- Conservative Government 1990–1997
-
- See also Major Ministry.
Formation
The resignation of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister came on 22 November 1990, more than 11 years after she had first been elected. She had won three consecutive general elections, been voted into power by more than 12,000,000 people, but had to step down because she couldn't count on the support of her own MP's. Former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine had challenged her leadership earlier in the November and although she fared better than him in the leadership contest, she was unable to gain an outright win and handed in her resignation, paving the way for a new Conservative leader more likely to win the next general election which was due within 18 months.
The announcement of Poll tax (Community Charge) during 1989 and the onset of a recession shortly before Thatcher's resignation had seen Tory support plunge in the opinion polls, most of which were showing a double-digit Labour lead and making it seem likely that Neil Kinnock would be the next prime minister.
The Tories elected chancellor John Major as their new leader and the new prime minister on 27 November 1990.
Fate
The change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a dramatic turnaround in Tory support, with the double-digit Labour lead in the opinion polls being replaced by a narrow Tory one by the turn of 1991. Although a general election did not have to be held until June 1992, Labour leader Neil Kinnock kept pressurising Major to hold an election during 1991, but Major resisted the calls and there was no general election that year.
The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, pushing unemployment from 1,600,000 to 2,400,000 by the end of the year. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins.
Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992. Most pollsters suggested a hung parliament or a narrow Labour majority, but in the event the election produced a Tory win. The Tories had their majority reduced to 21 (they had held a 102-seat majority at the election five years earlier) but attracted a record mandate of more than 14,000,000 votes.
The new term of parliament saw Major gain a new opponent in John Smith, who succeeded Neil Kinnock as Labour leader.
However, a series of events soon followed which made a fifth successive Tory election victory appear unlikely long before the next election was even on the political horizon.
The pound sterling crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after chancellor Norman Lamont had invisted heavily in trying to keep it there, adjusting interest rates four times in one day as a desperate measure. This decable, which occurred on 16 September 1992 and became known as Black Wednesday, left the Tory government's reputation for economic excellence in tatters. Labour was soon ascendant in the opinion polls.
Tory feuding on Europe and the government defeat on the Maastricht Bill further dented the government's popularity, as did a series of scandals involving MP's.
The end of the recession was declared in April 1993 after nearly three years, and unemployment - which had peaked at nearly 3,000,000 - quickly began to fall. It had fallen bellow 2,500,000 within two years of the recession's end, and by the end of 1996 it was below 2,000,000. Freed from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the British economy outperformed the rest of the continent for the first time in a generation.
However, the strong economic recovery failed to make much difference to the dismal Tory showing in the opinion polls. Labour leader John Smith died of a heart attack in May 1994 and was succeeded by Tony Blair, who continued the modernisation process of the party which began under Smith's predecessor Neil Kinnock, and by the end of that year the opinion polls were showing Labour support as high as 60% - putting them more than 30 points ahead of the Tories.
The 21-seat Tory majority was gradually eroded by resignations as well as a string of by-election defeats, and by the turn of 1997 they were without a commons majority.
John Major left it until the last possible moment before calling a general election, finally holding it on 1 May 1997. He pinned his hopes of election success on a six-week campaign exposing New Labour's policies to scrutiny, as well as pointing towards a booming economy and falling unemployment. However, as the Tories had denied responsibility for the recession at the turn of the decade, few voters were willing to give them credit for the economic recovery, and Labour returned to power after 18 years with a 179-seat majority that saw several leading Tory MP's (most notably Michael Portillo, widely tipped to be the next Tory leader) lose their seats and leave them without any MP's in Wales or Scotland.
