The Seeds Of Revival (British Political Timeline, 1995-Present)

"We'd won a vote of confidence two years before, we were still popular with the public, in spite of the scandals that plagued the party since then. The Conservative Party could've won an election comfortably. What he did made absolutely no sense to the party, to the house or to the people."
- Former Chancellor of the Exchequer (1993-95), Ken Clarke​

For John Major, life as Prime Minister was never the same after Black Wednesday. Britain's forced removal of the pound sterling from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (EERM) in September 1992 threw the country's stance on Europe up in the air, and this also took its toll on the Conservative Party. The formation of the European Union divided the Tories, with the Eurosceptic "Maastricht Rebels" calling for a vote of confidence motion. Major narrowly won this, avoiding defeat and a second General Election in fourteen months, but his tenure was never the same, as those same Eurosceptics rallied against Major in the party, which, coupled with the revelations of "sleaze" attributed to several key government figures, resulted in the Prime Minister becoming hugely unpopular.

"Major had to make that choice, either he walked, or the party died, never to return from the backbenches, simple as. It's just a shame that he couldn't rescue the Conservative Party either way. Too many bridges had been burned."
- Former Leader of the Opposition (2001-2003, 2005-2006), Lord Hague​

With pressure mounting against him both publicly and privately, the Prime Minister made the choice to call a leadership election, believing that no dominant figures within the party would stand against him. How very wrong he was.

This timeline explores British politics over the last twenty-one years, drawing from the personal accounts of notable politicians in that time to bring you an unrestricted view of how the government of the United Kingdom became respected again, after years of relative unpopularity. It's time to explore...

The Seeds of Revival

A timeline of British politics from 1995 to 2016, and beyond...
 
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BBC Six O'Clock News
Thursday 22nd June 1995


Martyn Lewis: Hello and welcome to the Six O'Clock News with Martyn Lewis, on a day of uncertainty for politics, as the Prime Minister, John Major is expected to make a comment on his future as leader of the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister has been hounded by numerous high-profile Tory MPs for the last three years, with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty leading to the creation of a division within government, with Major becoming increasingly caught in the crossfire, as the opposition, along with Eurosceptic rebels, continue to assume that the Prime Minister is a weak leader. Only time will tell if Mr Major can recover from this setback and win back some of his key allies within the party, but for now, let's go to Jeremy Paxman in the garden of 10 Downing Street, where Mr Major will shortly be making a press statement. Jeremy, what are the scenes like outside 10 Downing Street this evening?

Paxman: Well, Martyn, I think it is safe to say that this comment is no ordinary speech, as there are press associates from all across the globe preparing to watch on. John Major's government has been dogged by a number of setbacks and scandals in recent years, and slowly, but surely, these setbacks have depleted the government, leading to key MPs denouncing the Prime Minister as weak, a far cry from the days of Mrs Thatcher, only five years ago, I might add. Nevertheless, up until about ten minutes ago, this speech was expected to be nothing out of the ordinary, but since then, Associated Press have been speaking in hushed tones, and what they claim is quite extraordinary-

Lewis: Jeremy, if I could just interrupt you there, we can now see the Prime Minister and his aides in the garden of 10 Downing Street, and it looks as if the Prime Minister is about to give his speech to the people of Britain.



John Major: Let me just make a brief statement to you. I've been deeply involved in politics since I was sixteen. I see public service as a duty and if you can serve, I believe you have an obligation to do so.
I've now been Prime Minister for nearly five years. In that time we've achieved a great deal, but for the last three years I've been opposed by a small minority in our party. During those three years there have been repeated threats of a leadership election. In each year, they have turned out to be phoney threats. Now the same thing again is happening in 1995.
I believe this is in no one's interest that this continues right though until November. It undermines the Government and it damages the Conservative Party. I am not prepared to see this party I care for laid out on the rack like this any longer.
To remove this uncertainty I have this afternoon tendered my resignation as leader of the Conservative Party to Sir Marcus Fox, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, and requested him to set the machinery in motion for an election of a successor.
Of course, this will also mean that I will no longer serve my duties as Prime Minister of this country, and it is with a heavy heart that I also tender my resignation from that role. The political wrangling that I have been subjected to, ever since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty just three years ago, is nothing short of appalling behaviour, and therefore, a new leader for this party, with a newer, fresh approach, must be a man with the Conservative Party's full support. It has become clear to me that I am not that man, meaning that I will not be standing as a candidate in the leadership election.
Finally, in my last statement as Prime Minister to you, the people of Britain, I thank you all for the support you have offered me since that fateful day in November 1990, and I urge that you offer my successor your full support, in the same vein as you have with me. Thank you.


Lewis: Well, there we have it, ladies and gentlemen, John Major has resigned from his role as leader of the Conservative Party, and as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.​
 

THE TIMES
23rd June 1995

Major Resigns, Leadership Election On 5th July
Reactions to resignation come in as first three candidates announced

The Prime Minister, John Major, resigned yesterday during a brief press statement in the garden of 10 Downing Street, attributing his decision to the growing dissent within the Conservative Party. Here are a few responses from the political world to the resignation:

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Leader of the Opposition, Tony Blair MP: I was shocked and saddened to learn of Mr Major's resignation yesterday evening, as he has always been a formidable opponent within the House of Commons. Whilst I may have rarely agreed with him, I do wish him many successes in the near future, both as a backbench MP, and as a political commentator outside of the House, and I have no doubts that he will do an ample job, just as he did as Prime Minister.

