Cabinet Thatcher I
The Thatcher I Cabinet was formed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 1979 by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the Conservative Party and replaced the Callaghan government . Margaret Thatcher became the first woman in UK history to serve as Prime Minister. The cabinet remained in office until June 11, 1983, when it was replaced by the Thatcher II cabinet .
Reigned 1979 to 1983
Under the impression of the far-reaching economic crisis and the resulting social struggles for distribution, the political parties initially polarized again at the end of the 1970s. The basic consensus that had existed until then about the establishment of an intervention state with social objectives broke up in view of the obvious fact that this could no longer be financed in the situation at the time. While “ left ” currents were gaining in importance within the Labor Party , the conservative Tories under Margaret Thatcher, who had been party leader since 1975, called for a neoliberal move away from the welfare state and instead advocated the promotion of individualism and market laws.
In the general election of May 3, 1979 , 339 seats out of 635 seats in the House of Commons were held by the Conservative Party, while the previously ruling Labor Party received 269 seats. Other parties had a further 27 MPs. Margaret Thatcher became the first woman in UK history to serve as Prime Minister. The Employment Act in 1980 was the first of eight laws passed by the Thatcher government that severely restricted the power of trade unions and, in particular, the right to strike . In April and August 1981 street battles broke out in London and numerous other cities between colored unemployed youth and right-wing extremist groups of skinheads . On August 10, 1981, ten IRA members died in a British prison as a result of a hunger strike aimed at enforcing their recognition as political prisoners .
After the occupation of the Falkland Islands by Argentina on 2 April 1982, came to the Falklands War between the two countries. With logistical and diplomatic support from the USA , the British armed forces succeeded in retaking the Falkland Islands, which had previously been occupied by Great Britain since 1833. This victory contributed significantly to consolidating Thatcher's position domestically, even in the face of an unemployment rate of 13.8 percent (3.39 million unemployed).
From the general election of June 9, 1983 , Thatcher's Conservative Party emerged stronger. Of the 650 seats, the Tories had 397 seats and the Labor Party 209 seats, while 44 seats went to other parties. Thatcher then formed her second cabinet.
minister
The Cabinet consisted of the following ministers:
| Office | Surname | Beginning of the term of office | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| prime minister | Margaret Thatcher | 4th May 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Interior minister | William Whitelaw | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Lord Chancellor | Quintin Hogg, 2nd Viscount Hailsham | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Foreign minister |
Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington Francis Pym |
May 5th 1979 April 6th 1982 |
April 6, 1982 June 11, 1983 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Geoffrey Howe | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Industry Minister |
Keith Joseph Patrick Jenkin |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Defense Minister | Francis Pym John Nott Michael Heseltine |
May 5, 1979 January 5, 1981 January 6, 1983 |
January 5, 1981 January 6, 1983 June 11, 1983 |
| Lord President of the Council |
Christopher Soames, Baron Soames Francis Pym John Biffen |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 April 7, 1982 |
September 14, 1981 April 6, 1982 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Employment |
James Prior Norman Tebbit |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Lord Seal Keeper |
Ian Gilmour Humphrey Atkins Janet Young, Baroness Young |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 April 6, 1982 |
September 14, 1981 April 6, 1982 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food | Peter Walker | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Environment Minister | Michael Heseltine Tom King |
May 5th 1979 January 6th 1983 |
January 6, 1983 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Scotland | George Younger | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Wales | Nicholas Edwards | May 5th 1979 | June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Northern Ireland | Humphrey Atkins James Prior |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister for Social Services | Partick Jenkin Norman Fowler |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |
Norman St John-Stevas Francis Pym Janet Young, Baroness Young Cecil Parkinson |
May 5, 1979 January 5, 1981 September 14, 1981 April 6, 1982 |
January 5, 1981 September 14, 1981 April 6, 1982 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister of Commerce | John Nott John Biffen Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield |
May 5, 1979 January 5, 1981 April 6, 1982 |
January 5, 1981 April 6, 1982 June 11, 1983 |
| Energy minister |
David Howell Nigel Lawson |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Minister of Education |
Mark Carlisle Keith Joseph |
May 5, 1979 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Chief Secretary of the Treasury | John Biffen Leon Brittan |
May 5, 1979 January 5, 1981 |
January 5, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Paymaster General |
Angus Maude Francis Pym Cecil Parkinson |
May 5, 1979 January 5, 1981 September 14, 1981 |
January 5, 1981 September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
| Transport Minister | Norman Fowler David Howell |
January 5, 1981 September 14, 1981 |
September 14, 1981 June 11, 1983 |
Background literature
- The big Ploetz. The encyclopedia of world history , Verlag Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 35th edition, 2008, p. 1513, ISBN 978-3-525-32008-2