November 9 East Germany: announced opening of its border with West Germany. Demolition of Berlin Wall began 10 November.
December 5 PM defeated Sir Anthony Meyer in leadership election 314:33. Twenty-seven abstained.
December 10 Czechoslovakia: end of communist rule.
December 22 Romania: Ceauşescu overthrown.
1990
February 2 South Africa: President de Klerk announced unbanning of ANC. Nelson Mandela released February 11.
March 31 Trafalgar Square riot.
April 24–25 PM visited Turkey on seventy-fifth anniversary of Gallipoli landings.
July 6 NATO summit in London.
July 9 Houston G7 summit.
July 14 Nick Ridley resigned.
July 30 IRA murdered Ian Gow.
August 2 Gulf: Iraq invaded Kuwait. PM held talks in Aspen, Colorado with President Bush.
September 17–19 PM visited Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
October 3 German reunification.
October 27–28 Rome European Council.
November 1 Geoffrey Howe resigned.
November 19–21 CSCE summit in Paris.
November 20 Conservative leadership first ballot: MT 204, Heseltine 152, 16 abstentions.
November 22 PM announced decision not to contest second ballot. Final speech to the Commons as PM.
November 28 MT resigned as PM.
The Cabinet and other important offices
Names marked with an asterisk denote ministers changing jobs or entering the Cabinet for the first time at the beginning of the defined period.
Names in italics denote ministers who left the Government at the end of the defined period.
Names in bold denote Cabinet members. Others in roman.
List of Offices May 1979 — January 1981 January — September 1981
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer HOWE HOWE
Chief Secretary BIFFEN *BRITTAN
Foreign Secretary CARRINGTON CARRINGTON
Home Secretary WHITELAW WHITELAW
Leader H/Commons STEVAS *PYM
Leader H/Lords SOAMES SOAMES
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM HAILSHAM
Ld President SOAMES SOAMES
Ld Privy Seal GILMOUR GILMOUR
Chllr of the Duchy STEVAS *PYM
Agriculture WALKER WALKER
Defence PYM *NOTT
Education CARLISLE CARLISLE
Employment PRIOR PRIOR
Energy HOWELL HOWELL
Environment HESELTINE HESELTINE
DHSS JENKIN JENKIN
Industry JOSEPH JOSEPH
Northern Ireland ATKINS ATKINS
Paymaster-General MAUDE *PYM
Scotland YOUNGER YOUNGER
Trade NOTT *BIFFEN
Transport (non-cabinet) *FOWLER
Without portfolio – –
Wales EDWARDS EDWARDS
Attorney-General HAVERS HAVERS
Solicitor-General PERCIVAL PERCIVAL
Chmn Party THORNEYCROFT THORNEYCROFT
Chief Whip JOPLING JOPLING
Chmn 1922 Cttee DU CANN DU CANN
- September 1981 — April 1982 April 1982 — January 1983
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer HOWE HOWE
Chief Secretary BRITTAN BRITTAN
Foreign Secretary CARRINGTON *PYM
Home Secretary WHITELAW WHITELAW
Leader H/Commons PYM *BIFFEN
Leader H/Lords LADY YOUNG LADY YOUNG
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM HAILSHAM
Ld President *PYM *BIFFEN
Ld Privy Seal *ATKINS *LADY YOUNG
Chllr of the Duchy *PYM *PARKINSON
Agriculture WALKER WALKER
Defence NOTT NOTT
Education *JOSEPH JOSEPH
Employment *TEBBIT TEBBIT
Energy *LAWSON LAWSON
Environment HESELTINE HESELTINE
DHSS *FOWLER FOWLER
Industry *JENKIN JENKIN
Northern Ireland *PRIOR PRIOR
Paymaster-General *PARKINSON PARKINSON
Scotland YOUNGER YOUNGER
Trade *BIFFEN *COCKFIELD
Transport HOWELL HOWELL
Without portfolio – –
Wales EDWARDS EDWARDS
Attorney-General HAVERS HAVERS
Solicitor-General PERCIVAL PERCIVAL
Chmn Party *PARKINSON PARKINSON
Ch Whip JOPLING JOPLING
Chmn 1922 Cttee DU CANN DU CANN
- January — June 1983 June — October 1983