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The President of the United States, Bill Clinton: I may have only spent two years corresponding with John Major, but within that stretch of time, and in spite of personal and political differences, we have developed a real bond, and I will miss working alongside him in foreign affairs. I wish every success in his future career.

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Former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher: Whilst I may have put my weight behind John Major initially, I now realise that I made a truly grave mistake. As Prime Minister, Major has been both foolish and weak, and with his resignation, the Conservative Party can be returned to its former glories.

In other news, the first three candidates for the Conservative leadership election have been announced:

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Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary of State for Defence: A notable pro-European, Rifkind has been Secretary of State for Defence since the last General Election. In this role, he has made significant progress in terms of providing Britain with a strong military arsenal, in spite of recent treasury cuts to the defence budget. Otherwise best known for implementing the unpopular "community charge" whilst Scottish Secretary in 1988, and for unsuccessfully introducing privatisation of the railways whilst Transport Secretary. As a politician, Rifkind is known for having strong and established principles, but his alliance with John Major, along with his numerous failings whilst in Cabinet, means that he has little to no chance of becoming the next Conservative Leader.

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John Redwood, Secretary of State for Wales: A notable Eurosceptic, Redwood is held in high regard within the Conservative Party, as one of the rising stars of British politics. In terms of political achievements, Redwood is perhaps best-known for pushing for further funding within schools and health services in Wales, however, he recently made a slip-up when caught miming to the Welsh national anthem at the Conservative Party conference. Redwood is considered one of the favourites to succeed John Major at the moment, with only his stance on Europe risking the alienation of key Tory figures, such as John Major and Kenneth Clarke.

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Michael Portillo, Secretary of State for Employment: Portillo is seen as an outright supporter of Major, but he has been critical of the former Prime Minister's European policy previously without rallying against it, meaning that he could be seen as appealing to the entire party. Portillo has only been a cabinet member for ten months, meaning he has enforced very few standout policies, but his astute political mind, along with his fresh approach to conservative politics, makes him the early front runner in the contest.

There are still three names yet to be declared on the ballot paper, who are believed to be prominent Tory Party members from both Thatcher and Major's governments. They are expected to be announced in the next week.
 
Interesting.

A different outcome to our timeline where Major basically challenged his critics to in his words "put up or shut up." Though whoever becomes prime minister now is going to have to deal with a parliamentary conservative party that is basically tearing itself apart, Europe was only the catalyst that started that self destruction which had been quietly building in the background from the moment Thatcher stepped down as leader and prime minister.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.
 
THE TIMES

25th June 1995

Three Other Candidates for Tory Leadership Election Announced
Major and Thatcher reveal their endorsements as leadership debate is scheduled for 1st July

On an otherwise quiet Saturday afternoon, the Conservative Party announced the final three candidates, who are as follows:



Michael Heseltine, President of the Board of Trade: This man needs no introduction. One of Thatcher's closest allies, as well as perhaps her harshest critic, Heseltine was one of the main figures in the former Prime Minister's resignation, only narrowly losing the leadership election to John Major. At 62, this will surely be his last shot at top brass, but a man of his political experience surely has to be a front runner.



Edwina Currie, Former Under Secretary of State for Health: A prominent backbencher, Mrs Currie has been tipped for several Cabinet positions in the past, yet has chosen to largely remain out of the limelight, in part due to the salmonella in eggs scandal of 1988 which threatened to derail her political career completely. As a well-known figure in British politics, Edwina would be a recognisable Prime Minister, but her apparent allegiance to former Prime Minister, John Major, may cost her dearly in the long-run.



William Hague, Minister of State for The Disabled: Mr Hague is the youngest candidate at the age of just 34, and is the most inexperienced, with just six years spent in Parliament. However, do not bet against the upstart, who has earned the approval of several key Conservative MPs, and may be an outside bet if Messrs Heseltine or Portillo crash out at the final hurdle.

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In other news, Margaret Thatcher and John Major have both announced who they will be backing in the leadership election. Thatcher, Britain's longest-serving 20th century Prime Minister, has publicly endorsed William Hague, stating: "A man of his intelligence will provide a clean slate for the Conservative Party to build upon, meaning that age simply does not make a difference." Major, on the other hand, has surprisingly chosen to back his former Secretary of State for Defence, Malcolm Rifkind, saying: "Malcolm is a courageous politician and an absolute gentleman who has always had the party's interests at heart. He is the perfect candidate to lead this party going into the inevitable General Election that is to come, and he is the perfect man to deal with the ramifications of that election."

The leadership debate is scheduled to take place on BBC One on Saturday night at 6:30, make sure to watch and take note of who comes out of the debate strongly, as they may just be the country's next Prime Minister.

Also, don't forget to vote in the Conservative Party Leadership Opinion Poll, to voice your opinion on who should be the next Tory leader, and Prime Minister.

Conservative Leadership Opinion Poll
 
Edwina Currie! Now that WOULD be controversial! And potentially explosive.

Firstly, she became depicted as a Cruella de Ville character by the likes of Spitting Image and Private Eye. Not the easiest of politicians to warm to.

Secondly, she was closer to Major in more ways than one. They had an affair a few years earlier than this scenario is set. Amazingly it was kept under wraps and kept a secret for the entire length of Majors premiership.

Had Currie become a nominee for Tory leader, she'd have to hope and pray her affair with Major did not come back to haunt her. Esp. with a number of Tory ministers and MP's getting caught out having affairs with young women who were clearly not their wives!
 
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