary of State for Northern IrelandTom KingJune 1987 
Hon. Peter Brooke24 July 1989 
Minister of State, Northern IrelandJohn Stanley13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Ian Stewart25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989 
John Cope25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Northern IrelandThe Lord LyellJune 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Richard NeedhamJune 1987 – May 1997 
Peter ViggersJune 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Brian MawhinneyJune 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Peter Bottomley4 July 1989 – 28 July 1990 
The Lord Skelmersdale24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Paymaster-GeneralHon. Peter Brooke13 June 1987also Chairman of the Conservative Party
The Earl of Caithness24 July 1989 
Richard Ryder14 July 1990 
Secretary of State for ScotlandMalcolm RifkindJune 1987 
Minister of State for ScotlandIan Lang13 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
The Lord Sanderson of Bowden13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 
Michael Forsyth7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandLord James Douglas-Hamilton13 June 1987 – 6 July 1995 
Michael Forsyth13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 
The Lord Strathclyde7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Minister for TradeAlan ClarkJune 1987 
The Lord Trefgarne25 July 1989 
Hon. Tim Sainsbury23 July 1990 
Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryThe Lord Young of Graffham13 June 1987 
Hon. Nicholas Ridley24 July 1989 
Peter Lilley14 July 1990 
Minister for IndustryHon. Douglas Hogg24 July 1989 
The Lord Hesketh2 November 1990 
Minister for Corporate AffairsJohn Redwood2 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryJohn ButcherJune 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Robert Atkins13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Hon. Francis Maude13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Eric Forth26 July 1988 – 24 July 1990 
John Redwood26 July 1989 – 2 November 1990 
Edward Leigh2 November 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for TransportPaul Channon13 June 1987 
Cecil Parkinson24 July 1989 
Minister of State, TransportDavid MitchellJune 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Portillo25 July 1988 – 4 May 1990 
Roger Freeman4 May 1990 – 28 November 1990 
The Lord Brabazon of Tara23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for TransportPeter BottomleyJune 1987 – 24 July 1989 
The Lord Brabazon of TaraJune 1987 – 23 July 1989 
Robert Atkins25 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 
Patrick McLoughlin25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Christopher Chope23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for WalesPeter Walker13 June 1987 
David Hunt4 May 1990 
Minister of State for WalesWyn Roberts15 June 1987 
Under-Secretary of State for WalesIan Grist15 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Attorney GeneralSir Patrick Mayhew11 June 1987 
Solicitor GeneralSir Nicholas Lyell13 June 1987 
Lord AdvocateThe Lord Cameron of LochbroomJune 1987 
The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie4 January 1989 
Solicitor General for ScotlandPeter FraserJune 1987 
Alan Rodger14 January 1989Not an MP
Treasurer of the HouseholdDavid Hunt15 June 1987 
Tristan Garel-Jones25 July 1989 
Alastair Goodlad22 July 1990 
Comptroller of the HouseholdHon. Robert BoscawenJune 1987 
Tristan Garel-Jones26 July 1988 
Alastair Goodlad25 July 1989 
Sir George Young, Bt23 July 1990 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdTristan Garel-JonesJune 1987 
Michael Neubert26 July 1988 
Tony Durant20 December 1988 
David Lightbown25 July 1990 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord DenhamJune 1987 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Viscount DavidsonJune 1987 
Lords-in-WaitingThe Viscount LongJune 1987 – November 1990 
The Lord BeaverbrookJune 1987 – 28 July 1988 
The Earl of DundeeJune 1987 – 26 July 1989 
The Earl of Arran18 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 
The Lord Strathclyde12 August 1988 – 24 July 1989 
The Lord Henley13 February 1989 – 24 July 1989 
The Viscount Ullswater26 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 
The Lord Reay2 August 1989 – November 1990 
The Earl of Strathmore2 August 1989 – November 1990 
The Baroness Blatch15 January 1990 – 7 September 1990 
The Lord Cavendish of Furness14 September 1990 – November 1990 
The Viscount Astor11 October 1990 – November 1990 

Notes

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    References

    1. "Biography". Margaret Thatcher Foundation. sec. "1987–1990: Prime Minister – Third Term". Retrieved 11 February 2018.
    2. "Thatcher years in graphics". BBC News. 18 November 2005. Archived from the original on 8 March 2008.
    3. "Rover Group (Privatisation)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 130. House of Commons. 29 March 1988. col. 885–901.
    4. "Obituary: Margaret Thatcher". BBC News. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
    5. "Thatcher fails to win party mandate". On This Day. BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2018.

    Sources

    Preceded by
    Second Thatcher ministry
    Government of the United Kingdom
    1987–1990
    Succeeded by
    First Major ministry
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