Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:28:38.418Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Thatcherism: An Historical Perspective*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

E. H. H. Green
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative party in November 1990, but both she and the political ideology to which her name has been appended continue to fascinate pundits and scholars. Indeed, since Thatcher's resignation in November 1990, curiosity about her political legacy has, if anything, increased, fuelled in part by the memoirs produced by the ex-premier herself and a large number of her one-time Cabinet colleagues. Since the early 1980s the bulk of work that has appeared on Thatcherism has been dominated either by what one might describe as the ‘higher journalism’ or by political science scholarship, both of which have been most exercised by the questions of what Thatcherism was and where it took British politics and society. In this essay I want to look at Thatcherism from an historical perspective and thus ask a different question, namely where did Thatcherism, and in particular the political economy of Thatcherism, come from?

Given that Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative party in 1975 this might seem a logical starting-point from which to track Thatcherism's origins. Some have argued, however, that Thatcher's election in itself was of little importance, in that the Conservative party's leadership contest in 1975 was a competition not to be Edward Heath, and that Thatcher won because she was more obviously not Edward Heath than anyone else. This emphasis on the personal aspects of the leadership issue necessarily plays down any ideological significance of Thatcher's victory, a point often reinforced by reference to the fact that key elements of the policy agenda that came to be associated with Thatcherism, notably privatisation, were by no means clearly articulated in the late 1970s and did not appear in the Conservative Election Manifesto of 1979.

Type
Research Article
Information
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , Volume 9 , December 1999 , pp. 17 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Robert Skidelsky, amongst others, has rightly pointed out that ‘Mrs Thatcher is the only Prime Minister whose name has given rise to an “ism”’, ‘Introduction’ to idem (ed.), Thatcherism (London, 1988), p. 2.

2 In the former category, see in particular, Jenkins, P., Mrs Thatcher's Revolution (London, 1985)Google Scholar, Riddell, P., The Thatcher Government (London, 1989)Google Scholar, Young, H., One of Us (London, 1990)Google Scholar. For the latter see, for example, Gamble, A., The Free Economy and the Strong State (London, 1994, 2nd edn)CrossRefGoogle Scholar, Minogue, K. and Biddiss, M. (eds), Thatcherism: Personality and Politics (London, 1987)CrossRefGoogle Scholar, Skidelsky, R. (ed.), Thatcherism, Hoover, K. and Plant, R., Conservative Capitalism in Britain and America (London, 1989)Google Scholar, Hames, T. and Adonis, A. (eds), A Conservative Revolution (Manchester, 1994)Google Scholar.

3 See Riddell, , Thatcher Government, p. 21Google Scholar.

4 See, for example, Michael Biddiss' remark that in 1975 ‘Thatcherism … was … still only quite imperfectly formed’, ‘Thatcherism: Concept and Interpretations’, in Minogue, and Biddiss, (eds), Thatcherism, p. 6Google Scholar.

5 See Cockett, R., Thinking the Unthinkable (London, 1993), pp. 254–74Google Scholar.

6 See Wickham-Jones, M., ‘Right Turn: A Revisionist Account of the 1975 Conservative Party Leadership Election’, TCBH, viii, 1997Google Scholar.

7 For a summary of this argument, see Skidelsky, , ‘Introduction’, pp. 10–13Google Scholar, and note Kenneth Minogue's remark that ‘The real context of Thatcherism is to be found in the troubles … in the 1970s’, Minogue, and Biddiss, (eds), Thatcherism, xiiGoogle Scholar.

8 M. Thatcher in New York, 15 Sept. 1975, reprinted in idem, The Revival of Britain (London, 1989), p. 3.

9 For a discussion of ‘Victorian values’ against this backdrop, see Smout, T. C. (ed.), Victorian Values (London, 1992)Google Scholar.

10 Gould, J. and Anderson, D., ‘Thatcherism and British Society’, in Minogue, and Biddiss, (eds), Thatcherism, pp. 42–3Google Scholar.

11 Sir Keith Joseph, London, 1 Jan. 1975, reprinted in idem, Reversing the Trend (London, 1975). p. 57 (my emphasis).

12 Thatcher, M., The Path to Power (London, 1994), p. 566Google Scholar, my emphasis.

13 See, for example, Sir Keith Joseph at Upminster, 22 June 1974, in idem, Reversing, p. 7 (my emphasis).

14 Ridley, N., My Style of Government: the Thatcher Years (London, 1991), p. 2Google Scholar.

15 Parkinson, C., Right at the Centre (London, 1991), p. 191Google Scholar.

16 Roberts, A., Eminent Churchillians (London, 1994), p. 253Google Scholar.

17 For this interpretation, see Morgan, K. O., The People's Peace (Oxford, 1991), pp. 31–2Google Scholar. For a different analysis, see Jones, H., ‘The Conservative Party and the Welfare State, 1942–55’, unpublished London University PhD thesis, 1992Google Scholar.

