Thatcherism: An historical perspective

Transactions of the Royal Historical Society

Volumn 9, Issue , 1999, Pages 17-42

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EID: 61949294819     PISSN: 00804401     EISSN: 14740648     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/3679391     Document Type: Review

References (96)

1. Robert Skidelsky, amongst others, has rightly pointed out that 'Mrs Thatcher is the only Prime Minister whose name has given rise to an "ism"', 'Introduction' to idem (ed.), Thatcherism (London, 1988), p. 2.
2. In the former category, see in particular, P. Jenkins, Mrs Thatcher's Ravolution (London, 1985)
3. P. Riddell, The Thatcher Government (London, 1989)
4. H. Young, One of Us (London, 1990).
5. For the latter see, for example, A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London, 1994, 2nd edn)
6. K. Minogue and M. Biddiss (eds), Thatcherism: Pasonality and Politics (London, 1987)
7. R. Skidelsky (ed.), Thatcherism, K. Hoover and R. Plant, Conservative Capitalism in Britain and America (London, 1989)
8. T. Hames and A. Adonis (eds), A Conservative Revolution (Manchester, 1994).
9. See Riddell, Thatcher Government, p. 21.
10. See, for example, Michael Biddiss' remark that in 1975 'Thatcherism ... was ... still only quite imperfectly formed', 'Thatcherism: Concept and Interpretations', in Minogue and Biddiss (eds), Thatcherism, p. 6.
11. See R. Cockett, Thinking the Unthinkable (London, 1993), pp. 254-74.
12. See M. Wickham-Jones, 'Right Turn: A Revisionist Account of the 1975 Conservative Party Leadership Election', TCBH, viii, 1997.
13. For a summary of this argument, see Skidelsky, 'Introduction', pp. 10-13
14. and note Kenneth Minogue's remark that 'The real context of Thatcherism is to be found in the troubles ... in the 1970s', Minogue and Biddiss (eds), Thatcherism, xii.
15. M. Thatcher in New York, 15 Sept. 1975, reprinted in idem, The Ravival of Britain (London, 1989), p. 3.
16. For a discussion of 'Victorian values' against this backdrop, see T. C. Smout (ed.), Victorian Values (London, 1992).
17. J. Gould and D. Anderson, 'Thatcherism and British Society', in Minogue and Biddiss (eds), Thatcherism, pp. 42-3.
18. Sir Keith Joseph, London, 1 Jan. 1975, reprinted in idem, Reversing the Trend (London, 1975). p. 57 (my emphasis).
19. M. Thatcher, The Path to Power (London, 1994), p. 566, my emphasis.
20. See, for example, Sir Keith Joseph at Upminster, 22 June 1974, in idem, Reversing, p. 7 (my emphasis).
21. N. Ridley, My Style of Government: the Thatcher Years (London, 1991), p. 2.
22. C. Parkinson, Right at the Centre (London, 1991), p. 191.
23. A. Roberts, Eminent Churchillians (London, 1994), p. 253.
24. For this interpretation, see K. O. Morgan, The People's Peace (Oxford, 1991), pp. 31-2.
25. For a different analysis, see H. Jones, 'The Conservative Party and the Welfare State, 1942-55', unpublished London University PhD thesis, 1992.
26. See K. Jeffreys, 'British Politics and Social Policy During the Second World War', Historical Journal, XXX, 1987
27. and Jones, 'Conservative Party', passim.
28. R. Assheton to R.A. Butler, 21 Dec. 1942, Butler paper, Trinity College Library, Cambridge, MS RAB, H77, fol. 70.
29. Report on the Beveridge Proposals, 19 Jan. 1943, Conservative Party Archive [hereafter CPA], Bodleian Library, Oxford, Conservative Research Department [hereafter CRD] 2/28/6.
