The resignation of Margaret Thatcher as prime minister came on 22 November 1990, more than 11 years after she had first been elected. She had won three consecutive general elections, been voted into power by more than 12,000,000 people, but had to step down because she couldn't count on the support of her own MP's. Former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine had challenged her leadership earlier in the November and although she fared better than him in the leadership contest, she was unable to gain an outright win and handed in her resignation, paving the way for a new Conservative leader more likely to win the next general election which was due within 18 months.
The announcement of Poll tax (Community Charge) during 1989 and the onset of a recession shortly before Thatcher's resignation had seen Tory support plunge in the opinion polls, most of which were showing a double-digit Labour lead and making it seem likely that Neil Kinnock would be the next prime minister.
The Tories elected chancellor John Major as their new leader and the new prime minister on 27 November 1990.
The change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a dramatic turnaround in Tory support, with the double-digit Labour lead in the opinion polls being replaced by a narrow Tory one by the turn of 1991. Although a general election did not have to be held until June 1992, Labour leader Neil Kinnock kept pressurising Major to hold an election during 1991, but Major resisted the calls and there was no general election that year.
The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, pushing unemployment from 1,600,000 to 2,400,000 by the end of the year. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins.
Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992. Most pollsters suggested a hung parliament or a narrow Labour majority, but in the event the election produced a Tory win. The Tories had their majority reduced to 21 (they had held a 102-seat majority at the election five years earlier) but attracted a record mandate of more than 14,000,000 votes.
The new term of parliament saw Major gain a new opponent in John Smith, who succeeded Neil Kinnock as Labour leader.
However, a series of events soon followed which made a fifth successive Tory election victory appear unlikely long before the next election was even on the political horizon.
The pound sterling crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after chancellor Norman Lamont had invisted heavily in trying to keep it there, adjusting interest rates four times in one day as a desperate measure. This decable, which occurred on 16 September 1992 and became known as Black Wednesday, left the Tory government's reputation for economic excellence in tatters. Labour was soon ascendant in the opinion polls.
Tory feuding on Europe and the government defeat on the Maastricht Bill further dented the government's popularity, as did a series of scandals involving MP's.
The end of the recession was declared in April 1993 after nearly three years, and unemployment - which had peaked at nearly 3,000,000 - quickly began to fall. It had fallen bellow 2,500,000 within two years of the recession's end, and by the end of 1996 it was below 2,000,000. Freed from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the British economy outperformed the rest of the continent for the first time in a generation.
However, the strong economic recovery failed to make much difference to the dismal Tory showing in the opinion polls. Labour leader John Smith died of a heart attack in May 1994 and was succeeded by Tony Blair, who continued the modernisation process of the party which began under Smith's predecessor Neil Kinnock, and by the end of that year the opinion polls were showing Labour support as high as 60% - putting them more than 30 points ahead of the Tories.
The 21-seat Tory majority was gradually eroded by resignations as well as a string of by-election defeats, and by the turn of 1997 they were without a commons majority.
John Major left it until the last possible moment before calling a general election, finally holding it on 1 May 1997. He pinned his hopes of election success on a six-week campaign exposing New Labour's policies to scrutiny, as well as pointing towards a booming economy and falling unemployment. However, as the Tories had denied responsibility for the recession at the turn of the decade, few voters were willing to give them credit for the economic recovery, and Labour returned to power after 18 years with a 179-seat majority that saw several leading Tory MP's (most notably Michael Portillo, widely tipped to be the next Tory leader) lose their seats and leave them without any MP's in Wales or Scotland.