18 See Jeffreys, K., ‘British Politics and Social Policy During the Second World War’, Historical Journal, xxx, 1987Google Scholar, and Jones, ‘Conservative Party’, passim.

19 R. Assheton to R. A. Butler, 21 Dec. 1942, Butler paper, Trinity College Library, Cambridge, MS RAB, H77, fol. 70.

20 Report on the Beveridge Proposals, 19 Jan. 1943, Conservative Party Archive [hereafter CPA], Bodleian Library, Oxford, Conservative Research Department [hereafter CRD] 2/28/6.

21 For this information I am indebted to Jones, , ‘Conservative Party’, pp. 107–8Google Scholar.

22 For the Conservative critique of Labour's health policy, see in particular, Webster, C., ‘Conflict and Consensus: Explaining the British Health Service’, TCBH, I, 1990Google Scholar. On housing, see Jones, , ‘Conservative Party’, pp. 127–46Google Scholar. Parliamentary Debates remain the best source for the conflicts over nationalisation.

23 Zweiniger-Bargielowska, I., ‘Rationing, Austerity and the Conservative Party Recovery After 1945’, Historical Journal, xxxvi, 1993Google Scholar.

24 See ibid., and also idem, ‘Consensus and Consumption: Rationing, Austerity and Controls after the War’, in H. Jones and M. Kandiah (eds), The Myth of Consensus (Basingstoke, 1996), pp. 78–96.

25 ‘The Floating Vote’, 6 Dec. 1949, CRD 2/21/1, in Kandiah, M., ‘Conservative Leaders' Strategy – and Consensus, 1945–64’, in The Myth of Consensus, p. 63Google Scholar.

26 Lord Woolton to Conservative Constituency Agents, 8 May 1947, Woolton papers, Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS WLTN, fols 66–7. For the Conservatives' view of the Liberals as subaltern anti-Socialists, see Green, E. H. H., ‘The Conservative Party, the State and the Electorate, 1945–64’, in Taylor, M. and Lawrence, J. (eds), Party, State and Society in Modern Britain (Aldershot, 1996)Google Scholar.

27 Sheffield Conservative Party Agent, quoted in Ramsden, J., The Age of Churchill and Eden (London, 1996), p. 150Google Scholar.

28 Law, R., Return from Utopia (London, 1950)Google Scholar.

29 National Union, Conference Report, 1952, CPA, Microfilm Cards 8–9.

30 Ibid.

31 Macleod, I. and Powell, E., The Social Services: Needs Not Means (London, 1952)Google Scholar.

32 Although the fact that the ‘Robot’ scheme to float the pound was so heavily canvassed, it is a significant indication that ‘Keynesian’ thinking was by no means entrenched in the party. See Rollings, N., ‘Poor Mr. Butskell: A Short Life Wracked by Schizophrenia’, TCBH, v, 1994Google Scholar.

33 See Green, ‘Conservative party’, in Taylor and Lawrence (eds), Party, State and Society.

34 Macmillan to M. Fraser, 17 Feb. 1957, Public Record Office, PREM 11/1816.

35 See Ramsden, J., Winds of Change: the Age of Macmillan and Heath (London, 1996), pp. 19, 29Google Scholar.

36 T. Constantine to O. Poole, 10 June 1956, CPA, CCO 120/3/4.

37 See Green, ‘Conservative party’, and idem, ‘The Treasury Resignations of 1958 Reconsidered’ (forthcoming).

38 For a discussion of the PSG's work, see Green, ‘Conservative party’, and for the PCFFSS, see Lowe, R., ‘The Failure to Reform the Welfare State’, in ZweinigerBargielowska, I. and Francis, M. (eds), The Conservatives and British Society in the 20th Century (Cardiff, 1997)Google Scholar. For the deliberations of the PCNI, see CRD 2/6/2,3 in the CPA.

39 PSG, Minutes of the 4th Meeting, 15 July 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.

40 Through much of 1957 Macmillan offered a great deal of support to Thorneycroft and his team, which in part explains the legacy of bitterness which his ‘back-pedalling’ in the winter of 1957–8 engendered. See Green, ‘Treasury Resignations’.

41 PCNI, Terms of Reference, CRD 2/6/2, CPA.

42 PCNI, Chairman's notes at the 17th Meeting, record by J. Douglas, CRD, 16 Dec. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/6/3.

43 Minutes of the ACP, 25 Jan. 1957, CPA, ACP 2/1.

44 J. G. Morrison, ibid.

45 For rank-and-file criticisms of Conservative trade union policy in the early 1950s, see Roberts, , Eminent Churchillians, pp. 259–71Google Scholar.

46 For a particularly uncomfortable conference for Macleod on this issue, see the debate at the party conference at Llandudno in 1956.

47 The most powerful advocates were the MP John Simon and Peter Goldman from the party's Research Department.

48 PSG, Minutes of the 4th Meeting, 12 Apr. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.

49 J. Douglas to J. Rodgers, 8 Aug. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/9/38.

50 It is perhaps worth noting that one of the members of the Society who took part in the discussions leading to the publication of this document was Geoffrey Howe.

