Second Major ministry

Major Ministry
89th ministry of the United Kingdom
(since 1707)
1992–1997
Date formed 10 April 1992
Date dissolved 2 May 1997
People and organisations
Head of government John Major
Deputy head of government Michael Heseltine (1995–97)
Head of state Queen Elizabeth II
Member party Conservative Party
Status in legislature Majority (1992–December 1996)
Minority (December 1996–1997)
Opposition cabinet
Opposition party Labour Party
Opposition leader
History
Election(s) 1992 general election
Outgoing election 1997 general election
Predecessor First Major ministry
Successor First Blair ministry

John Major formed the Second Major ministry following the 1992 general election.

Formation

The change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a dramatic turnaround in Tory support, with the double-digit Labour lead in the opinion polls being replaced by a narrow Tory one by the turn of 1991. Although a general election did not have to be held until June 1992, Labour leader Neil Kinnock kept pressurising Major to hold an election during 1991, but Major resisted the calls and there was no general election that year.

The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, with unemployment standing at nearly 2.5million by December 1991, compared to 1.6million just 18 months earlier. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins, although Labour still made some gains at the expense of the Tories in local elections, and seized the Monmouth seat from the Tories in a by-election.

Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992. Most pollsters suggested a hung parliament or a narrow Labour majority, but in the event the election produced a Tory win. The Tories had their majority reduced to 21 (they had held a 102-seat majority at the election five years earlier) but attracted a record mandate of more than 14 million votes. Neil Kinnock then resigned as leader of the Labour Party, a position he had held for nearly a decade.

There was widespread media and public debate as to whether the Labour Party could ever win a general election again, as they had failed to do so in 1992, despite the Conservative government having been in power for over a decade and presiding over a recession for the second time. At the same time, there was much private debate (made public many years later in the memoirs of senior figures including John Major himself) within the Conservative government as to whether a fifth successive general election victory was a realistic possibility.

The new term of parliament saw Major gain a new opponent in John Smith, who succeeded Neil Kinnock as Labour leader.

However, the months which followed the 1992 general election saw a series of events which went a long way towards deciding the outcome of the next general election long before it was even on the political horizon.

Fate

On 16 September 1992 the pound sterling crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont had invested heavily in trying to keep it there, adjusting interest rates four times in one day as a desperate measure, an event which became known as Black Wednesday, leaving the Tory government's reputation for economic excellence in tatters. Labour was soon ascendant in the opinion polls, and next few years brought a string of heavy defeats for the Tories in local council elections and parliamentary by-elections, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats benefiting at their expense.

Tory feuding on Europe and the government defeat on the Maastricht Treaty further dented the government's popularity, as did coal mine closures announce in late 1992, and a series of scandals involving MP's.

The end of the recession was declared in April 1993 after nearly three years, and unemployment – which had peaked at nearly 3 million by the end of 1992 – quickly began to fall. It had fallen below 2,500,000 within two years of the recession's end, and by the end of 1996 it was below 2 million. Freed from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the British economy outperformed the rest of the continent for the first time in a generation.

However, the strong economic recovery failed to make much difference to the dismal Tory showing in the opinion polls. Labour leader John Smith died of a heart attack in May 1994 and was succeeded by Tony Blair, who continued the modernisation process of the party which began under Smith's predecessor Neil Kinnock, and by the end of that year the opinion polls were showing Labour support as high as 60% – putting them more than 30 points ahead of the Tories.

With the Tory government remaining divide on Europe and much more, John Major announced his resignation as party leader - but not as prime minister - in June 1995, triggering a leadership election. He was opposed by John Redwood, the Secretary of State for Wales, and won the leadership election.

The 21-seat Tory majority was gradually eroded by a string of by-election defeats as well as the defection of one MP to Labour, and by the turn of 1997 they were without a Commons majority.

John Major left it until the last possible moment before calling a general election, finally holding it on 1 May 1997. He pinned his hopes of election success on a six-week campaign exposing New Labour's policies to scrutiny, as well as pointing towards a booming economy and falling unemployment. However, as the Tories had denied responsibility for the recession at the turn of the decade, few voters were willing to give them credit for the economic recovery, and Labour returned to power after 18 years with a 179-seat majority that saw several leading Tory MP's (most notably Michael Portillo, widely tipped to be the next Tory leader) lose their seats and leave them without any MP's in Wales or Scotland. The Conservatives suffered their worst general election result of the 20th century and their place in government was taken by Labour, led by Tony Blair, after 18 years and four successive parliamentary terms of Conservative government.[1]

The Conservatives did not return to government until 2010, and did not win a parliamentary majority until 2015, having had to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in order to form their first government under David Cameron.

