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Second Thatcher ministry - Wikipedia

  • ️Fri Jun 10 1983

This article details the second Thatcher ministry which she led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1983 to 1987.

The Conservative government was re-elected in June 1983 with a majority of 144 seats, with Labour in opposition having a mere 209 seats after its worst postwar electoral performance, seeing off a close challenge from the SDP–Liberal Alliance who came close to them on votes though not with seats.

With inflation firmly under control and union reforms contributing towards the lowest level of strikes since the early 1950s, the Conservatives were now faced with the challenge of reducing unemployment from a record high of 3,200,000.

March 1984 saw the beginning of a miners' strike which would last for 12 months and divide the country as Mrs Thatcher announced extensive pit closures which would ultimately cost thousands of miners their jobs as well, while the remaining pits were set to be privatised in the proposed sell-off of the National Coal Board. Privatisation of utilities and heavy industry was becoming a key symbol of Thatcherism, with the likes of British Telecom also transferring from public to private ownership.

Michael Foot had stepped down as Labour leader following the 1983 general election. The man elected by Labour with the task of getting them back into government was Neil Kinnock. He proved himself as a fierce rival to Thatcher, and more than once during the 1983–87 parliament, the opinion polls showed Labour (and very occasionally the Alliance) in the lead, although a huge swing was required at a general election if the Conservative government was to be ousted.

The challenge from the SDP–Liberal Alliance was becoming weaker, despite their brief lead of the opinion polls during 1985.

However, economic growth following recession had been re-established by the beginning of this parliament and by 1987 the economy was well on the road to recovery. However, although unemployment which had peaked at nearly 3,300,000 during 1984 remained above 3,000,000 by the turn of 1987, with the opinion polls all showing a Tory lead, it was anticipated that Thatcher would call the next general election earlier than the deadline of June 1988.

A general election was called for 11 June 1987, and the Conservatives triumphed for the third election in succession. Labour, on the other hand, achieved a better election result than it had the previous time (and also managed to reduce the Conservative majority), with more than 30% of the vote, while the SDP–Liberal Alliance floundered and was soon disbanded as the Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats (who soon became the Liberal Democrats).