==Members of the Cabinet Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service |
John Major | 28 November 1990 – 1 May 1997 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | continued in office | |
| Lord President of the Council | John MacGregor | continued in office | |
| Tony Newton | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Lord Privy Seal | The Lord Waddington | 28 November 1990 | |
| The Lord Wakeham | 11 April 1992 | ||
| Viscount Cranborne | 1994 | ||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Norman Lamont | 28 November 1990 | |
| Kenneth Clarke | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | David Mellor | 28 November 1990 | |
| Michael Portillo | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Jonathan Aitken | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Hon. William Waldegrave | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Treasury | Gillian Shephard | 28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 | |
| Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | also Paymaster-General | |
| Anthony Nelson | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1996 | also Paymaster-General | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Richard Ryder | 28 November 1990 | |
| Alastair Goodlad | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Francis Maude | continued in office | |
| Stephen Dorrell | 14 April 1992 | ||
| Sir George Young, Bt | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Michael Jack | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Lords of the Treasury | Sydney Chapman | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Greg Knight | continued in office – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Irvine Patnick | continued in office – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Nicholas Baker | 3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Tim Wood | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | ||
| Timothy Kirkhope | 11 December 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 27 May 1993 – 17 October 1995 | ||
| Derek Conway | 20 July 1994 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Andrew Mitchell | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Bowen Wells | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Simon Burns | 5 July 1995 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| David Willetts | 5 July 1995 – 28 November 1995 | ||
| Michael Bates | 17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996 | ||
| Liam Fox | 28 November 1995 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Roger Knapman | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Richard Ottaway | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Gyles Brandreth | 11 December 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Douglas Hurd | 26 October 1989 | |
| Malcolm Rifkind | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Lynda Chalker | continued in office – 1 May 1997 | also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| The Earl of Caithness | continued in office – 15 April 1992 | ||
| Tristan Garel-Jones | continued in office – 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. Douglas Hogg | continued in office – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | 15 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| David Davis | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Jeremy Hanley | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Bt | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | continued in office | |
| vacant | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Liam Fox | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Minister for Overseas Development | Lynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallasley | continued in office | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Kenneth Baker | 28 November 1990 | |
| Kenneth Clarke | 11 April 1992 | ||
| Michael Howard | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | John Patten | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| The Earl Ferrers | continued in office – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Angela Rumbold | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| Michael Jack | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Peter Lloyd | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| David Maclean | 27 May 1993 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Michael Forsyth | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| The Baroness Blatch | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Ann Widdecombe | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Peter Lloyd | continued in office – 15 April 1992 | |
| Charles Wardle | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Nicholas Baker | 20 July 1994 – 17 October 1995 | ||
| Timothy Kirkhope | 17 October 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| The Hon. Tom Sackville | 28 November 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | continued in office | |
| Gillian Shephard | 24 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. William Waldegrave | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Hon. Douglas Hogg | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Baroness Trumpington | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| David Curry | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Michael Jack | 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Tony Baldry | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | David Curry | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| David Maclean | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Earl Howe | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Angela Browning | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Minister for the Arts | Tim Renton | 28 November 1990 | Functions transferred on 11 April 1992 to Department of National Heritage |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Tom King | continued in office | |
| Malcolm Rifkind | 15 April 1992 | ||
| Michael Portillo | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | The Hon. Archie Hamilton | continued in office | |
| Jeremy Hanley | 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Alan Clark | continued in office | |
| Jonathan Aitken | 14 April 1992 | ||
| Roger Freeman | 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Arbuthnot | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence | Kenneth Carlisle | 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 | |
| The Earl of Arran | 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 | ||
| Viscount Cranborne | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Henley | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Earl Howe | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Kenneth Clarke | continued in office | Reorganised as Office of Education 10 April 1992 |
| Secretary of State for Education | John Patten | 10 April 1992 | |