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer HOWE *LAWSON
Chief Secretary BRITTAN *REES
Foreign Secretary PYM *HOWE
Home Secretary WHITELAW *BRITTAN
Leader H/Commons BIFFEN BIFFEN
Leader H/Lords LADY YOUNG *WHITELAW
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM HAILSHAM
Ld President BIFFEN *WHITELAW
Ld Privy Seal LADY YOUNG *BIFFEN
Chllr of the Duchy PARKINSON *COCKFIELD
Agriculture WALKER *JOPLING
Defence *HESELTINE HESELTINE
Education JOSEPH JOSEPH
Employment TEBBIT TEBBIT
Energy LAWSON *WALKER
Environment HESELTINE *KING
DHSS FOWLER FOWLER
Industry/DTI JENKIN *PARKINSON
Northern Ireland PRIOR PRIOR
Paymaster-General PARKINSON VACANT
Scotland YOUNGER YOUNGER
Trade COCKFIELD SEE DTI
Transport HOWELL *RIDLEY
Without portfolio – –
Wales EDWARDS EDWARDS
Attorney-General HAVERS HAVERS
Solicitor-General PERCIVAL PERCIVAL
Chmn Party PARKINSON PARKINSON/GUMMER
ChWhip JOPLING WAKEHAM
Chmn 1922 Cttee DU CANN DU CANN
- October 1983 — September 1984 September 1984 — September 1985
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer LAWSON LAWSON
Chief Secretary REES REES
Foreign Secretary HOWE HOWE
Home Secretary BRITTAN BRITTAN
Leader H/Commons BIFFEN BIFFEN
Leader H/Lords WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM HAILSHAM
Ld President WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Privy Seal BIFFEN BIFFEN
Chllr of the Duchy COCKFIELD *GOWRIE
Agriculture JOPLING JOPLING
Defence HESELTINE HESELTINE
Education JOSEPH JOSEPH
Employment *KING KING
Energy WALKER WALKER
Environment *JENKIN JENKIN
DHSS FOWLER FOWLER
DTI *TEBBIT TEBBIT
Northern Ireland PRIOR *HURD
Paymaster-General VACANT GUMMER (non-cabinet)
Scotland YOUNGER YOUNGER
Transport RIDLEY RIDLEY
Without portfolio – *YOUNG
Wales EDWARDS EDWARDS
Attorney-General HAVERS HAVERS
Solicitor-General *MAYHEW MAYHEW
Chmn Party GUMMER GUMMER
Ch Whip WAKEHAM WAKEHAM
Chmn 1922 Cttee DU CANN ONSLOW
- September 1985 — January 1986 January 1986 — May 1986
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer LAWSON LAWSON
Chief Secretary *MACGREGOR MACGREGOR
Foreign Secretary HOWE HOWE
Home Secretary *HURD HURD
Leader H/Commons BIFFEN BIFFEN
Leader H/Lords WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM HAILSHAM
Ld President WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Privy Seal BIFFEN BIFFEN
Chllr of the Duchy TEBBIT TEBBIT
Agriculture JOPLING JOPLING
Defence HESELTINE YOUNGER
Education JOSEPH JOSEPH
Employment *YOUNG YOUNG
Energy WALKER WALKER
Environment *BAKER BAKE
R
DHSS FOWLER FOWLER
Industry/DTI *BRITTAN *CHANNON
Northern Ireland *KING KING
Paymaster-General *CLARKE CLARKE
Scotland *YOUNGER *RIFKIND
Transport RIDLEY RIDLEY
Without portfolio – –
Wales EDWARDS EDWARDS
Attorney-General HAVERS HAVERS
Solicitor-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Chmn Party TEBBIT TEBBIT
Chief Whip WAKEHAM WAKEHAM
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- May 1986 — June 1987 June 1987 — October 1987
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer LAWSON LAWSON
Chief Secretary MACGREGOR *MAJOR
Foreign Secretary HOWE HOWE
Home Secretary HURD HURD
Leader H/Commons BIFFEN *WAKEHAM
Leader H/Lords WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Chllr HAILSHAM *HAVERS
Ld President WHITELAW WHITELAW
Ld Privy Seal BIFFEN *WAKEHAM
Chllr of the Duchy TEBBIT *CLARKE
Agriculture JOPLING *MACGREGOR
Defence YOUNGER YOUNGER
Education *BAKER BAKER
Employment YOUNG *FOWLER
Energy WALKER *PARKINSON
Environment *RIDLEY RIDLEY
DHSS FOWLER *MOORE
Industry/DTI CHANNON *YOUNG
