- Conservative Government 1983-1987
-
- See also Thatcher Ministry and Conservative Government 1979–1990.
Contents
Formation
The Conservative government was re-elected in June 1983 with a majority of 144 seats, with Labour in opposition having a mere 209 seats after its worst postwar electoral performance, seeing off a close challenge from the SDP-Liberal Alliance who came close to them on votes though not with seats.
With inflation firmly under control and union reforms contributing towards the lowest level of strikes since the early 1950s, the Tories were now faced with the challenge of reducing unemployment from a record high of 3,200,000.
March 1984 saw the beginning of a miners' strike which would last for 12 months and divide the country as Mrs Thatcher announced extensive pit closures which would ultimately cost thousands of miners their jobs as well, while the remaining pits were set to be privatised in the proposed sell-off of the National Coal Board. Privatisation of utilities and heavy industry was becoming a key symbol of Thatcherism, with the likes of British Telecom also transferring from public to private ownership.
Michael Foot had stepped down as Labour leader after the 1983 general election. The man elected by Labour with the task of getting them back into government was Neil Kinnock. He proved himself as a fierce rival to Thatcher, and more than once during the 1983-1987 parliament the opinion polls showed Labour in the lead.
The challenge from the SDP-Liberal Alliance was becoming weaker, despite their brief lead of the opinion polls during 1985.
However, economic growth following recession had been re-established by the beginning of this parliament and by 1987 the economy was well on the road to recovery. However, unemployment which had peaked at nearly 3,300,000 during 1984 was barely above 3,000,000 by the turn of 1987, and with the opinion polls all showing a Tory lead, it was anticipated that Thatcher would call the next general election earlier than the deadline of June 1988.
Fate
A general election was called for 11 June 1987, and the Tories triumphed for the third election in succession. Labour, on the other hand, achieved a better election result than it had the previous time, with more than 30% of the vote, while the SDP-Liberal Alliance floundered and was soon disbanded as the Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats (who soon became the Liberal Democrats).
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 June 1983 Lord Chancellor The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone June 1983 Lord President of the Council,
Deputy Prime Minister
and Leader of the House of LordsThe Viscount Whitelaw 11 June 1983 Minister of State for the Privy Council Office The Earl of Gowrie 11 June 1983 – 11 September 1984 Richard Luce 2 September 1985 – June 1987 Lord Privy Seal
and Leader of the House of CommonsJohn Biffen 11 June 1983 Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson 11 June 1983 Chief Secretary to the Treasury Peter Rees 11 June 1983 John MacGregor 2 September 1985 Minister of State, Treasury Barney Hayhoe June 1983 – 2 September 1985 Ian Gow 2 September 1985 – 19 November 1985 Hon. Peter Brooke 19 November 1985 – 13 June 1987 Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury John Wakeham 11 June 1983 Financial Secretary to the Treasury Hon. Nicholas Ridley June 1983 John Moore 18 October 1983 Norman Lamont 21 May 1986 Lords of the Treasury Alastair Goodlad June 1983 – 10 September 1984 Donald Thompson June 1983 – 10 September 1986 David Hunt June 1983 – 10 September 1984 Ian Lang 11 June 1983 – 1 February 1986 Tristan Garel-Jones 11 June 1983 – 16 October 1986 John Major 3 October 1984 – 1 November 1985 Hon. Archie Hamilton 3 October 1984 – 10 September 1986 Hon. Tim Sainsbury 7 October 1985 – 23 June 1987 Michael Neubert 10 February 1986 – June 1987 Peter Lloyd 16 October 1986 – June 1987 Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd 16 October 1986 – June 1987 Tony Durant 16 October 1986 – June 1987 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Sir Geoffrey Howe 11 June 1983 Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Timothy Raison June 1983 – 10 September 1986 also Minister of Overseas Development Richard Luce 11 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 Malcolm Rifkind 13 June 1983 – 11 January 1986 The Baroness Young 13 June 1983 – 13 June 1987 Tim Renton 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Lynda Chalker 11 January 1986 – June 1987 Chris Patten 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ray Whitney 13 June 1983 Tim Renton 11 September 1984 Timothy Eggar 2 September 1985 Minister for Overseas Development Timothy Raison June 1983 Chris Patten 10 September 1986 also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for the Home Department Leon Brittan 11 June 1983 Hon. Douglas Hurd 2 September 1985 Minister of State for Home Affairs David Waddington June 1983 – 13 June 1987 The Lord Elton 11 September 1984 – 25 March 1985 Giles Shaw 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986 David Mellor 