Cabinet

April 1992 to May 1993

Also attending Cabinet:

Changes

May 1993 to July 1994

Also attending Cabinet:

July 1994 to July 1995

Also attending Cabinet:

July 1995 to May 1997

Also attending Cabinet:

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service		John Major28 November 1990 – 1 May 1997 
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Mackay of Clashferncontinued in office 
Lord President of the CouncilTony Newton10 April 1992 
Lord Privy SealThe Lord Wakeham11 April 1992 
Viscount Cranborne20 July 1994 
Chancellor of the ExchequerNorman Lamont28 November 1990 
Kenneth Clarke27 May 1993 
Chief Secretary to the TreasuryMichael Portillo10 April 1992 
Jonathan Aitken20 July 1994 
The Hon. William Waldegrave5 July 1995 
Minister of State, TreasurySir John Cope14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994also Paymaster-General
Anthony Nelson20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 
David Heathcoat-Amory20 July 1994 – 20 July 1996also Paymaster-General
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryRichard Ryder28 November 1990 
Alastair Goodlad 5 July 1995 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryStephen Dorrell14 April 1992 
Sir George Young, Bt20 July 1994 
Michael Jack5 July 1995 
Lords of the TreasuryGreg Knightcontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
Irvine Patnickcontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Nicholas Baker3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 
Tim Wood14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 
Tim Boswell14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 
Timothy Kirkhope11 December 1992 – 5 July 1995 
Andrew MacKay27 May 1993 – 17 October 1995 
Derek Conway20 July 1994 – 23 July 1996 
Andrew Mitchell20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
Bowen Wells5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Simon Burns5 July 1995 – 23 July 1996 
David Willetts5 July 1995 – 28 November 1995 
Michael Bates17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996 
Liam Fox28 November 1995 – 23 July 1996 
Patrick McLoughlin23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 
Roger Knapman23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 
Richard Ottaway23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 
Gyles Brandreth11 December 1996 – 1 May 1997 
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsDouglas Hurd 26 October 1989 
Malcolm Rifkind5 July 1995 
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsLynda Chalkercontinued in office – 1 May 1997also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992
Tristan Garel-Jonescontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
The Hon. Douglas Hoggcontinued in office – 5 July 1995 
Alastair Goodlad15 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 
David Heathcoat-Amory27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 
David Davis20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 
Jeremy Hanley5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Bt5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsThe Hon. Mark Lennox-Boydcontinued in office 
vacant20 July 1994 
Liam Fox23 July 1996 
Minister for Overseas DevelopmentLynda Chalker, Baroness Chalker of Wallaseycontinued in officealso Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentKenneth Clarke11 April 1992 
Michael Howard27 May 1993 
Minister of State for Home AffairsThe Earl Ferrerscontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Michael Jack14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
Peter Lloyd14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
David Maclean27 May 1993 – 1 May 1997 
Michael Forsyth20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
The Baroness Blatch20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 
Ann Widdecombe5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsCharles Wardle15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
Nicholas Baker20 July 1994 – 17 October 1995 
Timothy Kirkhope17 October 1995 – 1 May 1997 
The Hon. Tom Sackville28 November 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJohn Gummercontinued in office 
Gillian Shephard24 May 1993 
The Hon. William Waldegrave20 July 1994 
The Hon. Douglas Hogg5 July 1995 
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodDavid Curry14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
Michael Jack27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 
Tony Baldry5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodThe Hon. Nicholas Soames14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
The Earl Howe14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 
Angela Browning20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 
Tim Boswell5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 
Secretary of State for DefenceMalcolm Rifkind15 April 1992 
Michael Portillo5 July 1995 
Minister of State for the Armed ForcesThe Hon. Archie Hamiltoncontinued in office 
Jeremy Hanley27 May 1993 
The Hon. Nicholas Soames20 July 1994 
Minister of State for Defence ProcurementJonathan Aitken14 April 1992 
Roger Freeman20 July 1994 
James Arbuthnot6 July 1995 
Under-Secretary of State for DefenceViscount Cranborne22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Henley20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 
The Earl Howe6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for EducationJohn Patten10 April 1992 
Gillian Shephard20 July 1994Secretary of State for Education and Employment after 5 July 1995
Minister of State, EducationThe Baroness Blatch14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
Eric Forth20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997Minister of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995
