Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.
This article details the third Thatcher ministry which she led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 to 1990.
Election
The Conservatives were elected for a third successive term in June 1987, with a majority of 102 seats. It enabled Margaret Thatcher to become the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century, as Britain's economic recovery continued.
Section 28
In October 1987, Thatcher during her speech at Conservative Party Conference said, "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life."
In May 1988, Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government introduced Section 28. The law stopped councils and schools "promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." The law also effectively encouraged overt discrimination against LGBT people in the UK.
Fate
Then, on 1 November 1990, came the first of a series of events which would spell the end of Margaret Thatcher's years in power. Geoffrey Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister, long resentful of being ousted as Foreign Secretary, resigned from the cabinet over its European policy. Soon afterward, in his resignation speech in the House of Commons, he publicly denounced Thatcher, having once been one of her closest allies, personally and for her hostility towards the programmes of the European Economic Community. On 14 November, former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher's leadership. Thatcher polled higher than him in the first round of the leadership contest, but failed to gain an outright victory in the first round of voting.
Within minutes of the result being announced, Thatcher informed reporters that she intended to let her name go forward for the second ballot. However, on 22 November, before a second round of the contest could take place, Thatcher announced her resignation as prime minister and Leader of the Conservative Party after more than 11 years, explaining that she was resigning to make way for a leader more likely to win the next general election.
Her successor was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major, who was elected on 27 November 1990, and who at 47 became the youngest Conservative Prime Minister of the 20th century.
Cabinets June 1987 to July 1989 :
OfficeNamePrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMargaret ThatcherDeputy Prime MinisterLeader of the House of LordsLord President of the CouncilWilliam Whitelaw Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainMichael Havers, Baron HaversLeader of the House of CommonsLord Keeper of the Privy SealJohn Wakeham Chancellor of the ExchequerNigel Lawson Chief Secretary to the TreasuryJohn MajorSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsGeoffrey Howe Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentDouglas HurdMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn MacGregor Secretary of State for DefenceGeorge YoungerSecretary of State for Education and ScienceKenneth Baker Secretary of State for EmploymentNorman Fowler Secretary of State for EnergyCecil ParkinsonSecretary of State for the EnvironmentNicholas RidleySecretary of State for HealthJohn MooreSecretary of State for Trade and IndustryPresident of the Board of TradeDavid Young, Baron Young of GraffhamChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterKenneth ClarkeSecretary of State for TransportPaul ChannonSecretary of State for Northern IrelandTom KingSecretary of State for ScotlandMalcolm RifkindSecretary of State for WalesPeter Walker Chief Whip of the House of CommonsParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryDavid WaddingtonAttorney General for England and WalesPatrick Mayhew
Changes October 1987Lord Mackay of Clashfern succeeds Lord Havers as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain January 1988Viscount Whitelaw retires and is succeeded by John Wakeham as Lord President of the Council. Lord Belstead succeeds Wakeham as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Lord Belstead succeeds Viscount Whitelaw as Leader of the House of Lords July 1988Department of Health and Social Security broken up into component parts: John Moore continues on as Secretary of State for Social Security Kenneth Clarke becomes Secretary of State for Health Tony Newton succeeds Clarke as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
July 1989 to November 1990 :
OfficeNamePrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMargaret Thatcher Deputy Prime MinisterLeader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilGeoffrey HoweLord High Chancellor of Great BritainJames Mackay, Baron Mackay of ClashfernLeader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealJohn Ganzoni, 2nd Baron BelsteadChancellor of the ExchequerNigel Lawson Chief Secretary to the TreasuryNorman LamontSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsJohn Major Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentDouglas Hurd Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn Gummer Secretary of State for DefenceTom KingSecretary of State for Education and ScienceJohn MacGregorSecretary of State for EmploymentNorman FowlerSecretary of State for EnergyJohn Wakeham Secretary of State for the EnvironmentChris PattenSecretary of State for HealthKenneth ClarkeChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterKenneth Baker Secretary of State for Social SecurityTony NewtonSecretary of State for Trade and IndustryPresident of the Board of TradeNicholas RidleySecretary of State for TransportCecil ParkinsonSecretary of State for Northern IrelandPeter Brooke Secretary of State for ScotlandMalcolm Rifkind Secretary of State for WalesPeter Walker
Changes October 1989 John Major succeeds Nigel Lawson as Chancellor of the Exchequer Douglas Hurd succeeds John Major as Foreign Secretary David Waddington succeeds Douglas Hurd as Home Secretary Tim Renton succeeds David Waddington as Chief Whip January 1990Norman Fowler resigns as Secretary of State for Employment and is succeeded by Michael Howard May 1990Peter Walker resigns as Secretary of State for Wales, having announced his intention in March. David Hunt succeeds him July 1990Nicholas Ridley resigns as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Peter Lilley succeeds him November 1990At the start of the month, Geoffrey Howe resigns and the title of Deputy Prime Minister is not reallocated. John MacGregor succeeds him as Lord President of the Council and is in turn succeeded by Kenneth Clarke as Secretary of State for Education and Science, who is succeeded by William Waldegrave as Secretary of State for Health
List of ministers Members of the Cabinet are in bold face