- Conservative Government 1979-1983
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- See also Thatcher Ministry and Conservative Government 1979–1990.
Contents
Formation
Following the vote of no confidence against the Labour government and prime minister James Callaghan on 28 March 1979, a general election was called for 3 May 1979. The Tories won the election with a majority of 43 seats and their leader Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister.
Thatcher inherited some of the worst economic statistics of postwar Britain. The nation was still feeling the effects of the endless strikes during the recent Winter of Discontent. Inflation stood at 27%. 1,500,000 were unemployed - a rise of more than 50% in five years.
Thatcher's monetarist economic policies saw inflation cut to just over 16% by January 1981, less than 10% a year later, and by June 1983 it had fallen to a 15-year low of 4%. She also oversaw union reforms which saw strikes at their lowest for 30 years by 1983.
However, her economic policies also resulted in the loss of much of Britain's heavy industry which had been deemed inefficient. Coal pits, steel plants and shipyards were particularly hard hit, most of all in Scotland and the north of England. Unemployment rose from 1,500,000 at the time of the 1979 general election to a record 3,200,000 four years later.
The Labour opposition, who changed leader from James Callaghan to Michael Foot, was in no position to exploit the situation. The change of leader saw the party shift dramatically to the left, and in 1981 a host of disenchanted Labour MP's formed the breakaway Social Democratic Party. The new party swiftly formed an alliance with the Liberals with a view to forming a coalition government at the next election. For a while, opinion polls suggested that this could happen, with support for the Alliance peaking at 50% in late 1981.
However, when the Falkland Islands (a British colony in the South Atlantic) were seized by Argentine forces in March 1982, Thatcher was swift to declare war on Argentina which was won on 14 June when the Argentines surrendered. The success of this campaign saw a swift turnaround in support for the Tory government, who by the summer of 1982 were firmly in the lead in all of the major opinion polls.
Fate
Thatcher had the option of waiting until May 1984 before calling a general election, but the opinion polls remained in her favour as 1983 dawned and so she called a general election for 9 June. With all the pollsters pointing towards a Tory majority, the most interesting outcome of the election was the guessing game as to whether it would be Labour or the Alliance who formed the next opposition.
In the event, the Tories were re-elected with a 144-seat majority. The election was an unmitigated disaster for Labour, who polled a mere 27.6% of the vote and were left with just 209 MP's in the new parliament. The Alliance came close to Labour in terms of votes with 25.4% of the electorate voting for them, but won a mere 23 seats.
Members of the Cabinet
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
Office Name Dates Notes Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Minister for the Civil ServiceMargaret Thatcher 4 May 1979 Minister of State, Civil Service Department Paul Channon 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Barney Hayhoe 5 January 1981 – 12 November 1981 Lord Chancellor The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone 5 May 1979 Lord President of the Council The Lord Soames 5 May 1979 also Leader of the House of Lords Francis Pym 14 September 1981 also Leader of the House of Commons John Biffen 5 April 1982 also Leader of the House of Commons Lord Privy Seal Sir Ian Gilmour, Bt 5 May 1979 Humphrey Atkins 14 September 1981 The Baroness Young 6 April 1982 also Leader of the House of Lords Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Geoffrey Howe 5 May 1979 Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Biffen 5 May 1979 Leon Brittan 5 January 1981 Minister of State, Treasury Peter Rees 6 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 Francis Cockfield 6 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 Jock Bruce-Gardyne 15 September 1981 – 11 November 1981 Barney Hayhoe 11 November 1981 John Wakeham 6 April 1982 Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Michael Jopling 5 May 1979 Financial Secretary to the Treasury Nigel Lawson 6 May 1979 Hon. Nicholas Ridley 30 September 1981 Lords of the Treasury John MacGregor 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Hon. Peter Morrison 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Lord James Douglas-Hamilton 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 Carol Mather 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 David Waddington 16 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 John Wakeham 9 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 Hon. Robert Boscawen 9 January 1981 – 17 February 1983 John Cope 9 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 Tony Newton 1 October 1981 – 5 March 1982 John Gummer 1 October 1981 – 6 January 1983 Hon. Peter Brooke 1 October 1981 – 13 June 1983 Alastair Goodlad 16 February 1982 Donald Thompson 14 January 1983 David Hunt 23 February 1983 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Lord Carrington 5 May 1979 Francis Pym 5 April 1982 Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Peter Blaker 5 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 Hon. Nicholas Ridley 6 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 Hon. Douglas Hurd 6 May 1979 – 11 June 1983 Richard Luce 30 September 1981 – 5 April 1982 Cranley Onslow 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 The Lord Belstead 