John Major became prime minister at a difficult time for the UK. He was the one who succeeded the leader of the Conservatives, Margaret Thatcher.
In the article, in addition to information about John Major, you can learn about the modern political system of Great Britain, and more precisely about the parties of Great Britain.
Career start
The future prime minister was born on May 29, 1943 in London. His father was a former circus performer who became a theater manager.
John Major was interested in politics from a young age. At the beginning of the journey, he made speeches in one of the markets in Brixton, where an impromptu tribune was located. In 1964, a young man was elected to the council of one of the districts. He got the post of deputy chairman of one of the committees. Major changed districts in 1971 and lost his seat on the council in an election.
Gene Kierens played a significant role in the career of the future prime minister. The woman was thirteen years older than him. She became his mentor and later his lover. Thanks to her, Major became more ambitious, learned many politic altricks. The relationship between John and Jean continued from 1963-1968.
Prior to his election to Parliament, Major worked in banking.
Work in Parliament
John Major tried to get into Parliament in 1974, but failed. He was elected in the 1979 elections, in which he ran for the Conservatives. He was supported by the county of Huntingdonshire. He was re-elected there in 1987, 1992, 1997.
Government Positions:
- Secretary of Parliament;
- Deputy Minister for Social Affairs;
- Minister of Social Affairs;
- Deputy Minister of Finance;
- Foreign Minister;
- Chancellor of the Exchequer.
In 1990, the Conservatives held a re-election of the leader. Margaret Thatcher won in the first round, but due to a possible split in the party, she withdrew her candidacy from the second round. John Major won this election and was appointed prime minister on 1990-27-11.
Premiership
During his tenure as prime minister, Major faced the following challenges:
- beginning of the Gulf War;
- critical situation in Northern Ireland;
- global recession;
- "Black Wednesday" - financial crisis due to currency speculation and the fall of the British pound.
Government work
The government of John Major worked from 1990 to 1997. During this time, representatives of Parliament tried to achievesettlement of the situation in Northern Ireland. By the spring of 1992, negotiations began. They dragged on for many years, a lot of blood was shed due to the activities of terrorist organizations. As a result, by 1996, the negotiations reached an impasse, drowning in procedural issues.
The government continued the policy of privatization. Due to the closure of unprofitable coal mines, mass protests of miners began. By 1993, Parliament gave the go-ahead for the privatization of the railway.
Great difficulties arose in European politics.
According to some experts, John Major's policy was indecisive. This was especially true of the issue of removing the pound from the European monetary system. If the Prime Minister had withdrawn the pound at the beginning of the crisis, billions of pounds would not have been wasted.
No matter how other politicians reacted to his actions, Major managed to stay prime minister until the 1992 election campaign. The Conservatives were predicted to lose from Labor. But the campaign led by the leader of the conservatives brought him victory. He became Prime Minister again.
He remained in office until the 1997 elections, in which the Conservatives were thoroughly defeated by the Labor Party. Tony Blair is the new Prime Minister.
It so happened historically that in the UK the main parties were the Conservatives, the Liberals, and later the Labor Party. Are there other parties in the country?
Modern party system
In its history, the UK party system has not undergone significant changes. However, sinceAs time went by, there were more parties. Although the most popular and significant are two of them. It is they who are fighting for the premiership.
Main UK parties:
- Conservative.
- Labour.
The Liberal Democrats and the PNSC are also considered quite large. There are about twenty parties registered and active in the country. Some of them are represented in Parliament.
UK parties elected to Parliament:
- Conservative - Founded in 1870. Her ancestors were Tories.
- PNUK (Independence Party of the United Kingdom) - the year of foundation 1993. The Anti-Federalist Union became the progenitors. The party is in favor of leaving the European Union.
- Liberal - founded in 1988 by a merger of liberals and social democrats.
- Labour - Founded in 1900. Be in power from 1997 to this day.
- Scottish National - founded in 1928. Supports Scottish independence.
- Wales (Plaid Camry) - Founded in 1925. Advocates for Wales to self-govern.
- Ulster Unionist Party - formed in 1905.
