Contents |
The Tories were elected for a third successive term in June 1987, with a majority of 102 seats. It enabled prime minister Margaret Thatcher to become the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century, as Britain's economic recovery continued.
With the battle against inflation and strikes long won, an economic boom was in its early stages. Unemployment had fallen below 3,000,000 during the spring of 1987, and the tax cuts by chancellor Nigel Lawson sent the economy into overdrive. By early 1988, unemployment was below 2,500,000. A year later, it fell below 2,000,000. By the end of 1989, it was down to 1,600,000. A house price boom saw the average house price in Britain double between 1986 and 1989.
However, this led to interest rates being doubled during 1988[1] and were increased further during 1989 and 1990[2] as inflation increased.[3]
As early as September 1988, economists were warning that the economic boom would soon be over and that 1989 could see a recession set in. However, the economy continued to defy the odds and it continued to grow throughout 1989 and unemployment remained in freefall, despite several other world leaders - namely the United States of America - entering recession that year.
Britain had lost a significant percentage of its manufacturing and heavy industry base since 1979, and by the end of the 1980s employment was booming in the financial and retail sectors - particularly on new commercial developments that were built on old industrial sites, such as the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in the West Midlands, where some 6,000 retail jobs were created between 1984 and 1989 on an old steelworks site which had shed just over 1,200 jobs when it closed in 1982.
However, Tory popularity took a nosedive with the commencement of the unpopular Poll tax (Community Charge) in 1989. By the end of that year, in spite of the economy remaining strong, many opinion polls were showing a double-digit Labour lead and this was largely blamed on the Tory poll tax. Sir Anthony Meyer, a 69-year-old back-bencher, challenged Mrs Thatcher's leadership in December; his challenge was seen off by Thatcher but 60 of her own MP's failed to vote for her.
The poll tax saga continued throughout 1990, culminating in riots across London in early spring. Labour continued to benefit from the situation as their lead in the opinion polls widened. The new Liberal Democrats, after a weak start, were starting to gain ground in the opinion polls, seizing the safe Eastbourne seat in an October by-election.
The threat of recession finally became reality in October 1990, when it was confirmed that the economy had detracted during the third quarter of the year. Unemployment, which had fallen to 1,600,000, had started to creep up again. Inflation, which the first Thatcher government had famously conquered by 1983, was heading back towards double digits.
Then, on 1 November 1990, came the first of a series of events which would spell the end of Margaret Thatcher's years of power. Sir Geoffrey Howe, the deputy prime minister, resigned from the cabinet over its European policy. He then blasted Thatcher, having once been one of her closest allies, for her hostility towards the European Community. On 14 November, former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine challenged Mrs Thatcher's leadership. Thatcher polled higher than him in the leadership challenge, but failed to gain an outright victory in the first round of voting.
On 22 November, Mrs Thatcher announced her resignation of prime minister and Tory leader after more than 11 years, making way for a leader more likely to win the next general election.
Her successor was the chancellor John Major, who was elected on 27 November 1990 and at 47 became the youngest British prime minister of the 20th century.
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service |
Margaret Thatcher | June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Havers | 13 June 1987 | |
| The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 26 October 1987 | ||
| Lord President of the Council | The Viscount Whitelaw | June 1987 | also Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Lords |
| John Wakeham | 10 January 1988 | also Leader of the House of Commons | |
| Sir Geoffrey Howe | 24 July 1989 | also Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons | |
| John MacGregor | 2 November 1990 | also Leader of the House of Commons | |
| Minister of State for the Privy Council Office | Richard Luce | June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| David Mellor | 24 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Lord Privy Seal | John Wakeham | 13 June 1987 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| The Lord Belstead | 10 January 1988 | also Leader of the House of Lords | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Nigel Lawson | June 1987 | |
| John Major | 26 October 1989 | ||
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | John Major | 13 June 1987 | |
| Norman Lamont | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | David Waddington | 13 June 1987 | |
| Timothy Renton | 28 October 1989 | ||
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Norman Lamont | June 1987 | |
| Peter Lilley | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Hon. Francis Maude | 14 July 1990 | ||
| Lords of the Treasury | Michael Neubert | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Peter Lloyd | June 1987 – 24 July 1988 | ||
| Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | ||
| Tony Durant | June 1987 – 19 December 1988 | ||
| David Lightbown | 26 July 1987 – 24 July 1990 | ||
| Alan Howarth | 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| David Maclean | 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| Kenneth Carlisle | 27 July 1988 – 22 July 1990 | ||
| Stephen Dorrell | 20 December 1988 – 3 May 1990 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 26 July 1989 – 28 October 1989 | ||
| John Taylor | 26 July 1989 – 29 November 1990 | ||
| Hon. Tom Sackville | 30 October 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Michael Fallon | 10 May 1990 – 22 July 1990 | ||
| Sydney Chapman | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Greg Knight | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Irvine Patnick | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Sir Geoffrey Howe | June 1987 | |
| John Major | 14 June 1989 | ||
| Hon. Douglas Hurd | 26 October 1989 | ||
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Lynda Chalker | June 1987 – November 1990 | also Minister of Overseas Development from 24 July 1989 |
| Chris Patten | June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | also Minister of Overseas Development | |