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 The Earl of Caithness 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs The Lord Elton June 1983 – 11 September 1984 David Mellor June 1983 – 10 September 1986 The Lord Glenarthur 27 March 1984 – 10 September 1986 Hon. Douglas Hogg 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Jopling 11 June 1983 Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food John MacGregor 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 The Lord Belstead 13 June 1983 – 13 June 1987 John Gummer 2 September 1985 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Peggy Fenner June 1983 – 10 September 1986 Donald Thompson 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Minister for the Arts The Earl of Gowrie 13 June 1983 Richard Luce 2 September 1985 Secretary of State for Defence Michael Heseltine June 1983 Hon. George Younger 9 January 1986 Minister of State for Defence John Stanley 13 June 1983 Minister of State for Defence Procurement Geoffrey Pattie June 1983 Hon. Adam Butler 11 September 1984 Norman Lamont 2 September 1985 The Lord Trefgarne 21 May 1986 Minister of State for Defence Support The Lord Trefgarne 2 September 1985 – 21 May 1986 Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces The Lord Trefgarne 13 June 1983 – 1 September 1985 Roger Freeman 21 May 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Ian Stewart June 1983 – 18 October 1983 John Lee 18 October 1983 – 10 September 1986 Hon. Archie Hamilton 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Secretary of State for Education and Science Sir Keith Joseph, Bt June 1983 Kenneth Baker 21 May 1986 Minister of State, Education and Science Chris Patten 5 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 Angela Rumbold 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science Hon. Peter Brooke 13 June 1983 – 19 November 1985 Bob Dunn 13 June 1983 – June 1987 George Walden 19 November 1985 – 13 June 1987 Secretary of State for Employment Norman Tebbit June 1983 Tom King 16 October 1983 The Lord Young of Graffham 2 September 1985 Minister of State, Employment Hon. Peter Morrison 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 John Gummer 18 October 1985 – 11 September ? Kenneth Clarke 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Also Paymaster-General Under-Secretary of State, Employment John Gummer June 1983 – 18 October 1983 Alan Clark 13 June 1983 – 24 January 1986 Peter Bottomley 11 September 1984 – 23 January 1986 David Trippier 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Ian Lang 31 January 1986 – 10 September 1986 John Lee 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Secretary of State for Energy Peter Walker 11 June 1983 Minister of State, Energy Alick Buchanan-Smith 13 June 1983 Under-Secretary of State, Energy The Earl of Avon June 1983 – 11 September 1984 Giles Shaw 13 June 1983 – 11 September 1984 David Hunt 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987 Alastair Goodlad 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987 Secretary of State for the Environment Patrick Jenkin 11 June 1983 Kenneth Baker 23 September 1985 Hon. Nicholas Ridley 21 May 1986 Minister of State for Local Government The Lord Bellwin June 1983 Kenneth Baker 11 September 1984 Hon. William Waldegrave 2 September 1985 Rhodes Boyson 10 September 1986 Minister of State for Housing Ian Gow 13 June 1983 John Patten 2 September 1985 Minister of State, Environment The Lord Elton 27 March 1985 – 10 September 1986 Hon. William Waldegrave 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Sport Neil Macfarlane June 1983 – 2 September 1985 Richard Tracey 7 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Under-Secretary of State, Environment Sir George Young, Bt June 1981 – 10 September 1986 Hon. William Waldegrave 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 The Earl of Avon 11 September 1984 – 27 March 1985 Angela Rumbold 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 The Lord Skelmersdale 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Christopher Chope 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Secretary of State for Social Services Norman Fowler June 1983 Minister of State, Health Kenneth Clarke June 1983 Barney Hayhoe 2 September 1985 Tony Newton 10 September 1986 Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security Tony Newton June 1983 – 11 September 1984 John Patten 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 The Lord Glenarthur 14 June 1983 – 26 March 1985 Ray Whitney 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986 The Baroness Trumpington 30 March 1985 – 13 June 1987 John Major 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 Nicholas Lyell 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Edwina Currie 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Minister of State, Social Security Rhodes Boyson 12 June 1983 – 11 September 1984 Tony Newton 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986 John Major 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Minister of State, Industry and Information Technology Kenneth