First Major ministry

First Major ministry
1990–1992

Major (1996)
Date formed 28 November 1990
Date dissolved 9 April 1992
People and organisations
Head of state Elizabeth II
Head of government John Major
Head of government's history 19901997
Deputy head of government [note 1]
Total no. of ministers 108 appointments
Member party Conservative Party
Status in legislature Majority
Opposition cabinet Kinnock Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party Labour Party
Opposition leader Neil Kinnock
History
Outgoing election 1992 general election
Legislature term(s) 50th Parliament (UK)
Predecessor Third Thatcher ministry
Successor Second Major ministry

John Major formed the first Major ministry upon the resignation of Margaret Thatcher, after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new government.

Formation

The resignation of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister came on 22 November 1990, more than 11 years after she had first been elected. Former Cabinet Minister Michael Heseltine had challenged her leadership earlier in 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 the Community Charge (often referred to as the Poll Tax) 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.

Conservative MPs elected Chancellor of the Exchequer John Major as their new leader on 27 November 1990, and he was invited by the Queen to form a government the following day.

Fate

The change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a revival in Tory support, with the double-digit lead in the opinion polls for the Labour Party being replaced by a narrow Conservative 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 election that year.

The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, with unemployment standing at nearly 2.5 million by December 1991, compared to 1.6 million just 18 months earlier. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins, although Labour still made some gains at the expense of the Tories in local elections, and seized the Monmouth seat from the Tories in a by-election.

Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992 which ended the first Major ministry. In a surprise to most pollsters, Major won the election, which led to the formation of the Second Major ministry and a fourth consecutive Conservative term in office.

Cabinet

November 1990 – April 1992

First Major Cabinet[3]
Portfolio Minister Term
Cabinet ministers
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
The Rt Hon. John Major MP 1990-97
Lord Chancellor The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern 1987-97
Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt Hon. Norman Lamont MP 1990-93
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Rt Hon. Douglas Hurd MP 1989-95
Home Secretary The Rt Hon. Kenneth Baker MP 1990-92
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The Rt Hon. John Gummer MP 1989-93
Secretary of State for Defence The Rt Hon. Tom King MP 1989-92
Secretary of State for Education The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Employment The Rt Hon. Michael Howard MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Energy The Rt Hon. John Wakeham MP 1989-92
Secretary of State for the Environment The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Health The Rt Hon. William Waldegrave MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The Rt Hon. Peter Brooke MP 1989-92
Lord President of the Council
Leader of the House of Commons
The Rt Hon. John MacGregor MP 1990-92
Lord Privy Seal
Leader of the House of Lords
The Rt Hon. The Lord Waddington 1990-92
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Rt Hon. Chris Patten MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Social Security The Rt Hon. Tony Newton MP 1989-92
Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt Hon. Ian Lang MP 1990-95
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
President of the Board of Trade
The Rt Hon. Peter Lilley MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Transport The Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind MP 1990-92
Chief Secretary to the Treasury The Rt Hon. David Mellor MP 1990-92
Secretary of State for Wales The Rt Hon. David Hunt MP 1990-93
Also attending cabinet meetings
Attorney General The Rt Hon. Patrick Mayhew MP 1987-92
Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Rt Hon. Richard Ryder MP 1990-95

