Major's Domestic/Social Policy

Race Relations

In 1995, Bernie Grant (Labour MP) asserted that most black Britons lacked any future in the UK due to racism.

Racist attacks were commonplace but the event that shocked most people was the death of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.

Race relations didn’t significantly improve under major:

• Racist violence

• Stephen Lawrence murder

• Criticisms of Institutional Racism

Murder of Stephen Lawrence, 1993

Stephen Lawrence (1974-93) was a young black man who was murdered by a gang of white youths in South London.

No one was brought to trial, despite the suspected perpetrators were quickly identified.

Macpherson Report in 1999 (which did occur under Blair) exposed:

• Failures in the investigation procedure

• Reluctance to treat racial motivation seriously

• Deep community mistrust of the Metropolitan Police - finding them guilty of “Institutional Racism”

Crime

Crime figures are notoriously hard to gauge, but the perception was that Britain was becoming a more lawless society.

Crime - James Bulger, 1993

In February 1993, 2 year old James Bulger was abducted and brutally murdered by two young boys from deeply dysfunctional families.

Crime - Philip Lawrence, 1995

In 1995 Philip Lawrence, a popular head teacher, was murdered by a youth outside his school gates as he tried to break up a fight arising from conflict between two gangs in the area.

The crime appeared to symbolise the loss of moral values and respect for authority that seemed to be an overwhelming characteristics for the decade.

The National Lottery

The decade also saw what many saw as the development of a culture of greed with the introduction of the National Lottery in 1994.

Proved successful that a mid week draw introduced in 1997, with roughly £50 million worth of tickets bought in the first week.

Each Saturday night, an estimated 22 million tuned in to see the winning balls being shown on TV.

Youth Culture

It was feared that young people were becoming more violent, with many older people fearing attacks from the young. But it was youth on youth violence which was more common.

Youth Culture - Acid House Raves

A new phenomenon were young people would descend upon a venue to dance to loud music (Acid Houses). Often they would take Ecstasy (new drug on the market) - led to many well publicised deaths.

The government acted to prevent these events that involved trespass and considerable disruption for local communities.

1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act criminalised them, and used to stop a rave at Gilderstone, Leeds where 800 ravers were arrested.

Similarly public order acts were used to break upon new convoys of ‘new age travellers’.

The Newbury Protest, 1994-96

Mid-90s saw protests against the proposed Newbury Bypass road; protestors lived in trees and chained themselves to objects to prevent work.

One Teenage Protestor “Swampy” became something of a media star and was even given his own column in the Sunday Mirror.

The protest meant the project went 50% over budget and took 34 months to complete. Although the bypass was completed in 1998, the government took more local consolation before others began.

Position of Women

Many women became more assertive in adopting ‘laddish behaviour’ and becoming less inhibited sexually, influenced for example by the US TV show, Sex and the City. Younger girls listened to Spice Girls who acted a role models for ‘girl power’

Women had equal rights in law but still faced a ‘glass ceiling’ or discrimination at work, particularly in senior positions.

One development was the legislation allowing Female Priests in 1994.

Social Liberation

Refers to a political and social system that attempts to balance between individual liberties and the duties of citizen.

Major supported the idea and implemented initiatives such as the Citizen Charter 1991.

But his period of office also saw a liberation of attitudes independent of government interference.

In 1990, 69% of respondents felt Homosexuality was morally wrong, by 2000 the number fell to <35%.

Anti-Establishment Culture

People adopted ‘laddish/ladette culture’ of poor social behaviour and drunkenness, following 90s celebrity behaviour.

Satirists involvement with the governments Sleazes and Sex Scandals turned those responsible into figures of fun (Spitting Image)

Major was seen as dour and colourless, his Spitting Image puppet was entirely grey.

Greater media coverage of establishment figures showed their flaws:

• 1992 - Prince Charles and Princess Dianna separated, harming the monarchy’s image.

• Exacerbated by the martial break up of Prince Andrew and his wife - in terms of media coverage.

Examples of Sleazes and Scandals

1992:

• David Miller - Heritage Minister resigned over an affair with a Spanish actress. Peoples Newspaper published him wearing a full Chelsea Kit whilst having sex. (Scandal)

1993:

• Stephen Norris - 5 Mistresses over a 25 year period, receiving the nickname “Shagger” by tabloid media.(Scandal)

• Michael Mates - NI minister resigned after being found to have lobbied parliament on behalf of businessman Asil Nadir. (Sleaze)

1994:

• Stephen Milligan - Conservative MP accidently died via Auto-Erotic Asphyxiation on Feb 7th. (Scandal)

• Neil Hamilton & Tim Smith - Alleged acceptance of ‘Cash for Questions’ by Egyptian Businessman Mohammed Al Fayed. (Sleaze)

1995:

• Hartley Booth - Amorous, unreciprocated pursuit of his secretary. (Scandal)

1996:

• Dame Shirley Porter - Homes for Votes Scandal which was found to have rigged the 1990 local elections. (Sleaze)

1997:

• Piers Merchant - Beckenham MP’s affair with a 17yr old night club hostess and his researcher.

The Troubles - Downing St. Bombing, 1991

Major had been PM for 2 moths when the IRA attempted to mortar strike 10 Downing St.

Killed 2 children with litter bin bombs (1993)

Turned public opinion against the IRA on both sides and led to Major seeking a resolution via the Irish Parliament.

The Troubles - Downing St. Declaration, Dec. 1993

John Major and Albert Reynolds were both keen to resolve the situation. The common approach allowed them to quickly reach an agreement on how best to work towards peace:

1. People of NI had the right to decide their own future without London and Dublin interference.

2. NI would become part of the RoI if the majority of the NI population wanted it.

3. Island of Ireland had the right to solve issues between themselves without interference.

4. Sinn Fein and DUP had to disassociate with the violence in order to sit down for peace talks with London, Dublin, and Belfast.

The Troubles - 1994 Ceasefire

Republicans:

• IRA were sufficiently convinced that the Downing St declaration recognised the status and Britain wasn’t going to indefinitely control NI.

• 31st August 1994 - Declare Ceasefire

Loyalists:

• No intention forcing the North into unification, assured by Major.

• October 1994 - Agree to ceasefire

First time since the 1960s weapons were lowered.

But between 1996-98, there were frequent outbursts of renewed violence including:

• Bomb attacks at Canary Wharf Docklands - Feb 1996

• Massive bomb detonated in Manchester City Centre - June 1996

The Troubles - Senator Mitchell & President Clinton, 1996

In 1995, Clinton visited both Belfast and Dublin showing US willingness to engage in peace talks.

1996 - Senator Mitchell chaired a commission created to consider the Irish issue.

Major despite feeling the US were interfering with a British issue, were accepting of US involvement to try and end the violence.

Mitchell Report (1996) outlined that the only way to end the violence would be Total Disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. But both sides had to be assured and willing the others did the same for it to work.