Minister of State, Education and EmploymentThe Lord Henley6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State, EducationEric Forth14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
Nigel Forman14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 
Tim Boswell19 December 1992 – 6 July 1995 
Robin Squire27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995
Under-Secretary of State, Education and EmploymentJames Paice7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Cheryl Gillan6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for EmploymentGillian Shephard12 April 1992 
David Hunt27 May 1993 
Michael Portillo20 July 1994Merged with the Office of Education 5 July 1995
Minister of State, EmploymentMichael Forsyth14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
Ann Widdecombe20 July 1995 – 5 July 1995 
Under-Secretary of State, EmploymentThe Viscount Ullswatercontinued in office – 16 September 1993 
Patrick McLoughlin14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
Ann Widdecombe27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Henley16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 
James Paice20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
Phillip Oppenheim20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
Minister of State, EnergyTimothy Eggar15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994under Office of Trade and Industry; became Minister of State, Energy and Industry 20 July 1994
Secretary of State for the EnvironmentMichael Howard11 April 1992 
John Gummer27 May 1993 
Minister of State for Local GovernmentJohn Redwood15 April 1992 
David Curry27 May 1993 
Minister of State for HousingSir George Young, Bt28 November 1990 
The Viscount Ullswater20 July 1994Post renamed Minister of State for Construction 6 July 1995
Minister of State for ConstructionRobert Jones6 July 1995 
Minister of State for Environment and CountrysideDavid Maclean14 April 1992 
Tim Yeo27 May 1993 
Robert Atkins7 January 1994 
The Earl Ferrers6 July 1995 
Under-Secretary of State, EnvironmentTony Baldry28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Strathclyde15 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 
Robin Squire15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
The Baroness Denton16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 
The Earl of Arran11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 
Sir Paul Beresford20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Robert Jones20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 
James Clappison6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for HealthVirginia Bottomley10 April 1992 
Stephen Dorrell5 July 1995 
Minister of State, HealthBrian Mawhinney14 April 1992 
Gerry Malone20 July 1994 
Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social SecurityThe Hon. Tom Sackville14 April 1992 – 29 November 1995 
The Baroness Cumberlege14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997
Tim Yeo15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
John Bowis27 May 1993 – 23 July 1996 
John Horam29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Simon Burns23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for Social SecurityPeter Lilley10 April 1992 
Minister of State, Social SecurityNicholas Scottcontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
William Hague20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Alistair Burt6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State, Social SecurityAnn Widdecombe30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 
Alistair Burt14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 
William Hague27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 
The Viscount Astor16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 
James Arbuthnot20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 
Roger Evans20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Andrew Mitchell6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Oliver Heald6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Hon. William Waldegrave11 April 1992also Minister for the Public Service
David Hunt20 July 1994also Minister for the Public Service
Roger Freeman5 July 1995also Minister for the Public Service
Parliamentary Secretary for the Public ServiceRobert V. Jackson15 April 1992 
David Davis27 May 1993 
Robert Hughes20 July 1994 
John Horam6 March 1995 
David Willetts28 November 1995 
vacant20 July 1996 
Michael Bates16 December 1996 
Secretary of State for National HeritageDavid Mellor11 April 1992 
Peter Brooke25 September 1992 
Stephen Dorrell20 July 1994 
Virginia Bottomley5 July 1995 
Minister of State, National HeritageIain Sproat6 July 1995 
Under-Secretary of State, National HeritageRobert Key14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
Iain Sproat27 May 1993 – 6 July 1995 
The Viscount Astor20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 
The Lord Inglewood6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for Northern IrelandSir Patrick Mayhew10 April 1992 
Minister of State, Northern IrelandRobert Atkins14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 
Michael Mates15 April 1992 – 24 June 1993 
Sir John Wheeler25 June 1993 – 2 May 1997 
Michael Ancram
(The Marquess of Lothian)		11 January 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State, Northern IrelandJeremy Hanley3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 
The Earl of Arran22 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 
Michael Ancram
(The Marquess of Lothian)		27 May 1993 – 5 January 1994 
The Baroness Denton20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Tim Smith6 January 1994 – 20 October 1994 
