Thatcher II Cabinet
The Thatcher II cabinet was formed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 1983 by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the Conservative Party and replaced the Thatcher I cabinet . The cabinet remained in office until June 13, 1987, when it was replaced by the Thatcher III cabinet .
Reigned 1983 to 1987
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 opposition Labor Party had 209 seats, while 44 seats went to other parties. The actual loser of the election is the SDP-Liberal Alliance, made up of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Liberal Party, which despite almost the same number of votes of 7,780,949 (25.4 percent) to the Labor Party (8,456,934 voters, 27.6 percent) received only 23 of the 44 other mandates due to majority voting.
In March 1984 the miners strike began under the leadership of the chairman of the mining union NUM ( National Union of Mineworkers ) under the leadership of Arthur Scargill , who saw this strike as a fundamental opposition to the policies of the Thatcher government. The sometimes bitter clashes as well as riots with massive police operations lasted a year and were the longest industrial action in Great Britain in the 20th century. The final surrender of the strikers was at the same time the symbol of the lasting loss of power of the trade unions.
After tough negotiations, on June 26, 1984, Thatcher's government achieved a reduction in its contribution to the financing of the European Communities (EC). With the signing of the Northern Ireland Agreement on November 15, 1984 between the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, Ireland was given a fundamental say in matters affecting Northern Ireland. In the weeks that followed, however, there were major protests by the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland. On August 24, 1986, the state-owned energy company British Gas was privatized .
In the general election of June 11, 1987 , the Conservative Party was confirmed as the strongest party. Of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, the Conservative Tories had 376 seats, while the Labor Party had 229 and the other parties 45 members. Margareth Thatcher then formed her third government.
minister
The Cabinet consisted of the following ministers:
| Office | Surname | Beginning of the term of office | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| prime minister | Margaret Thatcher | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Lord President of the Council | William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Lord Chancellor | Quintin Hogg, 2nd Viscount Hailsham | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Foreign minister | Geoffrey Howe | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Interior minister |
Leon Brittan Douglas Hurd |
June 11, 1983 September 2, 1985 |
September 2, 1985 June 13, 1987 |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Nigel Lawson | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Minister of Education |
Keith Joseph Kenneth Baker |
June 11, 1983 May 21, 1986 |
May 21, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Northern Ireland |
James Prior Douglas Hurd Tom King |
June 11, 1983 September 10, 1984 September 3, 1985 |
September 10, 1984 September 3, 1985 June 13, 1987 |
| Energy minister | Peter Walker | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Defense Minister |
Michael Heseltine George Younger |
June 11, 1983 January 9, 1986 |
January 9, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Scotland | George Younger Malcolm Rifkind |
June 11, 1983 January 9, 1986 |
January 9, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Wales | Nicholas Edwards | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Environment Minister |
Patrick Jenkin Kenneth Baker Nicholas Ridley |
June 11, 1983 September 2, 1985 May 21, 1986 |
September 2, 1985 May 21, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Lord Seal Keeper | John Biffen | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Social Services | Norman Fowler | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Employment |
Norman Tebbit Tom King David Young, Baron Young of Graffham |
June 11, 1983 October 16, 1983 September 3, 1985 |
October 16, 1983 September 3, 1985 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Trade and Industry |
Cecil Parkinson Norman Tebbit Leon Brittan Paul Channon |
June 11, 1983 October 16, 1983 May 2, 1985 January 24, 1986 |
October 16, 1983 May 2, 1985 January 24, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |
Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield Gray Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie Norman Tebbit |
June 11, 1983 September 10, 1984 September 3, 1985 |
September 10, 1984 September 3, 1985 June 13, 1987 |
| Transport Minister | Tom King Nicholas Ridley John Moore |
June 11, 1983 October 16, 1983 May 21, 1986 |
October 16, 1983 May 21, 1986 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister for Agriculture and Food | Michael Jopling | June 11, 1983 | June 13, 1987 |
| Chief Secretary of the Treasury |
Peter Rees John MacGregor |
June 11, 1983 September 2, 1985 |
September 2, 1985 June 13, 1987 |
| Minister with no portfolio | David Young, Baron Young of Graffham | September 11, 1984 | 3rd September 1985 |
| Paymaster General | Kenneth Clarke | 2nd September 1985 | 3rd September 1985 |
Background literature
- The big Ploetz. The Encyclopedia of World History , Verlag Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 35th edition, 2008, p. 1513 f., ISBN 978-3-525-32008-2