Baker June 1983 under Office of Trade and Industry from 12 June 1983 Geoffrey Pattie 11 September 1984 Office abolished 13 June 1987 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Cockfield 11 June 1983 The Earl of Gowrie 11 September 1984 Norman Tebbit 3 September 1985 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Prior June 1983 Hon. Douglas Hurd 11 September 1984 Tom King 3 September 1985 Minister of State, Northern Ireland Hon. Adam Butler June 1983 – 11 September 1984 The Earl of Mansfield 13 June 1983 – 12 April 1984 Rhodes Boyson 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986 Nicholas Scott 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Nicholas Scott June 1983 – 11 September 1986 Chris Patten 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 The Lord Lyell 12 April 1984 – June 1987 Richard Needham 3 September 1985 – June 1987 Peter Viggers 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Brian Mawhinney 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Paymaster-General Vacant 11 June 1983 John Gummer 11 September 1984 Kenneth Clarke 2 September 1985 also Minister of State, Employment Minister without Portfolio The Lord Young of Graffham 11 September 1984 – 3 September 1985 Secretary of State for Scotland Hon. George Younger June 1983 Malcolm Rifkind 11 January 1986 Minister of State for Scotland The Lord Gray of Contin 13 June 1983 – 11 September 1986 The Lord Glenarthur 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Allan Stewart June 1983 – 10 September 1986 John MacKay June 1983 – 14 June 1987 Michael Ancram 13 June 1983 – 14 June 1987 Ian Lang 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Minister for Trade Paul Channon 13 June 1983 under Office of Trade and Industry Alan Clark 24 January 1986 Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Cecil Parkinson 12 June 1983 Norman Tebbit 16 October 1983 Leon Brittan 2 September 1985 Paul Channon 24 January 1986 Minister of State for Trade and Industry Norman Lamont 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 Hon. Peter Morrison 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 Giles Shaw 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry John Butcher 14 June 1983 – June 1987 Alexander Fletcher 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 David Trippier 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985 The Lord Lucas of Chilworth 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987 Michael Howard 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Secretary of State for Transport Tom King 11 June 1983 Hon. Nicholas Ridley 16 October 1983 John Moore 21 May 1986 Minister of State, Transport Lynda Chalker 18 October 1983 – 10 January 1986 David Mitchell 23 January 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Transport Lynda Chalker June 1983 – 18 October 1983 David Mitchell 11 June 1983 – 23 January 1986 Michael Spicer 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987 The Earl of Caithness 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 Peter Bottomley 23 January 1986 – June 1987 The Lord Brabazon of Tara 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards June 1983 Minister of State for Wales John Stradling Thomas June 1983 – 2 September 1985 Under-Secretary of State for Wales Wyn Roberts June 1983 – 13 June 1987 Mark Robinson 3 October 1985 – 15 June 1987 Attorney General Michael Havers June 1983 Solicitor General Sir Patrick Mayhew 13 June 1983 Lord Advocate The Lord Mackay of Clashfern June 1983 The Lord Cameron of Lochbroom 16 May 1984 Solicitor General for Scotland Peter Fraser June 1983 Treasurer of the Household John Cope 11 June 1983 Comptroller of the Household Carol Mather June 1983 Hon. Robert Boscawen 16 October 1986 Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Hon. Robert Boscawen June 1983 Tristan Garel-Jones 16 October 1986 Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Denham June 1983 Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Earl of Swinton June 1983 The Viscount Davidson 10 September 1986 Lords-in-Waiting The Viscount Long June 1983 – 2 May 1997 The Lord Lyell June 1983 – 12 April 1984 The Lord Skelmersdale June 1983 – 10 September 1986 The Lord Lucas of Chilworth June 1983 – 9 September 1984 The Baroness Trumpington 11 June 1983 – 25 March 1985 The Earl of Caithness 8 May 1984 – 2 September 1985 The Lord Brabazon of Tara 19 September 1984 – 10 September 1986 The Baroness Cox 3 April 1985 – 2 August 1985 The Viscount Davidson 17 September 1985 – 10 September 1986 The Baroness Hooper 17 September 1985 – 14 June 1987 The Lord Hesketh 10 September 1986 – 31 January 1987 The Lord Beaverbrook 10 September 1986 – June 1987 The Earl of Dundee 3 October 1986 – June 1987 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
Conservative Government 1979-1983Government of the United Kingdom
1983–1987Succeeded by
Conservative Government 1987-1990Categories:- Conservative Party (UK)
- 1980s in the United Kingdom
- 1983 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1987 disestablishments
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