==Members of the Cabinet Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
Office Name Dates Notes Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil ServiceJohn Major 28 November 1990 – 1 May 1997 Lord Chancellor The Lord Mackay of Clashfern continued in office Lord President of the Council John MacGregor continued in office Tony Newton 10 April 1992 Lord Privy Seal The Lord Waddington 28 November 1990 The Lord Wakeham 11 April 1992 Viscount Cranborne 1994 Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont 28 November 1990 Kenneth Clarke 27 May 1993 Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Mellor 28 November 1990 Michael Portillo 10 April 1992 Jonathan Aitken 20 July 1994 The Hon. William Waldegrave 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Treasury Gillian Shephard 28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 Sir John Cope 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 also Paymaster-General Anthony Nelson 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 David Heathcoat-Amory 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1996 also Paymaster-General Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Richard Ryder 28 November 1990 Alastair Goodlad 5 July 1995 Financial Secretary to the Treasury Francis Maude continued in office Stephen Dorrell 14 April 1992 Sir George Young, Bt 20 July 1994 Michael Jack 5 July 1995 Lords of the Treasury Sydney Chapman continued in office – 14 April 1992 Greg Knight continued in office – 27 May 1993 Irvine Patnick continued in office – 20 July 1994 Nicholas Baker 3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 Tim Wood 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 Tim Boswell 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 Timothy Kirkhope 11 December 1992 – 5 July 1995 Andrew MacKay 27 May 1993 – 17 October 1995 Derek Conway 20 July 1994 – 23 July 1996 Andrew Mitchell 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 Bowen Wells 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Simon Burns 5 July 1995 – 23 July 1996 David Willetts 5 July 1995 – 28 November 1995 Michael Bates 17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996 Liam Fox 28 November 1995 – 23 July 1996 Patrick McLoughlin 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 Roger Knapman 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 Richard Ottaway 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 Gyles Brandreth 11 December 1996 – 1 May 1997 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Douglas Hurd 26 October 1989 Malcolm Rifkind 5 July 1995 Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Lynda Chalker continued in office – 1 May 1997 also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 The Earl of Caithness continued in office – 15 April 1992 Tristan Garel-Jones continued in office – 27 May 1993 The Hon. Douglas Hogg continued in office – 5 July 1995 Alastair Goodlad 15 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 David Heathcoat-Amory 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 David Davis 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 Jeremy Hanley 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Bt 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd continued in office vacant 20 July 1994 Liam Fox 23 July 1996 Minister for Overseas Development Lynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallasley continued in office also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 Secretary of State for the Home Department Kenneth Baker 28 November 1990 Kenneth Clarke 11 April 1992 Michael Howard 27 May 1993 Minister of State for Home Affairs John Patten continued in office – 14 April 1992 The Earl Ferrers continued in office – 20 July 1994 Angela Rumbold continued in office – 14 April 1992 Michael Jack 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Peter Lloyd 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 David Maclean 27 May 1993 – 1 May 1997 Michael Forsyth 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 The Baroness Blatch 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 Ann Widdecombe 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs Peter Lloyd continued in office – 15 April 1992 Charles Wardle 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 Nicholas Baker 20 July 1994 – 17 October 1995 Timothy Kirkhope 17 October 1995 – 1 May 1997 The Hon. Tom Sackville 28 November 1995 – 1 May 1997 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food John Gummer continued in office Gillian Shephard 24 May 1993 The Hon. William Waldegrave 20 July 1994 The Hon. Douglas Hogg 5 July 1995 Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The Baroness Trumpington continued in office – 14 April 1992 David Curry 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Michael Jack 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 Tony Baldry 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food David Curry continued in office – 14 April 1992 David Maclean continued in office – 14 April 1992 The Hon. Nicholas Soames 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 The Earl Howe 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 Angela Browning 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 Tim Boswell 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 Minister for the Arts Tim Renton 28 November 1990 Functions transferred on 11 April 1992 to Department of National Heritage Secretary of State for Defence Tom King continued in office Malcolm Rifkind 15 April 1992 Michael Portillo 5 July 1995 Minister of State for the Armed Forces The Hon. Archie Hamilton continued in office Jeremy Hanley 27 May 1993 The Hon. Nicholas Soames 20 July 1994 Minister of State for Defence Procurement Alan Clark continued in office Jonathan Aitken 14 April 1992 Roger Freeman 20 July 1994 James Arbuthnot 6 July 1995 Under-Secretary of State for Defence Kenneth Carlisle 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 The Earl of Arran 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 Viscount Cranborne 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Henley 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 The Earl Howe 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Education and Science Kenneth Clarke continued in office Reorganised as Office of Education 10 April 1992 Secretary of State for Education John Patten 10 April 1992 Gillian Shephard 20 July 1994 Secretary of State for Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Education and Science Timothy Eggar continued in office – 14 April 1992 Minister of State, Education The Baroness Blatch 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 Eric Forth 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Minister of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Education and Employment The Lord Henley 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science Alan Howarth continued in office – 14 April 1992 Michael