| David Mellor | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | ||
| The Lord Glenarthur | 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| Hon. William Waldegrave | 26 July 1988 – 2 November 1990 | ||
| Hon. Francis Maude | 24 July 1989 – 14 July 1990 | ||
| The Lord Brabazon of Tara | 24 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 | ||
| The Earl of Caithness | 14 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Tristan Garel-Jones | 14 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Hon. Douglas Hogg | 2 November 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Timothy Eggar | June 1987 | |
| Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | 24 July 1990 | ||
| Minister for Overseas Development | Chris Patten | June 1987 | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
| Lynda Chalker | 24 July 1989 | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Hon. Douglas Hurd | June 1987 | |
| David Waddington | 26 October 1989 | ||
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Earl of Caithness | June 1987 – 10 January 1988 | |
| John Patten | 13 June 1987 – November 1990 | ||
| The Earl Ferrers | 10 January 1988 – November 1990 | ||
| David Mellor | 27 October 1989 – 22 June 1990 | ||
| Angela Rumbold | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Hon. Douglas Hogg | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Peter Lloyd | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John MacGregor | 13 June 1987 | |
| John Gummer | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| The Baroness Trumpington | 28 September 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Donald Thompson | June 1987 – 25 September 1987 | |
| The Baroness Trumpington | 13 June 1987 – 28 September 1989 | ||
| Richard Ryder | 25 July 1988 – 14 July 1989 | ||
| David Curry | 26 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| David Maclean | 26 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Minister for the Arts | Richard Luce | June 1987 | |
| David Mellor | 26 July 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Defence | Hon. George Younger | June 1987 | |
| Tom King | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Ian Stewart | 13 June 1987 | |
| Hon. Archie Hamilton | 25 July 1988 | ||
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | The Lord Trefgarne | June 1987 | |
| Alan Clark | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Roger Freeman | June 1987 – 15 December 1988 | |
| Michael Neubert | 19 December 1988 – 23 July 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| The Earl of Arran | 25 July 1989 – 26 July 1990 | ||
| Kenneth Carlisle | 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Kenneth Baker | June 1987 | |
| John MacGregor | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Kenneth Clarke | 2 November 1990 | ||
| Minister of State, Education and Science | Angela Rumbold | June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Tim Eggar | 24 July 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Bob Dunn | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| The Baroness Hooper | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | ||
| Robert Jackson | 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | ||
| John Butcher | 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| Alan Howarth | 24 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Michael Fallon | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Employment | Norman Fowler | 13 June 1987 | |
| Michael Howard | 3 January 1990 | ||
| Minister of State, Employment | John Cope | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Tim Eggar | 25 July 1989 – 23 July 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | John Lee | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Patrick Nicholls | 13 June 1987 – 28 July 1989 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 26 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 | ||
| Robert Jackson | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Eric Forth | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| The Viscount Ullswater | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Energy | Cecil Parkinson | 13 June 1987 | |
| John Wakeham | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State, Energy | Peter Morrison | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Michael Spicer | 13 June 1987 – 3 January 1990 | |
| The Baroness Hooper | 26 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 | ||
| Tony Baldry | 3 January 1990 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Hon. Colin Moynihan | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Hon. Nicholas Ridley | June 1987 | |
| Chris Patten | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State for Local Government | Michael Howard | 13 June 1987 | |
| John Gummer | 25 July 1988 | ||
| David Hunt | 25 July 1989 | ||
| Michael Portillo | 4 May 1990 | ||
| Minister of State for Housing | Hon. William Waldegrave | 13 June 1987 | |
| The Earl of Caithness | 25 July 1988 | ||
| Michael Howard | 25 July 1989 | ||
| Michael Spicer | 3 January 1990 | ||
| Minister of State, Environment | The Lord Belstead | 13 June 1987 – 10 January 1988 | |
| The Earl of Caithness | 10 January 1988 – 25 July 1988 | ||
| Michael Howard | 25 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| David Trippier | 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Hon. Colin Moynihan | 22 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 | |
| Robert Atkins | 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Christopher Chope | June 1987 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Marion Roe | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | ||
| David Trippier | 13 June 1987 – 23 July 1989 | ||
| Virginia Bottomley | 25 July 1988 – 28 October 1989 | ||
| The Lord Hesketh | 31 January 1989 – 2 November 1990 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 28 October 1989 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Patrick Nicholls | 26 July 1990 – 12 October 1990 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 26 July 1990 – 7 September 1990 | ||
| The Baroness Blatch | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Robert Key | 12 October 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | John Moore | 13 June 1987 | Reorganised into Office of Health and Office of Social Security 25 July 1988 |
| Secretary of State for Health | Kenneth Clarke | 25 July 1988 | |
| Hon. William Waldegrave | 2 November 1990 | ||
| Minister of State, Health | Tony Newton | June 1987 | |
| David Mellor | 25 July 1988 | under separate Office of Health | |
| The Lord Trafford | 29 July 1989 | ||