30. For the Conservative critique of Labour's health policy, see in particular, C. Webster, 'Conflict and Consensus: Explaining the British Health Service', TCBH, I, 1990.
31. I. Zweiniger-Bargielowska, 'Rationing, Austerity and the Conservative Party Recovery After 1945', Historical Journal, xxxvi, 1993.
32. See ibid., and also idem, 'Consensus and Consumption: Rationing, Austerity and Controls after the War', in H. Jones and M. Kandiah (eds), The Myth of Consensus (Basingstoke, 1996), pp. 78-96.
33. 'The Floating Vote', 6 Dec. 1949, CRD 2/21/1, in M. Kandiah, 'Conservative Leaders' Strategy - and Consensus, 1945-64', in The Myth of Consensus, p. 63.
34. Lord Woolton to Conservative Constituency Agents, 8 May 1947, Woolton papers, Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS WLTN, fols 66-7. For the Conservatives' view of the Liberals as subaltem anti-Socialists, see E.H.H. Green, 'The Conservative Party, the State and the Electorate, 1945-64', in M. Taylor and J. Lawrence (eds), Party, State and Society in Modern Britain (Aldershot, 1996).
35. Sheffield Conservative Party Agent, quoted in J. Ramsden, The Age of Churchill and Eden (London, 1996), p. 150.
36. R. Law, Return from Utopia (London, 1950).
37. National Union, Conference Report, 1952, CPA, Microfilm Cards 8-9.
38. I. Macleod and E. Powell, The Social Services: Needs Not Means (London, 1952).
39. Although the fact that the 'Robot' scheme to float the pound was so heavily canvassed, it is a significant indication that 'Keynesian' thinking was by no means entrenched in the party. See N. Rollings, 'Poor Mr. Butskell: A Short Life Wracked by Schizophrenia', TCBH, v, 1994.
40. See Green, 'Conservative party', in Taylor and Lawrence (eds), Party, State and Society.
41. Macmillan to M. Fraser, 17 Feb. 1957, Public Record Office, PREM 11/1816.
42. See J. Ramsden, Winds of Change: the Age of Macmillan and Heath (London, 1996), pp. 19, 29.
43. T. Constantine to O. Poole, 10 June 1956, CPA, CCO 120/3/4.
44. See Green, 'Conservative party', and idem, 'The Treasury Resignations of 1958 Reconsidered' (forthcoming).
45. For a discussion of the PSG's work, see Green, 'Conservative party', and for the PCFFSS, see R. Lowe, 'The Failure to Reform the Welfare State', in I. Zweiniger-Bargielowska and M. Francis (eds), The Conservatives and British Society in the 20th Century (Cardiff, 1997). For the deliberations of the PCNI, see CRD 2/6/2,3 in the CPA.
46. PSG, Minutes of the 4th Meeting, 15 July 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.
47. Through much of 1957 Macmillan offered a great deal of support to Thorneycroft and his team, which in part explains the legacy of bitterness which his 'back-pedalling' in the winter of 1957-8 engendered. See Green, 'Treasury Resignations'.
48. PCNI, Terms of Reference, CRD 2/6/2, CPA.
49. PCNI, Chairman's notes at the 17th Meeting, record by J. Douglas, CRD, 16 Dec. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/6/3.
50. Minutes of the ACP, 25 Jan. 1957, CPA, ACP 2/1.
51. For rank-and-file criticisms of Conservative trade union policy in the early 1950s, see Roberts, Eminent Churchillians, pp. 259-71.
52. For a particularly uncomfortable conference for Macleod on this issue, see the debate at the party conference at Llandudno in 1956.
53. The most powerful advocates were the MP John Simon and Peter Goldman from the party's Research Department.
54. PSG, Minutes of the 4th Meeting, 12 Apr. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.
55. J. Douglas to J. Rodgers, 8 Aug. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/9/38.