Northern Ireland KING KING
Paymaster-General CLARKE *BROOKE (non-cabinet)
Scotland RIFKIND RIFKIND
Transport *MOORE *CHANNON
Without portfolio – –
Wales EDWARDS *WALKER
Attorney-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL LYELL
Chmn Party TEBBIT BROOKE
Chief Whip WAKEHAM WADDINGTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- October 1987 — January 1988 January — July 1988
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer LAWSON LAWSON
Chief Secretary MAJOR MAJOR
Foreign Secretary HOWE HOWE
Home Secretary HURD HURD
Leader H/Commons WAKEHAM WAKEHAM
Leader H/Lords WHITELAW *BELSTEAD
Ld Chllr *MACKAY MACKAY
Ld President WHITELAW *WAKEHAM
Ld Privy Seal WAKEHAM *BELSTEAD
Chllr of the Duchy CLARKE CLARKE
Agriculture MACGREGOR MACGREGOR
Defence YOUNGER YOUNGER
Education BAKER BAKER
Employment FOWLER FOWLER
Energy PARKINSON PARKINSON
Environment RIDLEY RIDLEY
DHSS MOORE MOORE
Industry/DTI YOUNG YOUNG
Northern Ireland KING KING
Paymaster-General BROOKE (non-cabinet) BROOKE
Scotland RIFKIND RIFKIND
Transport CHANNON CHANNON
Without portfolio – –
Wales WALKER WALKER
Attorney-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL LYELL
Chmn Party BROOKE BROOKE
Chief Whip WADDINGTON WADDINGTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- July 1988 — July 1989 July — October 1989
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer LAWSON LAWSON
Chief Secretary MAJOR *LAMONT
Foreign Secretary HOWE MAJOR
Home Secretary HURD HURD
Leader H/Commons WAKEHAM *HOWE
Leader H/Lords BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Ld Chllr MACKAY MACKAY
Ld President WAKEHAM *HOWE
Ld Privy Seal BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Chllr of the Duchy *NEWTON *BAKER
Agriculture MACGREGOR *GUMMER
Defence YOUNGER *KING
Education BAKER *MACGREGOR
Employment FOWLER FOWLER
Energy PARKINSON *WAKEHAM
Environment RIDLEY *PATTEN
DSS MOORE *NEWTON
DH *CLARKE CLARKE
DTI YOUNG *RIDLEY
Northern Ireland KING *BROOKE
Paymaster-General BROOKE (non-cabinet) *CAITHNESS
Scotland RIFKIND RIFKIND
Transport CHANNON *PARKINSON
Without portfolio – –
Wales WALKER WALKER
Attorney-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL LYELL
Chmn Party BROOKE *BAKER
Chief Whip *WADDINGTON WADDINGTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- October 1989 — January 1990 January 1990 — May 1990
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer *MAJOR MAJOR
Chief Secretary LAMONT LAMONT
Foreign Secretary *HURD HURD
Home Secretary *WADDINGTON WADDINGTON
Leader H/Commons HOWE HOWE
Leader H/Lords BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Ld Chllr MACKAY MACKAY
Ld President HOWE HOWE
Ld Privy Seal BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Chllr of the Duchy BAKER BAKER
Agriculture GUMMER GUMMER
Defence KING KING
Education MACGREGOR MACGREGOR
Employment FOWLER *HOWARD
Energy WAKEHAM WAKEHAM
Environment PATTEN PATTEN
DSS NEWTON NEWTON
DH CLARKE CLARKE
Industry/DTI RIDLEY RIDLEY
Northern Ireland BROOKE BROOKE
Paymaster-General *RYDER RYDER
Scotland RIFKIND RIFKIND
Transport PARKINSON PARKINSON
Without portfolio – –
Wales WALKER WALKER
Attorney-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL LYELL
Chmn Party BROOKE *BAKER
Chief Whip *RENTON RENTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- May — July 1990 July — November 1990
PM MRS THATCHER MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer MAJOR MAJOR
Chief Secretary LAMONT LAMONT
Foreign Secretary HURD HURD
Home Secretary WADDINGTON WADDINGTON
Leader H/Commons HOWE HOWE