| Virginia Bottomley | 28 October 1989 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Edwina Currie | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Michael Portillo | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | ||
| The Lord Skelmersdale | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Health | Edwina Currie | 25 July 1988 – 16 December 1988 | |
| Roger Freeman | 16 December 1988 – 4 May 1990 | ||
| The Baroness Hooper | 29 September 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Stephen Dorrell | 4 May 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Social Security | John Moore | 25 July 1988 | |
| Tony Newton | 23 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State, Social Security | Nicholas Scott | 13 June 1987 | under separate Office of Social Security 25 July 1988 |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Lord Skelmersdale | 25 July 1988 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Peter Lloyd | 25 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 | ||
| The Lord Henley | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Gillian Shephard | 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Kenneth Clarke | 13 June 1987 | |
| Tony Newton | 25 July 1988 | ||
| Kenneth Baker | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Tom King | June 1987 | |
| Hon. Peter Brooke | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | John Stanley | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Ian Stewart | 25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989 | ||
| John Cope | 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Lord Lyell | June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Richard Needham | June 1987 – May 1997 | ||
| Peter Viggers | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | ||
| Brian Mawhinney | June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Peter Bottomley | 4 July 1989 – 28 July 1990 | ||
| The Lord Skelmersdale | 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| Paymaster-General | Hon. Peter Brooke | 13 June 1987 | |
| The Earl of Caithness | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Richard Ryder | 14 July 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Malcolm Rifkind | June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | Ian Lang | 13 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| The Lord Sanderson of Bowden | 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 | ||
| Michael Forsyth | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 13 June 1987 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Michael Forsyth | 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Minister for Trade | Alan Clark | June 1987 | |
| The Lord Trefgarne | 25 July 1989 | ||
| Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 23 July 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Young of Graffham | 13 June 1987 | |
| Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Peter Lilley | 14 July 1990 | ||
| Minister for Industry | Hon. Douglas Hogg | 24 July 1989 | |
| The Lord Hesketh | 2 November 1990 | ||
| Minister for Corporate Affairs | John Redwood | 2 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | John Butcher | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Robert Atkins | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | ||
| Hon. Francis Maude | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | ||
| Eric Forth | 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1990 | ||
| John Redwood | 26 July 1989 – 2 November 1990 | ||
| Edward Leigh | 2 November 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Transport | Paul Channon | 13 June 1987 | |
| Cecil Parkinson | 24 July 1989 | ||
| Minister of State, Transport | David Mitchell | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Michael Portillo | 25 July 1988 – 4 May 1990 | ||
| Roger Freeman | 4 May 1990 – 28 November 1990 | ||
| The Lord Brabazon of Tara | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Peter Bottomley | June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | |
| The Lord Brabazon of Tara | June 1987 – 23 July 1989 | ||
| Robert Atkins | 25 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| Christopher Chope | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| Secretary of State for Wales | Peter Walker | 13 June 1987 | |
| David Hunt | 4 May 1990 | ||
| Minister of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | 15 June 1987 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Ian Grist | 15 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Attorney General | Sir Patrick Mayhew | 11 June 1987 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Nicholas Lyell | 13 June 1987 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Cameron of Lochbroom | June 1987 | |
| The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 4 January 1989 | ||
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Peter Fraser | June 1987 | |
| Alan Rodger | 14 January 1989 | Not an MP | |
| Treasurer of the Household | David Hunt | 15 June 1987 | |
| Tristan Garel-Jones | 25 July 1989 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | 22 July 1990 | ||
| Comptroller of the Household | Hon. Robert Boscawen | June 1987 | |
| Tristan Garel-Jones | 26 July 1988 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | 25 July 1989 | ||
| Sir George Young, Bt | 23 July 1990 | ||
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Tristan Garel-Jones | June 1987 | |
| Michael Neubert | 26 July 1988 | ||
| Tony Durant | 20 December 1988 | ||
| David Lightbown | 25 July 1990 | ||
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Denham | June 1987 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Viscount Davidson | June 1987 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Long | June 1987 – November 1990 | |
| The Lord Beaverbrook | June 1987 – 28 July 1988 | ||
| The Earl of Dundee | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | ||
| The Earl of Arran | 18 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 12 August 1988 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| The Lord Henley | 13 February 1989 – 24 July 1989 | ||
| The Viscount Ullswater | 26 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 | ||
| The Lord Reay | 2 August 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| The Earl of Strathmore | 2 August 1989 – November 1990 | ||
| The Baroness Blatch | 15 January 1990 – 7 September 1990 | ||
| The Lord Cavendish of Furness | 14 September 1990 – November 1990 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | 11 October 1990 – November 1990 |
| Preceded by Conservative Government 1983-1987 |
Government of the United Kingdom 1987–1990 |
Succeeded by Conservative Government 1990-1992 |