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

Office Name Dates Notes Margaret Thatcher June 1983   The Viscount Whitelaw June 1983 – June 1987   Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone June 1983   The Viscount Whitelaw 11 June 1983 also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party Minister of State for the Privy Council Office The Earl of Gowrie 11 June 1983 – 11 September 1984   Richard Luce 2 September 1985 – June 1987   John Biffen 11 June 1983   Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson 11 June 1983   Chief Secretary to the Treasury Peter Rees 11 June 1983   John MacGregor 2 September 1985   Minister of State for Treasury Barney Hayhoe June 1983 – 2 September 1985   Ian Gow 2 September 1985 – 19 November 1985   Hon. Peter Brooke 19 November 1985 – 13 June 1987   Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury John Wakeham 11 June 1983   Financial Secretary to the Treasury Hon. Nicholas Ridley 13 June 1983   John Moore 18 October 1983   Norman Lamont 21 May 1986   Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Moore 13 June 1983   Ian Stewart 19 October 1983   Lords Commissioners of the Treasury Alastair Goodlad June 1983 – 10 September 1984   Donald Thompson June 1983 – 10 September 1986   David Hunt June 1983 – 10 September 1984   Ian Lang 11 June 1983 – 1 February 1986   Tristan Garel-Jones 11 June 1983 – 16 October 1986   John Major 3 October 1984 – 1 November 1985   Hon. Archie Hamilton 3 October 1984 – 10 September 1986   Hon. Tim Sainsbury 7 October 1985 – 23 June 1987   Michael Neubert 10 February 1986 – June 1987   Peter Lloyd 16 October 1986 – June 1987   Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd 16 October 1986 – June 1987   Tony Durant 16 October 1986 – June 1987   Assistant Whips Hon. Archie Hamilton June 1983 – October 1984   John Major January 1983 – October 1984   Douglas Hogg February 1983 – October 1984   Michael Neubert June 1983 – February 1986   Hon. Tim Sainsbury June 1983 – October 1985   Tony Durant October 1984 – October 1986   Peter Lloyd October 1984 – October 1986   Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd October 1984 – October 1986   Francis Maude October 1985 – June 1987   Gerald Malone February 1986 – June 1987   David Lightbown October 1986 – June 1987   Michael Portillo October 1986 – June 1987   Richard Ryder October 1986 – June 1987   Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe 11 June 1983   Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Timothy Raison June 1983 – 10 September 1986 also Minister of Overseas Development Richard Luce 11 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   Malcolm Rifkind 13 June 1983 – 11 January 1986   The Baroness Young 13 June 1983 – 13 June 1987   Tim Renton 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987   Lynda Chalker 11 January 1986 – June 1987 Chris Patten 10 September 1986 – June 1987 Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ray Whitney 13 June 1983   Tim Renton 11 September 1984   Timothy Eggar 2 September 1985   Minister for Overseas Development Timothy Raison June 1983   Chris Patten 10 September 1986 also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Home Secretary Leon Brittan 11 June 1983   Hon. Douglas Hurd 2 September 1985   Minister of State for Home Affairs David Waddington June 1983 – 13 June 1987   Hon. Douglas Hurd June 1983 – September 1984   The Lord Elton 11 September 1984 – 25 March 1985   Giles Shaw 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986   David Mellor 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   The Earl of Caithness 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs The Lord Elton June 1983 – 11 September 1984   David Mellor June 1983 – 10 September 1986   The Lord Glenarthur 27 March 1984 – 10 September 1986   Hon. Douglas Hogg 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Jopling 11 June 1983   Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food John MacGregor 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   The Lord Belstead 13 June 1983 – 13 June 1987   John Gummer 2 September 1985 – June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Peggy Fenner June 1983 – 10 September 1986   Donald Thompson 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Minister for the Arts The Earl of Gowrie 13 June 1983   Richard Luce 2 September 1985   Secretary of State for Defence Michael Heseltine June 1983   Hon. George Younger 9 January 1986   Minister of State for the Armed Forces John Stanley 13 June 1983   Minister of State for Defence Procurement Geoffrey Pattie 13 June 1983   Hon. Adam Butler 11 September 1984   Norman Lamont 2 September 1985   The Lord Trefgarne 21 May 1986   Minister of State for Defence Support The Lord Trefgarne 2 September 1985 – 21 May 1986   Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces The Lord Trefgarne 13 June 1983 – 1 September 1985   Roger Freeman 21 May 1986 – June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Ian Stewart June 1983 – 18 October 1983   John Lee 18 October 1983 – 10 September 1986   Hon. Archie Hamilton 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Secretary of State for Education Sir Keith Joseph, Bt June 1983   Kenneth Baker 21 May 1986   Minister of State, Education and Science Chris Patten 5 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   Angela Rumbold 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science Hon. Peter Brooke 13 June 1983 – 19 November 1985   Bob Dunn 13 June 1983 – June 1987   George Walden 19 November 1985 – 13 June 1987   Secretary of State for Employment Norman Tebbit June 1983   Tom King 16 October 1983   The Lord Young of Graffham 2 September 1985   Minister of State, Employment Hon. Peter Morrison 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   John Gummer 18 October 1983 – 11 September 1984   Kenneth Clarke 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987 Also Paymaster General Under-Secretary of State, Employment John Gummer June 1983 – 18 October 1983   Alan Clark 13 June 1983 – 24 January 1986   Peter Bottomley 11 September 1984 – 23 January 1986   David Trippier 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987   Ian Lang 31 January 1986 – 10 September 1986   John Lee 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Secretary of State for Energy Peter Walker 11 June 1983   Minister of State, Energy Alick Buchanan-Smith 13 June 1983   Under-Secretary of State, Energy The Earl of Avon June 1983 – 11 September 1984   Giles Shaw 13 June 1983 – 11 September 1984   David Hunt 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987   Alastair Goodlad 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987   Secretary of State for the Environment Patrick Jenkin 11 June 1983   Kenneth Baker 23 September 1985   Hon. Nicholas Ridley 21 May 