Leader H/Lords BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Ld Chllr MACKAY MACKAY
Ld President HOWE HOWE
Ld Privy Seal BELSTEAD BELSTEAD
Chllr of the Duchy BAKER BAKER
Agriculture GUMMER GUMMER
Defence KING KING
Education MACGREGOR MACGREGOR
Employment HOWARD HOWARD
Energy WAKEHAM WAKEHAM
Environment PATTEN PATTEN
DSS NEWTON NEWTON
DH CLARKE CLARKE
Industry/DTI RIDLEY *LILLEY
Northern Ireland BROOKE BROOKE
Paymaster-General RYDER RYDER
Scotland RIFKIND RIFKIND
Transport PARKINSON PARKINSON
Without portfolio – –
Wales *HUNT HUNT
Attorney-General MAYHEW MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL LYELL
Chmn Party BAKER BAKER
Chief Whip WADDINGTON WADDINGTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW ONSLOW
- November 1990
PM MRS THATCHER
Chllr Exchequer MAJOR
Chief Secretary LAMONT
Foreign Secretary HURD
Home Secretary WADDINGTON
Leader H/Commons *MACGREGOR
Leader H/Lords BELSTEAD
Ld Chllr MACKAY
Ld President *MACGREGOR
Ld Privy Seal BELSTEAD
Chllr of the Duchy BAKER
Agriculture GUMMER
Defence KING
Education *CLARKE
Employment HOWARD
Energy WAKEHAM
Environment PATTEN
DSS NEWTON
DH *WALDEGRAVE
Industry/DTI LILLEY
Northern Ireland BROOKE
Paymaster-General RYDER
Scotland RIFKIND
Transport PARKINSON
Without portfolio –
Wales HUNT
Attorney-General MAYHEW
Solicitor-General LYELL
Chmn Party BAKER
Chief Whip RENTON
Chmn 1922 Cttee ONSLOW
List of Abbreviations
ABM — Anti-Ballistic Missile
ACAS — Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
AGR — Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor
ALCM — Air-launched Cruise Missile
ANC — African National Congress
AUEW — Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers
BL — British Leyland (later Rover Group)
BMA — British Medical Association
BMD — Ballistic Missile Defence
BR — British Rail
BSC — British Steel Corporation
CAP — Common Agricultural Policy
CBI — Confederation of British Industry
CDU — German Christian Democrat Party
CEGB — Central Electricity Generating Board
CFCs — Chlorofluorocarbons
CFE — Conventional Forces in Europe
CHOGM — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
CND — Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
CPRS — Central Policy Review Staff
CPS — Centre for Policy Studies
CSCE — Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
DES — Department of Education and Science
DHA — District Health Authority
DHSS — Department of Health and Social Security(divided from 1988)
DoE — Department of the Environment
DTI — Department of Trade and Industry
DUP — Democratic Unionist Party
E — Economic Committee of the Cabinet
E(A) — Principal sub-committee of E
EBRD — European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC — European Community
ECJ — European Court of Justice
ECOFIN — Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the EC
ECST — European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism
Ecu — European Currency Unit
EDG — European Democratic Group
EDU — European Democratic Union
EFL — External Financing Limit
EFTA — European Free Trade Association
EMS — European Monetary System
EMU — Economic and Monetary Union
EPG — Eminent Persons Group (sent to South Africa)
ERM — Exchange Rate Mechanism (of the EMS)
EXCO — Executive Council (Hong Kong)
FCO — Foreign and Commonwealth Office
FRG — Federal Republic of Germany
FSBR — Financial Statement and Budget Report (‘the Red Book’)
G7 — Group of Seven
GATT — General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
The Downing Street Years, 1979-1990 Page 114