The Making of Modern Britain (1987-1997)

What is an example of Major successfully negotiating with Europe?

1992 opt out clause Maastricht Treaty

When did Major replace the poll tax?

1991

When was black Wednesday?

1992

What did Major describe black Wednesday as?

The beginning of the end

What did the ERM value the pound at?

2.95 German marks - overpriced

What was interest rates raised to in 1992?

15%

What is a consequence of black Wednesday?

Major lost the conservatives economic reputation

What was cash for questions?

Conservatives accused for accepting money to ask questions from 1994 - 1997

Why did Major’s 1993 back to basics campaign fail?

Tory scandal + sleaze

When was the citizens’ charter?

1991

Why was the citizens’ charter ridiculed?

Cones hotline

When did Major have to U-turn?

When he attempted to privatise the post office

When did Major hold his “back me or sack me” leadership election?

1995

What did Blair say about “back me or sack me” ?

You follow your party I lead mine

What is one benefit of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty?

Britain did not have to join the single currency

Who blocked the Maastricht Treaty’s ratification in 1993?

Rebel conservative MPs

What is one of Major’s early successes?

1991 first Gulf war

Where did Major want Britain?

At the very heart of Europe

How much was wasted on the poll tax?

1.5 billion

How many were unemployed in 1992?

2.6 million

What led to the 1992 recession?

The Lawson boom - inflation was 9.5% by 1990

How did the 1992 recession impact the housing market?

People suffered from negative equity

What was the £ valued at in 1996 (after black Wednesday) ?

3 German marks (recovery)

What was a positive impact of leaving the ERM?

Britain’s growth was higher than other European nations

How did black Wednesday impact foreign investors?

American investor George Soros (the man who broke the Bank of England) made £1 billion in one day

How did black Wednesday impact the opinion polls?

Labour gained a 15 point lead

Why did Major opt out of Europe’s social chapter?

Conservatives opposed regulated working conditions

When did Gorbachev lose power?

In 1991

How did Major deal with the 1992 Balkans War?

He hosted a peacekeeping conference in London

Why were the UN’s tactics ineffective during the 1992 Balkans War?

They focused on peacekeeping + useless during 1995 Srebrenica massacre

How was peace achieved in the Balkans War?

American air strikes on Serbia in 1995 led to peace conference in Ohio + a peace treaty was signed in December 1995 - granted Bosnia independence

How was Major described as?

“One of the dreariest administrations of the century”

How many sex scandals occurred under Major?

More than 12

What scandal occurred after the 1994 Scott Enquiry?

Archer and Aitken had broken the law by allowing Matrix Churchill to supply arms to Iraq + they were convicted of perjury in 1999 and 2001

When was the coal industry privatised?

1994

When was the railway privatised?

1996

What were Private Finace Initiatives?

This is when private companies would fund infrastructure improvements + deliver public services

How many pit closures were announced in 1991?

31 - led to short term U-turn due to public outcry

What was the impact of the Mad Cow Disease scandal?

British beef was banned in Europe in 1996

What was the impact of the 1993 Downing Street declaration?

Confirmed self-determination in Ireland + Britian’s lack of selfish interest in Northern Ireland

When did the IRA announce a ceasefire?

1994 - they went back on this in 1996 Manchester bombing

What were the results of Major’s vote of no confidence?

89 Conservative MPs voted against him + his majority was 218

How did Thatcher’s 1993 memoir impact Major?

She supported Redwood + Blair above him

What did Smith change in 1993?

He abolished the trade union block vote + introduced one member one vote (OMOV)

What weakened Smith’s impact on the Labour Party?

He suddenly died in 1994 + he was cautious as he did not want to extend OMOV to conference motions (angered moderates)

What were the results of the 1997 election?

Conservatives got 31% (lowest since 1832) with 166 seats compared to Labour’s 418

How did the 1997 election impact the Conservatives?

Half of their members lost their seats such as seniors like Portillo + Mellor

What % of the vote did Blair win in the leadership election?

57% (small majority)

What did Blair do in 1995?

Reassessed Clause IV - ended Labour’s commitment to nationalise public industries

What was significant about Labour’s 1997 manifesto?

It had 5 pledges that appealed to all sorts in society

What did Blair mean by becoming the “human face” of Thatcherism?

Labour adopted the Conservatives economic budget for 2 years + its focus on law and order

How was Mendelson an effective “spin doctor” ?

By 1997 majority of the press supported Labour (big shift from 1992)

What were Labour’s 5 pledges?

• Reduce infant class sizes

• Fast track punishments for young offenders

• Cut NHS waiting lists

• Combat youth unemployment

• No income tax rise, VAT cuts on fuel + control of interest / inflation

How did Labour plan to fund the infant class size reductions?

Through ending the 1980 assisted places scheme

How did Labour plan on funding youth unemployment schemes?

Through a one-off windfall tax on privatised utilities

How did the Referendum party impact the 1997 election?

Split the eurosceptic vote - gained no seats

What had subsided by 1997?

The 1980s moral panic

What attitude peaked in 1987?

Homophobia - AIDS 1981 was dubbed as “gay plague”

What was reduced in 1994?

The age of consent for homosexual relationships - from 21 to 18

When was equality achieved between homosexuals and heterosexuals?

In 2000 when the age of consent was lowered to 16 + military ban was removed

How many babies were born to unmarried parents?

30% in 1990

What did the 1993 Child Support Agency do?

Ensured absent parents contributed to their children's maintenance

What is an example of Britain becoming more lawless?

Two 10 year old boys murdered a 2 year old in 1993 in Merseyside

What problems plagued the monarchy?

3 of the Queen’s children's marriages broke down 1987 - 1997 + details were public

How did the monarchy upset the public?

By using tax payer money to finance the restoration of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire

What provoked a moral panic in the 1990s?

Raves which promoted the use of ecstasy - 40,000 at Castlemorton in 1992 for a week long festival

What was the government’s response to anti-establishment culture?

1994 Criminal Justice + Public Order Act - gave more powers to police officers to break up free parties

What was the impact of the 1990 Entertainment Act?

Stopped a rave in Gildersome + 800 were arrested

What did the underground Riot Grrrl movement campaign about?

Feminist issues

What message did the spice girls send?

Girl power

What prominent women were appointed in 1992?

1st female Speaker in the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd + head of MI5 Stella Rimmington

When did the Church of England start ordaining women?

1994

When did marital rape become a criminal offence?

1994

How many women were in the workforce?

68% by 1996

How was equality not fully achieved?

Women earned 80% of men’s wages

Which conservative lost their seat in 1992?

John Taylor (black) + there were rumours of racism

What was the impact of the 1993 Stephen Lawrence case?

The 1998 Macpherson report found that the Met was institutionally racist

Where did asylum seekers come from in the 1990s?

Somalia, Afghanistan + Iraq

How did Mary Whitehorse influence the law?

Her “video nasties” campaign led to the 1994 Video Recording Act

How long did it take Major to ratify the Maastricht treaty?

18 months

What happened during the 1995 Srebrenica massacre?

7,000 Bosnian men + boys were killed

What is an example of Blair winning the media over?

His 1995 speech in Australia - criticised as trip was sponsored by Murdoch (media tycoon)