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 Timothy Raison 6 January 1983 also Minister of Overseas Development Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Richard Luce 6 May 1979 The Lord Trefgarne 14 September 1981 Malcolm Rifkind 6 April 1982 Minister for Overseas Development Timothy Raison 6 January 1983 Secretary of State for the Home Department William Whitelaw 5 May 1979 Minister of State for Home Affairs Leon Brittan 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Timothy Raison 6 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 Patrick Mayhew 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 David Waddington 6 January 1983 Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs The Lord Belstead 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 The Lord Elton 6 April 1982-13 June 1983 David Mellor 6 January 1983 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Peter Walker 5 May 1979 Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The Earl Ferrers 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 Alick Buchanan-Smith 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jerry Wiggin 7 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 Peggy Fenner 14 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 Minister for the Arts Norman St John-Stevas 5 May 1979 also Leader of the House of Commons Paul Channon 5 January 1981 Secretary of State for Defence Francis Pym 5 May 1979 John Nott 5 January 1981 Michael Heseltine 8 January 1983 Minister of State for Defence The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 The Viscount Trenchard 5 January 1981 – 29 May 1981 Office abolished 29 May 1981; Trenchard appointed Minister of State for Defence Procurement Minister of State for the Armed Forces Peter Blaker 29 May 1981 Minister of State for Defence Procurement The Viscount Trenchard 29 May 1981 Geoffrey Pattie 6 January 1983 Under-Secretary of State for the Army Barney Hayhoe 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Philip Goodhart 5 January 1981 – 19 May 1981 Office abolished 29 May 1981; Goodhart appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Under-Secretary of State for the Navy Keith Speed 6 May 1979 – 18 May 1981 Office abolished 29 May 1981 Under-Secretary of State for the Air Force Geoffrey Pattie 6 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 Office abolished 29 May 1981; Pattie appointed Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Philip Goodhart 29 May 1981 – 30 September 1981 Jerry Wiggin 15 September 1981 – 11 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Geoffrey Pattie 29 May 1981 – 6 January 1983 Ian Stewart 6 January 1983 Secretary of State for Education and Science Mark Carlisle 5 May 1979 Sir Keith Joseph 14 September 1981 Minister of State, Education and Science The Baroness Young 7 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 Paul Channon 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science Rhodes Boyson 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 Neil Macfarlane 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 William Shelton 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 Hon. William Waldegrave 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 Secretary of State for Employment James Prior 5 May 1979 Norman Tebbit 14 September 1981 Minister of State, Employment The Earl of Gowrie 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 Michael Alison 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State, Employment Jim Lester 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Patrick Mayhew 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 David Waddington 5 January 1981 – 6 January 1983 Hon. Peter Morrison 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 John Gummer 6 January 1983 Secretary of State for Energy David Howell 5 May 1979 Nigel Lawson 14 September 1981 Minister of State, Energy Hamish Gray 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State, Energy Norman Lamont 7 May 1979 – 5 September 1981 John Moore 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 David Mellor 15 September 1981 – 6 January 1983 The Earl of Avon 6 January 1983 Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine 5 May 1979 Tom King 6 January 1983 Minister of State for Local Government Tom King 6 May 1979 The Lord Bellwin 6 January 1983 Minister of State for Housing John Stanley 7 May 1979 Under-Secretary of State for Sport Hector Monro 7 May 1979 – 30 September 1981 Neil Macfarlane 15 September 1981 Under-Secretary of State, Environment Marcus Fox 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Geoffrey Finsberg 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 The Lord Bellwin 7 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 Giles Shaw 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 Sir George Young, Bt 15 September 1981 Secretary of State for Health and Social Security Patrick Jenkin 5 May 1979 Norman Fowler 14 September 1981 Minister of State, Health Gerard Vaughan 7 May 1979 Kenneth Clarke 5 March 1982 Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security Sir George Young, Bt 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 Lynda Chalker 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 Geoffrey Finsberg 15 September 1981 – 14 June 1983 The Lord Elton 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 Tony Newton 5 March 1982 The Lord Trefgarne 6 April 1982 – 14 June 1983 Minister of State, Social Security Reginald Prentice 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Hugh Rossi 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 Secretary of State for Industry Sir Keith Joseph, Bt 7 May 1979 Patrick Jenkin 14 September 1981 Merged with