56. It is perhaps worth noting that one of the members of the Society who took part in the discussions leading to the publication of this document was Geoffrey Howe.
57. See R. Shepherd, Iain Macleod (London, 1994), p. 149.
58. E. Powell to J. Pain, n.d., Mar. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/26.
59. PSG, 13th Meeting, 24 Feb. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.
60. Chairman's notes of the Meeting of the ACP, 9 Dec. 1959, CPA, ACP 1/10.
61. P. Goldman, at PSG 2nd Meeting, 15 Mar. 1957, CPA, CRD 2/53/28.
62. Home to R. A. Butler, 4 Mar. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/29.
63. H. Macmillan, diary entry, 21 Sept. 1961, in idem, At the End of the Day (London, 1973), p. 37.
64. For the most detailed description of these initiatives, see K. Middlemass, Power Competition and the State (3 vols, 1986-91), ii, pp. 28-58.
65. See Ramsden, Winds of Change, pp. 245-53.
66. J. E. Powell, A Nation Not Afraid (London, 1965).
67. See J. E. Powell, Freedom and Reality (London, 1969), where extracts from these speeches are collected.
68. I. Macleod in The Spectator, quoted in D. E. Schoen, Powell and the Powellites (London, 1977). p. 15.
69. For example, Putting Britain Right Ahead called for tax reductions, stimulation of competition, trade union reform and selectivity in the social services.
70. See R. Cockett, Thinking the Unthinkable (London, 1994), pp. 159-99.
71. Boyle, Memorandum to Shadow Cabinet, 25 July 1967, ibid.
72. A. Seldon, Swinton Journal
73. quoted in Winds of Change, p. 280.
74. Sunday Times, 25 June 1965
75. quoted in Schoen, Powell, p. 15.
76. Report of the PGNI, CRD 3/17/12, CPA.
77. for Joseph's, see R. Taylor, 'The Heath Government, Industrial Policy and the "New Capitalism"', in A. Seldon and S. Ball (eds), The Heath Government, 1970-74: A Reappraisal (London, 1996), p. 145.
78. M. Fraser to J. Douglas, 18 May 1970, quoted in The Heath Government, p. 146.
79. J. Campbell, Edward Heath (London, 1993), pp. 265-7.
80. The only exception was the discussion of trade unions. See Shadow Cabinet Conference, Selsdon Park, 7th Session, 1 Feb. 1970, CRD 3/9/93, CPA.
81. CRD document, 'Other Issues Requiring Policy Decisions', n.d., Jan. 1970, CRD 3/9/92, CPA.
82. CRD document, 'Publication of Policy During 1070, n.d., Jan. 1070, CRD 3/9/92, CPA.
83. CRD document, 'Controlling Prices', 21 Jan. 1970, CRD 3/9/g2, CPA.
84. Selsdon Park Shadow Cabinet Conference, 7th Session, 1 Feb. 1970, CRD 3/9/93, CPA.
85. That the IEA, always quick to be critical of the Conservatives, greeted Heath's election with optimism is significant here. See Cockett, Thinking, p. 200, for the IEA's reaction.
86. See Seldon and Ball, introduction to idem (eds), The Heath Government, and Campbell, Heath, pp. 451-6, 468-83.
87. Lord Young, The Enterprise Years (London, 1991), p. 16.
88. N. Tebbitt, Upwardly Mobile (London, 1988), p. 94.
89. N. Lawson, The View from No. 11 (London, 1994), p. 14.
90. Macmillan's comments are recorded in P. Walker, Slaying Power (London, 1991), p. 138.
91. A. Heath et al., Understanding Political Change (Oxford, 1991), pp. 102-19, 136-55.
92. C. Hill to R.A. Butler, 11 Feb. 1958, CPA, CRD 2/53/29.
93. K. Joseph, Monetarism is Not Enough (London, 1976), pp. 17-19.
94. J.D. Marlow, Questioning the Post-War Consensus These (Aldershot, 1996), p. 13.
95. Jones and Kandiah (eds), Myth.
96. Professor Peter Clarke, personal remark to the author, c. May 1992.