| Gillian Shephard | 20 July 1994 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Science | Timothy Eggar | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Education | The Baroness Blatch | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Eric Forth | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | Minister of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Employment | The Lord Henley | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Alan Howarth | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Michael Fallon | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| Robert Atkins | 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 | Under-Secretary of State, Sport | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Eric Forth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Nigel Forman | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 19 December 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| Robin Squire | 27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997 | Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment | James Paice | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Cheryl Gillan | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Employment | Michael Howard | continued in office | |
| Gillian Shephard | 12 April 1992 | ||
| David Hunt | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Michael Portillo | 20 July 1994 | Merged with the Office of Education 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | Michael Forsyth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Ann Widdecombe | 20 July 1995 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Robert Jackson | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Eric Forth | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| The Viscount Ullswater | continued in office – 16 September 1993 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Ann Widdecombe | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Henley | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Paice | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Phillip Oppenheim | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Secretary of State for Energy | John Wakeham | continued in office | Office abolished 11 April 1992 |
| Minister of State, Energy | Timothy Eggar | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | under Office of Trade and Industry; became Minister of State, Energy and Industry 20 July 1994 |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | The Hon. Colin Moynihan | continued in office – 11 April 1992 | |
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Michael Heseltine | 28 November 1990 | |
| Michael Howard | 11 April 1992 | ||
| John Gummer | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Local Government | Michael Portillo | continued in office | |
| John Redwood | 15 April 1992 | ||
| David Curry | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Housing | Sir George Young, Bt | 28 November 1990 | |
| The Viscount Ullswater | 20 July 1994 | Post renamed Minister of State for Construction 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Construction | Robert Jones | 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | David Trippier | 28 November 1990 | |
| David Maclean | 14 April 1992 | ||
| Tim Yeo | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Robert Atkins | 7 January 1994 | ||
| The Earl Ferrers | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Environment | The Baroness Blatch | 21 May 1991 – 13 April 1992 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Baroness Blatch | continued in office – 21 May 1991 | |
| Robert Key | continued in office – 15 April 1992 | ||
| Tim Yeo | 28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 | ||
| Tony Baldry | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 15 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | ||
| Robin Squire | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| The Earl of Arran | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Sir Paul Beresford | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Robert Jones | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| James Clappison | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Health | The Hon. William Waldegrave | continued in office | |
| Virginia Bottomley | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Stephen Dorrell | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Health | Virginia Bottomley | continued in office | |
| Brian Mawhinney | 14 April 1992 | ||
| Gerry Malone | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Baroness Hooper | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Stephen Dorrell | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| The Hon. Tom Sackville | 14 April 1992 – 29 November 1995 | ||
| The Baroness Cumberlege | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Yeo | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| John Bowis | 27 May 1993 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| John Horam | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Simon Burns | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Social Security | Tony Newton | continued in office | |
| Peter Lilley | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Minister of State, Social Security | Nicholas Scott | continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| William Hague | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Alistair Burt | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Michael Jack | 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 | |
| Ann Widdecombe | 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Alistair Burt | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| William Hague | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Arbuthnot | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| Roger Evans | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Andrew Mitchell | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Oliver Heald | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Chris Patten | 28 November 1990 | |
| The Hon. William Waldegrave | 11 April 1992 | also Minister for the Public Service | |
| David Hunt | 20 July 1994 | also Minister for the Public Service | |
| Roger Freeman | 5 July 1995 | also Minister for the Public Service | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | Robert V. Jackson | 15 April 1992 | |
| David Davis | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Robert Hughes | 20 July 1994 | ||
| John Horam | 6 March 1995 | ||
| David Willetts | 28 November 1995 | ||
| vacant | 20 July 1996 | ||
| Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | ||
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | David Mellor | 11 April 1992 | |
| Peter Brooke | 25 September 1992 | ||
| Stephen Dorrell | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Virginia Bottomley | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, National Heritage | Iain Sproat | 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | Robert Key | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Iain Sproat | 27 May 1993 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | |||
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Peter Brooke | continued in office | |
| Sir Patrick Mayhew | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Brian Mawhinney | 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 | |
| The Lord Belstead | 28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 | also Paymaster-General | |
| Robert Atkins | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| Michael Mates | 15 April 1992 – 24 June 1993 | ||
| Sir John Wheeler | 25 June 1993 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Michael Ancram (The Marquess of Lothian) |
11 January 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Richard Needham (The Earl of Kilmorey) |
continued in office – 15 April 1992 | |
| Jeremy Hanley | 3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Earl of Arran | 22 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| Michael Ancram (The Marquess of Lothian) |
27 May 1993 – 5 January 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Smith | 6 January 1994 – 20 October 1994 | ||