Fallon continued in office – 14 April 1992 Robert Atkins 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 Under-Secretary of State, Sport Under-Secretary of State, Education Eric Forth 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 Nigel Forman 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 Tim Boswell 19 December 1992 – 6 July 1995 Robin Squire 27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment James Paice 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Cheryl Gillan 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Employment Michael Howard continued in office Gillian Shephard 12 April 1992 David Hunt 27 May 1993 Michael Portillo 20 July 1994 Merged with the Office of Education 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Employment Michael Forsyth 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 Ann Widdecombe 20 July 1995 – 5 July 1995 Under-Secretary of State, Employment Robert Jackson continued in office – 14 April 1992 Eric Forth continued in office – 14 April 1992 The Viscount Ullswater continued in office – 16 September 1993 Patrick McLoughlin 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Ann Widdecombe 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Henley 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 James Paice 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 Phillip Oppenheim 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 Secretary of State for Energy John Wakeham continued in office Office abolished 11 April 1992 Minister of State, Energy Timothy Eggar 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 under Office of Trade and Industry; became Minister of State, Energy and Industry 20 July 1994 Under-Secretary of State, Energy The Hon. Colin Moynihan continued in office – 11 April 1992 David Heathcoat-Amory 28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine 28 November 1990 Michael Howard 11 April 1992 John Gummer 27 May 1993 Minister of State for Local Government Michael Portillo continued in office John Redwood 15 April 1992 David Curry 27 May 1993 Minister of State for Housing Sir George Young, Bt 28 November 1990 The Viscount Ullswater 20 July 1994 Post renamed Minister of State for Construction 6 July 1995 Minister of State for Construction Robert Jones 6 July 1995 Minister of State for Environment and Countryside David Trippier 28 November 1990 David Maclean 14 April 1992 Tim Yeo 27 May 1993 Robert Atkins 7 January 1994 The Earl Ferrers 6 July 1995 Minister of State, Environment The Baroness Blatch 21 May 1991 – 13 April 1992 Under-Secretary of State, Environment The Baroness Blatch continued in office – 21 May 1991 Robert Key continued in office – 15 April 1992 Tim Yeo 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 Tony Baldry 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Strathclyde 15 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 Robin Squire 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 The Baroness Denton 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 The Earl of Arran 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 Sir Paul Beresford 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Robert Jones 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 James Clappison 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Health The Hon. William Waldegrave continued in office Virginia Bottomley 10 April 1992 Stephen Dorrell 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Health Virginia Bottomley continued in office Brian Mawhinney 14 April 1992 Gerry Malone 20 July 1994 Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security The Baroness Hooper continued in office – 14 April 1992 Stephen Dorrell continued in office – 14 April 1992 The Hon. Tom Sackville 14 April 1992 – 29 November 1995 The Baroness Cumberlege 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 Tim Yeo 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 John Bowis 27 May 1993 – 23 July 1996 John Horam 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 Simon Burns 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Social Security Tony Newton continued in office Peter Lilley 10 April 1992 Minister of State, Social Security Nicholas Scott continued in office – 20 July 1994 William Hague 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Alistair Burt 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State, Social Security Michael Jack 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 Ann Widdecombe 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 Alistair Burt 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 William Hague 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 The Viscount Astor 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 James Arbuthnot 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 Roger Evans 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Andrew Mitchell 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Oliver Heald 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Chris Patten 28 November 1990 The Hon. William Waldegrave 11 April 1992 also Minister for the Public Service David Hunt 20 July 1994 also Minister for the Public Service Roger Freeman 5 July 1995 also Minister for the Public Service Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service Robert V. Jackson 15 April 1992 David Davis 27 May 1993 Robert Hughes 20 July 1994 John Horam 6 March 1995 David Willetts 28 November 1995 vacant 20 July 1996 Michael Bates 16 December 1996 Secretary of State for National Heritage David Mellor 11 April 1992 Peter Brooke 25 September 1992 Stephen Dorrell 20 July 1994 Virginia Bottomley 5 July 1995 Minister of State, National Heritage Iain Sproat 6 July 1995 Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage Robert Key 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Iain Sproat 27 May 1993 – 6 July 1995 The Viscount Astor 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 The Lord Inglewood Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Brooke continued in office Sir Patrick Mayhew 10 April 1992 Minister of State, Northern Ireland Brian Mawhinney 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 The Lord Belstead 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 also Paymaster-General Robert Atkins 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 Michael Mates 15 April 1992 – 24 June 1993 Sir John Wheeler 25 June 1993 – 2 May 1997 Michael Ancram
(The Marquess of Lothian)11 January 1994 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Richard Needham
(The Earl of Kilmorey)continued in office – 15 April 1992 Jeremy Hanley 3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 The Earl of Arran 22 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 Michael Ancram