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
John Major28 November 1990 – 1 May 1997 
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Mackay of Clashferncontinued in office 
Lord President of the CouncilJohn MacGregorcontinued in office 
Lord Privy SealThe Lord Waddington28 November 1990 
Chancellor of the ExchequerNorman Lamont28 November 1990 
Chief Secretary to the TreasuryDavid Mellor28 November 1990 
Minister of State, TreasuryGillian Shephard28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryRichard Ryder28 November 1990 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryFrancis Maudecontinued in office 
Lords of the TreasurySydney Chapmancontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Greg Knightcontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
Irvine Patnickcontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Nicholas Baker3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsDouglas Hurd 26 October 1989 
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsLynda Chalkercontinued in office – 1 May 1997also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992
The Earl of Caithnesscontinued in office – 15 April 1992 
Tristan Garel-Jonescontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
The Hon. Douglas Hoggcontinued in office – 5 July 1995 
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsThe Hon. Mark Lennox-Boydcontinued in office 
Minister for Overseas DevelopmentLynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallaseycontinued in officealso Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentKenneth Baker28 November 1990 
Minister of State for Home AffairsJohn Pattencontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
The Earl Ferrerscontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Angela Rumboldcontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsPeter Lloydcontinued in office – 15 April 1992 
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn Gummercontinued in office 
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodThe Baroness Trumpingtoncontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodDavid Currycontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
David Macleancontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Minister for the ArtsTim Renton28 November 1990Functions transferred on 11 April 1992 to Department of National Heritage
Secretary of State for DefenceTom Kingcontinued in office 
Minister of State for the Armed ForcesThe Hon. Archie Hamiltoncontinued in office 
Minister of State for Defence ProcurementAlan Clarkcontinued in office 
Under-Secretary of State for DefenceKenneth Carlisle28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 
The Earl of Arran28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 
Secretary of State for Education and ScienceKenneth Clarkecontinued in officeReorganised as Office of Education 10 April 1992
Minister of State, Education and ScienceTimothy Eggarcontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State, Education and ScienceAlan Howarthcontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Michael Falloncontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Robert Atkins28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992Under-Secretary of State, Sport
Secretary of State for EmploymentMichael Howardcontinued in office 
Under-Secretary of State, EmploymentRobert Jacksoncontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Eric Forthcontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
The Viscount Ullswatercontinued in office – 16 September 1993 
Secretary of State for EnergyJohn Wakehamcontinued in officeOffice abolished 11 April 1992
Under-Secretary of State, EnergyThe Hon. Colin Moynihancontinued in office – 11 April 1992 
David Heathcoat-Amory28 November 1990 – 11 April 1992 
Secretary of State for the EnvironmentMichael Heseltine28 November 1990 
Minister of State for Local GovernmentMichael Portillocontinued in office 
Minister of State for HousingSir George Young, Bt28 November 1990 
Minister of State for Environment and CountrysideDavid Trippier28 November 1990 
Minister of State, EnvironmentThe Baroness Blatch21 May 1991 – 13 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State, EnvironmentThe Baroness Blatchcontinued in office – 21 May 1991 
Robert Keycontinued in office – 15 April 1992 
Tim Yeo28 November 1990 – 15 April 1992 
Tony Baldry28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 
Secretary of State for HealthThe Hon. William Waldegravecontinued in office 
Minister of State, HealthVirginia Bottomleycontinued in office 
Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social SecurityThe Baroness Hoopercontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Secretary of State for Social SecurityTony Newtoncontinued in office 
Minister of State, Social SecurityNicholas Scottcontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Under-Secretary of State, Social SecurityMichael Jack28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 
Ann Widdecombe30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterChris Patten28 November 1990 
Secretary of State for Northern IrelandPeter Brookecontinued in office 
Minister of State, Northern IrelandBrian Mawhinney28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992 
The Lord Belstead28 November 1990 – 14 April 1992also Paymaster-General
Under-Secretary of State, Northern IrelandRichard Needham
(The Earl of Kilmorey)
continued in office – 15 April 1992 
Jeremy Hanley3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 
Paymaster-GeneralThe Lord Belstead28 November 1990also Minister of State, Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for ScotlandIan Lang28 November 1990 
Minister of State for ScotlandMichael Forsythcontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandThe Lord James Douglas-Hamiltoncontinued in office – 6 July 1995 
The Lord Strathclydecontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Allan Stewart28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 
Minister for TradeTim Sainsburycontinued in office 
Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryPeter Lilleycontinued in office 
Minister for IndustryThe Lord Heskethcontinued in office 
vacant21 May 1991 
Minister for Corporate AffairsJohn Redwoodcontinued in office – 13 April 1992 
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryEdward Leighcontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
The Lord Reay22 May 1991 – 14 April 1992 
Secretary of State for TransportMalcolm Rifkind28 November 1990 
Minister of State, TransportThe Lord Brabazon of Taracontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Minister for Public TransportRoger Freeman28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 
Under-Secretary of State for TransportPatrick McLoughlincontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Christopher Chopecontinued in office – 14 April 1992 
Secretary of State for WalesDavid Huntcontinued in office 
Minister of State for WalesWyn Robertscontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Under-Secretary of State for WalesNicholas Bennett3 December 1990 – 14 April 1994 
Attorney GeneralSir Patrick Mayhewcontinued in office 
Solicitor GeneralSir Nicholas Lyellcontinued in office 
Lord AdvocateThe Lord Fraser of Carmylliecontinued in office 
Solicitor General for ScotlandAlan Rodgercontinued in officeNot an MP
Treasurer of the HouseholdAlastair Goodladcontinued in office 
Comptroller of the HouseholdDavid Lightbown28 November 1990 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdJohn Mark Taylor28 November 1990 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord Denhamcontinued in office 
The Lord Hesketh2 May 1991 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Viscount Davidsoncontinued in office 
The Earl of Strathmore30 December 1991 
Lords-in-WaitingThe Lord Reaycontinued in office – 21 May 1991 
The Earl of Strathmorecontinued in office – 30 December 1991 
The Baroness Blatchcontinued in office – 7 September 1990 
The Lord Cavendish of Furnesscontinued in office – 22 April 1993 
The Viscount Astorcontinued in office – 16 September 1993 
The Earl Howe30 May 1991 – 15 April 1992 
The Baroness DentonJanuary 1992 – 15 April 1992 

References

Notes
Sources
  1. "Willie Whitelaw dies aged 81". The Guardian. Press Association. 1 July 1991. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. Sherrin, Ned (25 September 2008). Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations. OUP Oxford. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-19-923716-6.
  3. "Holders of Ministerial Office in the Conservative Governments 1979-1997" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 26 June 2017.

Further reading

Preceded by
Third Thatcher ministry
Government of the United Kingdom
1990–1992
Succeeded by
Second Major ministry
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.