| Malcolm Moss | 25 October 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Paymaster-General | The Lord Belstead | 28 November 1990 | also Minister of State, Northern Ireland |
| Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 | also Minister of State, Treasury | |
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 | also Minister of State, Treasury | |
| David Willetts | 20 July 1996 | ||
| Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | ||
| Minister without Portfolio | Jeremy Hanley | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Brian Mawhinney | 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Ian Lang | 28 November 1990 | |
| Michael Forsyth | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Scotland | Michael Forsyth | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | continued in office – 6 July 1995 | |
| The Lord Strathclyde | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| Allan Stewart | 28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 | ||
| Sir Hector Monro | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| George Kynoch | 8 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Earl of Lindsay | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Raymond Robertson | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | 20 July 1994 | Under Office of Trade and Industry; office abolished 6 July 1995 |
| Minister for Trade | Tim Sainsbury | continued in office | |
| Richard Needham (The Earl of Kilmorey) |
14 April 1992 | ||
| Anthony Nelson | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Peter Lilley | continued in office | |
| Michael Heseltine | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Ian Lang | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister for Industry | The Lord Hesketh | continued in office | |
| vacant | 21 May 1991 | ||
| Tim Sainsbury | 15 April 1992 | ||
| vacant | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Minister for Corporate Affairs | John Redwood | continued in office – 13 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Strathclyde | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Minister of State, Energy and Industry | Timothy Eggar | 20 July 1994 | |
| Greg Knight | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Edward Leigh | continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| The Lord Reay | 22 May 1991 – 14 April 1992 | ||
| Neil Hamilton | 14 April 1992 – 25 October 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 14 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | ||
| Jonathan Evans | 27 October 1994 – 29 November 1995 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| Charles Wardle | 20 July 1994 – 11 February 1995 | ||
| Ian Taylor | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Richard Page | 14 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Phillip Oppenheim | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| John Mark Taylor | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Transport | Malcolm Rifkind | 28 November 1990 | |
| John MacGregor | 10 April 1992 | ||
| Brian Mawhinney | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Sir George Young, Bt | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Transport | The Lord Brabazon of Tara | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Minister for Public Transport | Roger Freeman | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister for Railways and Roads | The Earl of Caithness | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| John Watts | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Patrick McLoughlin | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | |
| Christopher Chope | continued in office – 14 April 1992 | ||
| Kenneth Carlisle | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Steven Norris | 14 April 1992 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Robert Key | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Goschen | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| John Bowis | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Wales | David Hunt | continued in office | |
| John Redwood | 27 May 1993 | ||
| William Hague | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Nicholas Bennett | 3 December 1990 – 14 April 1994 | |
| Gwilym Jones | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Rod Richards | 20 July 1994 – 2 June 1996 | ||
| Jonathan Evans | 2 June 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Attorney General | Sir Patrick Mayhew | continued in office | |
| Sir Nicholas Lyell | 9 April 1992 | ||
| Solicitor General | Sir Nicholas Lyell | continued in office | |
| Sir Derek Spencer | 15 April 1992 | ||
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | continued in office | |
| The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry | 15 April 1992 | ||
| The Lord Mackay of Drumadoon | 7 November 1995 | ||
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Alan Rodger | continued in office | Not an MP |
| Thomas Dawson | 15 April 1992 | Not an MP | |
| Donald Mackay | 4 May 1995 | Not an MP | |
| Paul Cullen | 7 November 1995 | Not an MP | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Alastair Goodlad | continued in office | |
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 15 April 1992 | ||
| Greg Knight | 7 June 1993 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Comptroller of the Household | David Lightbown | 28 November 1990 | |
| Timothy Wood | 7 July 1995 | ||
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | John Mark Taylor | 28 November 1990 | |
| Sydney Chapman | 15 April 1992 | ||
| Timothy Kirkhope | 7 July 1995 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 18 October 1995 | ||
| Derek Conway | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Denham | continued in office | |
| The Lord Hesketh | 2 May 1991 | ||
| The Viscount Ullswater | 16 September 1993 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Viscount Davidson | continued in office | |
| The Earl of Strathmore | 30 December 1991 | ||
| The Earl of Arran | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | January 1995 | ||
| The Lord Chesham | 8 July 1995 | ||
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Reay | continued in office – 21 May 1991 | |
| The Earl of Strathmore | continued in office – 30 December 1991 | ||
| The Baroness Blatch | continued in office – 7 September 1990 | ||
| The Lord Cavendish of Furness | continued in office – 22 April 1993 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | continued in office – 16 September 1993 | ||
| The Earl Howe | 30 May 1991 – 15 April 1992 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | January 1992 – 15 April 1992 | ||
| The Viscount St Davids | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Goschen | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Trumpington | 22 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 15 October 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| The Lord Annaly | 18 March 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Lucas of Crudwell | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Baroness Miller of Hendon | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | 21 July 1994 – January 1995 | ||
| The Earl of Lindsay | 12 January 1995 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Earl of Courtown | 8 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 |
| Preceded by Conservative Government 1979–1990 |
Government of the United Kingdom 1979–1997 |
Succeeded by Labour Government 1997–2007 |