“From the Miners to Major: A League of Change in Recent British Politics.”

1. “From the Miners to Major:A League of Change in Recent British Politics.” Jeremy Lewis PhD, Huntingdon College, For presentations at Buena Vista University, Iowa, 11-12 Sep. 2005See www.Political-Science.org

3. John Major stereotyped as the grey man of the Tory party • The whiz kid whose fast rise up the greasy pole • culminated in a slippery slide downwards • economic stagflation and low approval ratings • unable to prevent bickering, scandal and policy drift • echoes of Churchill’s “modest” depiction of Atlee • [cartoon] Major as Mr. Underpants, the spindly superhero.

4. PM as Mr. Underpants

5. until, that is, Edwina Currie’s revelations in 2002.

6. Now Sir John Major seen as • the creator of Northern Ireland peace agreement • the warrior of the 1991 Gulf War • the international statesman and peace negotiator • the last successful Conservative party leader • returned a party to the moderate “inside right” electorate

8. Major in the context of British Politics • PMQT shows integration of legislature and executive • Commons culture of Oxford Union debating • PM confronted by MPs • articulate ministers, well informed & gladiatorial • patronage power of the prime minister • cabinet and shadow cabinet: loyal Opposition • front bench (ministers) versus backbench (MPs) • Multi-party system with cross-benchers: • First Past the Post system favors Con & Lab, disfavors Lib Dems

9. Uncodified Constitution • doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty • no supreme court, no constitutional review • flexible terms of office and votes of no confidence • cabinet’s collective responsibility: “government are” • ministerial responsibility & resignation • rise of PM and staff, public relations • embourgeoisement: decline of class-based politics

10. postwar welfare state consensus: • equality over individualism • full employment over productivity • “fair shares for all” • “no jumping the queue” • “homes fit for heroes” • “Butskellism” (Butler & Gaitskell) • “corporatism” (tripartite economic discussions)

11. 1960s and 1970s, consensus declined • Labour & Conservative governments • economic deterioration • winters of discontent 1974 and 1979 • “bloody-minded” unions & “out of touch” management • Miners brought down Heath Tory government, 1974

13. Thatcherism revolution: • tax cuts: larger shares for some • property holding democracy: shares for all • market forces in all institutions: scramble to head the queue • Privatization of 11% of economy • Broke miner’s union 1984 • Over 20% shareholders • Council house sales • Self-budgeting universities and hospitals

14. Public Opinion: • now more polarized • mostly favors postwar consensus (I. Crewe) • by 1990, only 17% of Tory MPs actually Thatcherite (P. Norton)

16. Understated leader sandwiched between two prima donnas • not an Oxford Union debater • Citizen’s Charter a minor reform • Thatcher’s budget cuts, privatization, supply side revolution • Blair’s Third Way reforms

17. John Roy Major’s early life, 1943- • untypical British leader • name “Roy”not even on birth certificate • son of traveling circus performer, Tom Major-Ball • Late discovery of half-siblings • impoverished by unemployment • rejected as bus conductor • made garden gnomes with brother Terry • not upper middle class -- free school uniform • not Eton – just grammar school • not Oxford – not even university (J. Callaghan)

18. Early Career: • Banker 1965-1979: very successful • Married Norma 1970, two children

19. Major’s climb up the greasy pole(Disraeli) • Spring 1991, most popular PM in 30 years • Prime Minister 1990-97 • Leader of the Conservative Party 1990-97 • Over Michael (“Tarzan”) Heseltine and Douglas Hurd (diplomatic) • Chancellor of the Exchequer 1989-90 • first TV budget speech, TESSAs • UK joined ERM, 1990 • Foreign Secretary 1989 • Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1987-89 • Minister of State for Social Security 1986 • Under-Sec for Social Security (welfare & OAPs) 1985 • Treasury Whip 1984 • Assistant Whip 1983 • Parliamentary Private Sec. 1981 • MP for Huntingdon (1976) 1979, 1983, 1992, 1997. • Lambeth borough council 1968-71, created housing • Soap box speeches in Lambeth, 1964-68.

21. Conservative party factions • Leadership elections post 1965 among MPs • 1922 Committee (revolts in private) • Thatcherite free-market insurgents (“dries”) 17% only • aristocratic High Tories declining (trad cons) • “Hang ‘em and flog ‘em” brigade in shires • One-Nation moderates larger group (“wets”) • dropping leaders after lost elections • all included in cabinets except 1984-87

23. Major as Conservative Prime Minister, 1990-97 • More inclusive, genteel style • Moderates back to cabinet • Only 47 on accession • Early success with Gulf war, 1991 • Record popularity • Abolished poll tax which had brought down Thatcher

25. Unpromising re-election prospects • longest recession since 1930s • consumer unconfidence 1990, Tories drooped • Tories 30% 1990, Lab 53% • voters polarized by Mrs. Thatcher • Short bounces from Major’s accession and Gulf War

26. Economic policy U-turn • Major eased interest rates Oct 1990 • Lamont increased PSBR (unThatcherite)

27. Won 1992 election by upset • Polls predicted hung Parliament • Neil Kinnock’s welsh oratory • Labour’s slick American-style campaigning • Major’s Lambeth soap-box speechifying • Major’s man in the street style.

28. Won 1992 election by upset • voters lied – or opinion polls skewed? • Late deciders Tory • “best to control economy” swing to Tory • Tories returned with small majority • Lost only 41 seats, retained 43% of vote

29. Economic difficulties • Stagflation 1992-93 • Black Wednesday, 16 Sep. 1992, ERM withdrawal

30. Statesmanship • European engagement: • EU’s Maastricht Treaty 1992, despite • Tory “bastard” eurosceptic rebels (Lilley, Portillo & Howard) • Labour tactical forced vote defeat on EU Social Chapter • Major forced vote of no confidence, won by 40 • Opted out of Euro currency, protected British economy

32. Northern Ireland • Irish peace talks earned Companion of Honour • IRA ceasefire 1994 • despite mortar bombing of No.10 • denied negotiating secretly with IRA 1993 • “it would turn my stomach” • till exposed • Angered by Clinton’s reception of Gerry Adams

34. Domestic policy issues • “Back to Basics” campaign, 1993 • intended: economy, education, policing • inferred by media: trad values • scandals, sleaze and backbiting • (mistresses, Corp. directorships, cash for questions) • Economic recession and stagflation 1992 • Changed policy • 5 successive years of recovery: • growth, reducing inflation and unemployment • Economic recovery by 1997

36. Leadership of party • constant backbiting from Thatcherites & eurosceptics • 1995 Major resigned (but not PM position) (a first) • won leadership (218 MPs) over eurosceptic Redwood (89) • Dec. 1996 Cons lost majority in Commons • economy improving, but 5 year limit on term

38. May day 1997 election lost • New Labour landslide. • Lab 418 seats, Con 165, Lib Dem 46 • Lab majority 179 • 179 Con MPs lost seats – worst in century • “curtain falls, time to get off the stage” & cricket

40. Retirement life: • Backbenches, few political interventions • Chancellor Lamont: Major slow Black Wed. ‘92 • criticized Hague’s move to right • criticized Thatcher for “warrior characteristics”, unconservative • 2005 criticized decline of civility • cricket at MCC • declined life peerage but Knighthood of garter • 2002 Edwina Currie’s autobiography • Discovered half brother and half sister • Feb. 2005 Major & Lamont held up release of papers • on Black Wednesday under FOIA • Carlyle group chair • Successor, William Hague, more unpopular