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Second Thatcher ministry

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This article is about the people in Margaret Thatcher's second government. For the events of Thatcher's second term as prime minister, see Premiership of Margaret Thatcher § Second term (June 1983 – June 1987).
Main article: List of ministers under Margaret Thatcher

Second Thatcher ministry

Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1983–1987
Thatcher in 1983
Date formed10 June 1983 (1983-06-10)
Date dissolved11 June 1987 (1987-06-11)
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Prime Minister's historyPremiership of Margaret Thatcher
Deputy Prime Minister[note 1]
Total no. of members219 appointments
Member party  Conservative Party
Status in legislatureMajority
397 / 650 (61%)
Opposition cabinet
Opposition party  Labour Party
Opposition leader
History
Election1983 general election
Outgoing election1987 general election
Legislature terms49th UK Parliament
Budgets
PredecessorFirst Thatcher ministry
SuccessorThird Thatcher ministry

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.

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

Formation

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See also: Premiership of Margaret Thatcher § Second term (June 1983 – June 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.

Fate

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Further information: 1987 United Kingdom general election

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).

Cabinet

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June 1983 to June 1987

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Changes

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List of ministers

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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  

Notes

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  1. ^ William Whitelaw did not officially hold the title of Deputy Prime Minister (Hennessy 2001, p. 405). He only served as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party.

References

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  • Hennessy, Peter (2001), "A Tigress Surrounded by Hamsters: Margaret Thatcher, 1979–90", The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders since 1945, Penguin Group, ISBN 978-0-14-028393-8
  • British Cabinet and Government Membership, archived from the original on 16 January 2009, retrieved 20 April 2012
  • British Government 1979–2005, archived from the original on 7 February 2012, retrieved 20 November 2007
Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
1983–1987 		Succeeded by
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