(The Marquess of Lothian)27 May 1993 – 5 January 1994 The Baroness Denton 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Tim Smith 6 January 1994 – 20 October 1994 Malcolm Moss 25 October 1994 – 2 May 1997 Paymaster-General The Lord Belstead 28 November 1990 also Minister of State, Northern Ireland Sir John Cope 14 April 1992 also Minister of State, Treasury David Heathcoat-Amory 20 July 1994 also Minister of State, Treasury David Willetts 20 July 1996 Michael Bates 16 December 1996 Minister without Portfolio Jeremy Hanley 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 Brian Mawhinney 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Lang 28 November 1990 Michael Forsyth 5 July 1995 Minister of State for Scotland Michael Forsyth continued in office – 14 April 1992 The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State for Scotland The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton continued in office – 6 July 1995 The Lord Strathclyde continued in office – 14 April 1992 Allan Stewart 28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 Sir Hector Monro 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 George Kynoch 8 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 The Earl of Lindsay 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Raymond Robertson 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Minister for Consumer Affairs The Earl Ferrers 20 July 1994 Under Office of Trade and Industry; office abolished 6 July 1995 Minister for Trade Tim Sainsbury continued in office Richard Needham
(The Earl of Kilmorey)14 April 1992 Anthony Nelson 6 July 1995 Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Peter Lilley continued in office Michael Heseltine 10 April 1992 Ian Lang 5 July 1995 Minister for Industry The Lord Hesketh continued in office vacant 21 May 1991 Tim Sainsbury 15 April 1992 vacant 20 July 1994 Minister for Corporate Affairs John Redwood continued in office – 13 April 1992 Minister of State for Trade and Industry The Lord Strathclyde 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 Minister of State, Energy and Industry Timothy Eggar 20 July 1994 Greg Knight 23 July 1996 Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Edward Leigh continued in office – 27 May 1993 The Lord Reay 22 May 1991 – 14 April 1992 Neil Hamilton 14 April 1992 – 25 October 1994 The Baroness Denton 14 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 Jonathan Evans 27 October 1994 – 29 November 1995 Patrick McLoughlin 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Strathclyde 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 Charles Wardle 20 July 1994 – 11 February 1995 Ian Taylor 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Richard Page 14 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 Phillip Oppenheim 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 John Mark Taylor 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Transport Malcolm Rifkind 28 November 1990 John MacGregor[disambiguation needed ]
10 April 1992 Brian Mawhinney 20 July 1994 Sir George Young, Bt 5 July 1995 Minister of State, Transport The Lord Brabazon of Tara continued in office – 14 April 1992 Minister for Public Transport Roger Freeman 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 Minister for Railways and Roads The Earl of Caithness 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 John Watts 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 Under-Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin continued in office – 14 April 1992 Christopher Chope continued in office – 14 April 1992 Kenneth Carlisle 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Steven Norris 14 April 1992 – 23 July 1996 Robert Key 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 The Viscount Goschen 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 John Bowis 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 Secretary of State for Wales David Hunt continued in office John Redwood 27 May 1993 William Hague 5 July 1995 Minister of State for Wales Wyn Roberts continued in office – 20 July 1994 Under-Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Bennett 3 December 1990 – 14 April 1994 Gwilym Jones 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 Rod Richards 20 July 1994 – 2 June 1996 Jonathan Evans 2 June 1996 – 2 May 1997 Attorney General Sir Patrick Mayhew continued in office Sir Nicholas Lyell 9 April 1992 Solicitor General Sir Nicholas Lyell continued in office Sir Derek Spencer 15 April 1992 Lord Advocate The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie continued in office The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry 15 April 1992 The Lord Mackay of Drumadoon 7 November 1995 Solicitor General for Scotland Alan Rodger continued in office Not an MP Thomas Dawson 15 April 1992 Not an MP Donald Mackay 4 May 1995 Not an MP Paul Cullen 7 November 1995 Not an MP Treasurer of the Household Alastair Goodlad continued in office David Heathcoat-Amory 15 April 1992 Greg Knight 7 June 1993 Andrew MacKay 23 July 1996 Comptroller of the Household David Lightbown 28 November 1990 Timothy Wood 7 July 1995 Vice-Chamberlain of the Household John Mark Taylor 28 November 1990 Sydney Chapman 15 April 1992 Timothy Kirkhope 7 July 1995 Andrew MacKay 18 October 1995 Derek Conway 23 July 1996 Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Denham continued in office The Lord Hesketh 2 May 1991 The Viscount Ullswater 16 September 1993 The Lord Strathclyde 20 July 1994 Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Viscount Davidson continued in office The Earl of Strathmore 30 December 1991 The Earl of Arran 20 July 1994 The Lord Inglewood January 1995 The Lord Chesham 8 July 1995 Lords-in-Waiting The Lord Reay continued in office – 21 May 1991 The Earl of Strathmore continued in office – 30 December 1991 The Baroness Blatch continued in office – 7 September 1990 The Lord Cavendish of Furness continued in office – 22 April 1993 The Viscount Astor continued in office – 16 September 1993 The Earl Howe 30 May 1991 – 15 April 1992 The Baroness Denton January 1992 – 15 April 1992 The Viscount St Davids 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 The Viscount Goschen 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 The Baroness Trumpington 22 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish 15 October 1993 – 11 January 1994 The Lord Annaly 18 March 1994 – 20 July 1994 The Lord Lucas of Crudwell 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 The Baroness Miller of Hendon 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 The Lord Inglewood 21 July 1994 – January 1995 The Earl of Lindsay 12 January 1995 – 6 July 1995 The Earl of Courtown 8 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 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 1979–1990Government of the United Kingdom
1979–1997Succeeded by
Labour Government 1997–2007Categories:- Conservative Party (UK)
- 1990s in the United Kingdom
- 1990 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1997 disestablishments
- Ministries of Elizabeth II
- John Major
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