the Office of Trade 12 June 1983 Minister of State, Industry Hon. Adam Butler 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 The Viscount Trenchard 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Norman Tebbit 5 January 1981 – 14 September 1981 Norman Lamont 14 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 Minister of State, Industry and Information Technology Kenneth Baker 5 January 1981 Under-Secretary of State, Industry David Mitchell 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Michael Marshall 6 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 John MacGregor 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 John Wakeham 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 John Butcher 6 April 1982 – 12 June 1983 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Norman St John-Stevas 5 May 1979 also Leader of the House of Commons Francis Pym 5 January 1981 also Leader of the House of Commons The Baroness Young 14 September 1981 also Leader of the House of Lords Cecil Parkinson 6 April 1982 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Humphrey Atkins 5 May 1979 James Prior 14 September 1981 Minister of State, Northern Ireland Michael Alison 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 Hugh Rossi 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Hon. Adam Butler 5 January 1981 – 10 June 1983 The Earl of Gowrie 15 September 1981 – 10 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland The Lord Elton 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 Philip Goodhart 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Giles Shaw 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 David Mitchell 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 John Patten 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 Nicholas Scott 15 September 1981 – June 1983 Paymaster-General Angus Maude 5 May 1979 Francis Pym 5 January 1981 Cecil Parkinson 14 September 1981 Secretary of State for Scotland Hon. George Younger 5 May 1979 Minister of State for Scotland The Earl of Mansfield 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Alexander Fletcher 7 May 1979 – 14 June 1983 Russell Fairgrieve 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 Malcolm Rifkind 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 Allan Stewart 15 September 1981 – June 1983 John MacKay 6 April 1982 – June 1983 Secretary of State for Trade John Nott 5 May 1979 John Biffen 5 January 1981 The Lord Cockfield 6 April 1982 Minister for Consumer Affairs Sally Oppenheim-Barnes 5 May 1979 Gerald Vaughan 5 March 1982 Minister for Trade Cecil Parkinson 7 May 1979 Peter Rees 14 September 1981 Under-Secretary of State for Trade Norman Tebbit 5 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 Reginald Eyre 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 The Lord Trefgarne 5 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 Iain Sproat 15 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 Minister of Transport Norman Fowler 11 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 became Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for Transport Norman Fowler 5 January 1981 David Howell 14 September 1981 Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Kenneth Clarke 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 became Under-Secretary of State for Transport Under-Secretary of State for Transport Kenneth Clarke 5 January 1981 – 5 March 1982 Lynda Chalker 5 March 1982 – June 1983 Reginald Eyre 5 March 1982 – 11 June 1983 Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards 5 May 1979 Minister of State for Wales John Stradling Thomas 17 February 1983 – June 1983 Under-Secretary of State for Wales Michael Roberts 7 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 Wyn Roberts 7 May 1979 – June 1983 Attorney General Michael Havers 5 May 1979 Solicitor General Sir Ian Percival 5 May 1979 Lord Advocate The Lord Mackay of Clashfern 5 May 1979 Solicitor General for Scotland Nicholas Fairbairn 7 May 1979 Peter Fraser 28 January 1982 Treasurer of the Household John Stradling Thomas 6 May 1979 Hon. Anthony Berry 17 February 1983 Comptroller of the Household Spencer Le Marchant 7 May 1979 Hon. Anthony Berry 30 September 1981 Carol Mather 17 February 1983 Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Hon. Anthony Berry 7 May 1979 Carol Mather 30 September 1981 Hon. Robert Boscawen 17 February 1983 Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Denham 6 May 1979 Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Lord Sandys 6 May 1979 The Earl of Swinton 20 October 1982 Lords-in-Waiting The Viscount Long 9 May 1979 – June 1983 The Lord Mowbray and Stourton 9 May 1979 – 22 September 1980 The Lord Lyell 9 May 1979 – June 1983 The Lord Cullen of Ashbourne 9 May 1979 – 27 May 1982 The Lord Trefgarne 9 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 The Earl of Avon 22 September 1980 – 6 January 1983 The Lord Skelmersdale 9 January 1981 – June 1983 The Lord Glenarthur 27 May 1982 – 10 June 1983 The Lord Lucas of Chilworth 6 January 1983 – June 1983 References
- "British Cabinet and Government Membership". http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/table/york/Index.html. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- "British Government 1979-2005". http://www.palgrave.com/PDFs/1403903735.Pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
Preceded by
Labour Government 1974-1979Government of the United Kingdom
1979–1983Succeeded by
Conservative Government 1983-1987Categories:- Conservative Party (UK)
- 20th century in the United Kingdom
- 1979 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1997 disestablishments
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