1986   Minister of State for Local Government The Lord Bellwin June 1983   Kenneth Baker 11 September 1984   Hon. William Waldegrave 2 September 1985   Rhodes Boyson 10 September 1986   Minister of State for Housing Ian Gow 13 June 1983   John Patten 2 September 1985   Minister of State, Environment The Lord Elton 27 March 1985 – 10 September 1986   Hon. William Waldegrave 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Sport Neil Macfarlane June 1983 – 2 September 1985   Richard Tracey 7 September 1985 – 13 June 1987   Under-Secretary of State, Environment Sir George Young, Bt June 1981 – 10 September 1986   Hon. William Waldegrave 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   The Earl of Avon 11 September 1984 – 27 March 1985   Angela Rumbold 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   The Lord Skelmersdale 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Christopher Chope 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Secretary of State for Social Services Norman Fowler June 1983   Minister of State, Health Kenneth Clarke June 1983   Barney Hayhoe 2 September 1985   Tony Newton 10 September 1986   Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security Tony Newton June 1983 – 11 September 1984   John Patten 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   The Lord Glenarthur 14 June 1983 – 26 March 1985   Ray Whitney 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986   The Baroness Trumpington 30 March 1985 – 13 June 1987   John Major 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   Nicholas Lyell 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Edwina Currie 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Minister of State, Social Security Rhodes Boyson 12 June 1983 – 11 September 1984   Tony Newton 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986   John Major 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Minister of State, Industry and Information Technology Kenneth Baker June 1983 under Office of Trade and Industry from 12 June 1983 Geoffrey Pattie 11 September 1984 Office abolished 13 June 1987 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Cockfield 11 June 1983   The Earl of Gowrie 11 September 1984   Norman Tebbit 3 September 1985   Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Prior June 1983   Hon. Douglas Hurd 11 September 1984   Tom King 3 September 1985   Minister of State, Northern Ireland Hon. Adam Butler June 1983 – 11 September 1984   The Earl of Gowrie June 1983 – September 1983   The Earl of Mansfield 13 June 1983 – 12 April 1984   Rhodes Boyson 11 September 1984 – 10 September 1986   Nicholas Scott 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Nicholas Scott June 1983 – 11 September 1986   Chris Patten 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   The Lord Lyell 12 April 1984 – June 1987   Richard Needham 3 September 1985 – June 1987   Peter Viggers 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Brian Mawhinney 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Paymaster General Vacant 11 June 1983   John Gummer 11 September 1984   Kenneth Clarke 2 September 1985 also Minister of State, Employment Minister without Portfolio The Lord Young of Graffham 11 September 1984 – 3 September 1985   Secretary of State for Scotland Hon. George Younger June 1983   Malcolm Rifkind 11 January 1986   Minister of State for Scotland The Lord Gray of Contin 13 June 1983 – 11 September 1986   The Lord Glenarthur 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Allan Stewart June 1983 – 10 September 1986   John MacKay June 1983 – 14 June 1987   Michael Ancram 13 June 1983 – 14 June 1987   Ian Lang 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Minister of State for Trade Paul Channon 13 June 1983 under Office of Trade and Industry Alan Clark 24 January 1986   Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Cecil Parkinson 12 June 1983   Norman Tebbit 16 October 1983   Leon Brittan 2 September 1985   Paul Channon 24 January 1986   Minister of State for Trade and Industry Norman Lamont 13 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   Hon. Peter Morrison 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   Giles Shaw 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry John Butcher 14 June 1983 – June 1987   Alexander Fletcher 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   David Trippier 14 June 1983 – 2 September 1985   The Lord Lucas of Chilworth 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987   Michael Howard 2 September 1985 – 13 June 1987   Secretary of State for Transport Tom King 11 June 1983   Hon. Nicholas Ridley 16 October 1983   John Moore 21 May 1986   Minister of State, Transport Lynda Chalker 18 October 1983 – 10 January 1986   David Mitchell 23 January 1986 – June 1987   Under-Secretary of State for Transport Lynda Chalker June 1983 – 18 October 1983   David Mitchell 11 June 1983 – 23 January 1986   Michael Spicer 11 September 1984 – 13 June 1987   The Earl of Caithness 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   Peter Bottomley 23 January 1986 – June 1987   The Lord Brabazon of Tara 10 September 1986 – June 1987   Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards June 1983   Minister of State for Wales John Stradling Thomas June 1983 – 2 September 1985   Under-Secretary of State for Wales Wyn Roberts June 1983 – 13 June 1987   Mark Robinson 3 October 1985 – 15 June 1987   Attorney General Michael Havers June 1983   Solicitor General Sir Patrick Mayhew 13 June 1983   Lord Advocate The Lord Mackay of Clashfern June 1983   The Lord Cameron of Lochbroom 16 May 1984   Solicitor General for Scotland Peter Fraser June 1983   Treasurer of the Household John Cope 11 June 1983   Comptroller of the Household Carol Mather June 1983   Hon. Robert Boscawen 16 October 1986   Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Hon. Robert Boscawen June 1983   Tristan Garel-Jones 16 October 1986   Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Denham June 1983   Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Earl of Swinton June 1983   The Viscount Davidson 10 September 1986   Lords-in-Waiting The Viscount Long June 1983 – 2 May 1997   The Lord Lyell June 1983 – 12 April 1984   The Lord Skelmersdale June 1983 – 10 September 1986   The Lord Lucas of Chilworth June 1983 – 9 September 1984   The Baroness Trumpington 11 June 1983 – 25 March 1985   The Earl of Caithness 8 May 1984 – 2 September 1985   The Lord Brabazon of Tara 19 September 1984 – 10 September 1986   The Baroness Cox 3 April 1985 – 2 August 1985   The Viscount Davidson 17 September 1985 – 10 September 1986   The Baroness Hooper 17 September 1985 – 14 June 1987   The Lord Hesketh 10 September 1986 – June 1987   The Lord Beaverbrook 10 September 1986 – June 1987   The Earl of Dundee 3 October 1986 – June 1987