Malcolm Moss25 October 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Paymaster-GeneralSir John Cope14 April 1992also Minister of State, Treasury
David Heathcoat-Amory20 July 1994also Minister of State, Treasury
David Willetts20 July 1996 
Michael Bates16 December 1996 
Minister without PortfolioJeremy Hanley20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 
Brian Mawhinney5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for ScotlandIan Lang28 November 1990 
Michael Forsyth5 July 1995 
Minister of State for ScotlandThe Lord Fraser of Carmyllie14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 
The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandThe Lord James Douglas-Hamiltoncontinued in office – 6 July 1995 
Allan Stewart28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 
Sir Hector Monro14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 
George Kynoch8 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 
The Earl of Lindsay6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Raymond Robertson6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Minister for Consumer AffairsThe Earl Ferrers20 July 1994Under Office of Trade and Industry; office abolished 6 July 1995
Minister for TradeRichard Needham
(The Earl of Kilmorey)		14 April 1992 
Anthony Nelson6 July 1995 
Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryMichael Heseltine10 April 1992 
Ian Lang5 July 1995 
Minister for IndustryTim Sainsbury15 April 1992 
vacant20 July 1994 
Minister of State for Trade and IndustryThe Lord Strathclyde11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Minister of State, Energy and IndustryTimothy Eggar20 July 1994 
Greg Knight23 July 1996 
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryEdward Leighcontinued in office – 27 May 1993 
Neil Hamilton14 April 1992 – 25 October 1994 
The Baroness Denton14 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 
Jonathan Evans27 October 1994 – 29 November 1995 
Patrick McLoughlin27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Strathclyde16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 
Charles Wardle20 July 1994 – 11 February 1995 
Ian Taylor20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Richard Page14 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Phillip Oppenheim7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 
John Mark Taylor29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for TransportJohn MacGregor10 April 1992 
Brian Mawhinney20 July 1994 
Sir George Young, Bt5 July 1995 
Minister for Public TransportRoger Freeman28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 
Minister for Railways and RoadsThe Earl of Caithness14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 
John Watts20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
Under-Secretary of State for TransportKenneth Carlisle14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 
Steven Norris14 April 1992 – 23 July 1996 
Robert Key27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 
The Viscount Goschen20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
John Bowis23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 
Secretary of State for WalesDavid Huntcontinued in office 
John Redwood27 May 1993 
William Hague5 July 1995 
Minister of State for WalesWyn Robertscontinued in office – 20 July 1994 
Under-Secretary of State for WalesNicholas Bennett3 December 1990 – 14 April 1994 
Gwilym Jones14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 
Rod Richards20 July 1994 – 2 June 1996 
Jonathan Evans2 June 1996 – 2 May 1997 
Attorney GeneralSir Patrick Mayhewcontinued in office 
Sir Nicholas Lyell9 April 1992 
Solicitor GeneralSir Derek Spencer15 April 1992 
Lord AdvocateThe Lord Rodger of Earlsferry15 April 1992 
The Lord Mackay of Drumadoon7 November 1995 
Solicitor General for ScotlandThomas Dawson15 April 1992Not an MP
Donald Mackay4 May 1995Not an MP
Paul Cullen7 November 1995Not an MP
Treasurer of the HouseholdDavid Heathcoat-Amory15 April 1992 
Greg Knight7 June 1993 
Andrew MacKay23 July 1996 
Comptroller of the HouseholdDavid Lightbown28 November 1990 
Timothy Wood7 July 1995 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdSydney Chapman15 April 1992 
Timothy Kirkhope7 July 1995 
Andrew MacKay18 October 1995 
Derek Conway23 July 1996 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord Hesketh2 May 1991 
The Viscount Ullswater16 September 1993 
The Lord Strathclyde20 July 1994 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Earl of Strathmore30 December 1991 
The Earl of Arran20 July 1994 
The Lord InglewoodJanuary 1995 
The Lord Chesham8 July 1995 
Lords-in-WaitingThe Lord Cavendish of Furnesscontinued in office – 22 April 1993 
The Viscount Astorcontinued in office – 16 September 1993 
The Viscount St Davids22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
The Viscount Goschen22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 
The Baroness Trumpington22 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 
The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish15 October 1993 – 11 January 1994 
The Lord Annaly18 March 1994 – 20 July 1994 
The Lord Lucas of Crudwell21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
The Baroness Miller of Hendon21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 
The Lord Inglewood21 July 1994 – January 1995 
The Earl of Lindsay12 January 1995 – 6 July 1995 
The Earl of Courtown8 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 

References

  1. ↑ "John Major: A life in politics". BBC News. 28 September 2002.

Further reading

Preceded by
First Major ministry		 Government of the United Kingdom
1992–1997 		Succeeded by
First Blair ministry
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