51 See Shepherd, R., Iain Macleod (London, 1994), p. 149Google Scholar.

52 E. Powell to J. Pain, n.d., Mar. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/26.

53 PSG, 13th Meeting, 24 Feb. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.

54 Chairman's notes of the Meeting of the ACP, 9 Dec. 1959, CPA, ACP 1/10.

55 P. Goldman, at PSG 2nd Meeting, 15 Mar. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.

56 Home to R. A. Butler, 4 Mar. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/29.

57 H. Macmillan, diary entry, 21 Sept. 1961, in idem, At the End of the Day (London, 1973), p. 37.

58 For the most detailed description of these initiatives, see Middlemass, K., Power Competition and the State (3 vols, 1986–1991), ii, pp. 28–58Google Scholar.

59 See Ramsden, , Winds of Change, pp. 245–53Google Scholar.

60 Powell, J. E., A Nation Not Afraid (London, 1965)Google Scholar.

61 See Powell, J. E., Freedom and Reality (London, 1969)Google Scholar, where extracts from these speeches are collected.

62 I. Macleod in The Spectator, quoted in Schoen, D. E., Powell and the Powellites (London, 1977). p. 15Google Scholar.

63 For example, Putting Britain Right Ahead called for tax reductions, stimulation of competition, trade union reform and selectivity in the social services.

64 See Cockett, R., Thinking the Unthinkable (London, 1994), pp. 159–99Google Scholar.

65 F. Corfield to E. Boyle, 7 Dec. 1967, quoted in Ramsden, , Winds of Change, p. 230Google Scholar.

66 Boyle, Memorandum to Shadow Cabinet, 25 July 1967, ibid.

67 Seldon, A., Swinton Journal, quoted in Winds of Change, p. 280Google Scholar.

68 Sunday Times, 25 June 1965, quoted in Schoen, , Powell, p. 15Google Scholar.

69 Ramsden, , Winds of Change, pp. 219, 255Google Scholar.

70 Ibid., pp. 146–8.

71 Ibid., p. 218.

72 Report of the PGNI, CRD 3/17/12, CPA.

73 Ibid.

74 Ibid.

75 For Heath's attitude, see Ramsden, , Winds of Change, p. 283Google Scholar; for Joseph's, see Taylor, R., ‘The Heath Government, Industrial Policy and the “New Capitalism”’, in Seldon, A. and Ball, S. (eds), The Heath Government, 1970–74: A Reappraisal (London, 1996), p. 145Google Scholar.

76 Fraser, M. to Douglas, J., 18 05 1970, quoted in The Heath Government, p. 146Google Scholar.

77 Campbell, J., Edward Heath (London, 1993), pp. 265–7Google Scholar.

78 The only exception was the discussion of trade unions. See Shadow Cabinet Conference, Selsdon Park, 7th Session, 1 Feb. 1970, CRD 3/9/93, CPA.

79 CRD document, ‘Other Issues Requiring Policy Decisions’, n.d., Jan. 1970, CRD 3/9/92, CPA.

80 CRD document, ‘Publication of Policy During 1070, n.d., Jan. 1070, CRD 3/9/92, CPA.

81 CRD document, ‘Controlling Prices’, 21 Jan. 1970, CRD 3/9/92, CPA.

82 Selsdon Park Shadow Cabinet Conference, 7th Session, 1 Feb. 1970, CRD 3/9/93, CPA.

83 See Ramsden, , Winds of Change, pp. 302–3Google Scholar.

84 That the IEA, always quick to be critical of the Conservatives, greeted Heath's election with optimism is significant here. See Cockett, , Thinking, p. 200Google Scholar, for the IEA's reaction.

85 See Seldon and Ball, introduction to idem (eds), The Heath Government, and Campbell, , Heath, pp. 451–6, 468–83Google Scholar.

86 Young, Lord, The Enterprise Years (London, 1991), p. 16Google Scholar.

87 Tebbitt, N., Upwardly Mobile (London, 1988), p. 94Google Scholar.

88 Lawson, N., The View from No. II (London, 1994), p. 14Google Scholar.

89 Macmillan's comments are recorded in Walker, P., Staying Power (London, 1991), p. 138Google Scholar.

90 Heath, A. et al. , Understanding Political Change (Oxford, 1991), pp. 102–19, 136–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

91 C. Hill to R. A. Butler, 11 Feb. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/29.

92 Joseph, K., Monetarism is Not Enough (London, 1976), pp. 17–19Google Scholar.

93 Marlow, J. D., Questioning the Post-War Consensus Thesis (Aldershot, 1996), p. 13Google Scholar.

94 The terminology deployed here is that of Marlow, ibid., pp. 24–5.

95 Jones and Kandiah (eds), Myth.

96 Professor Peter Clarke, personal remark to the author, c. May 1992.