Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 1989
Encyclopedia
The 1989 Conservative Party
leadership election took place on 5 December 1989. The incumbent Margaret Thatcher
was opposed by the little known 69-year-old backbencher MP Sir Anthony Meyer
, Bt.
, Nigel Lawson
, had resigned in October over Thatcher's determination to to follow the advice of her advisers, specifically Sir Alan Walters
. In 1989 Labour won their first national electoral victory since 1974 in the elections to the European Parliament
, beating the Conservatives. Opinion polls were also starting to show a widening Labour lead.
As a result Thatcher faced mounting internal party criticism, which culminated in the decision of Meyer to offer a stalking horse
candidacy for the party leadership.
Sir Anthony Meyer was critical of the recently introduced Community Charge
(which was seen by many as the key factor in the government's declining popularity), Thatcher's leadership style and her Euroscepticism
.
Thatcher won the contest overwhelmingly and her campaign was organised by former UK Cabinet minister, George Younger
. She announced to the press outside 10 Downing Street, Thatcher said:
However, a total of 60 Conservative MPs failed to support Thatcher by either actively voting for Meyer, spoiling their ballot papers, or abstaining. After the ballot Meyer said:
Within the year, as Poll tax
sparked public uproar, the economy slid towards recession and the Labour lead in the opinion polls mounted into double digits, Thatcher would be ousted as party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
following a further contest in November 1990
.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
leadership election took place on 5 December 1989. The incumbent Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
was opposed by the little known 69-year-old backbencher MP Sir Anthony Meyer
Anthony Meyer
Sir Anthony John Charles Meyer, 3rd Baronet was a British soldier, diplomat, and Conservative and later Liberal Democrat politician, best known for standing against Margaret Thatcher for the party leadership in 1989...
, Bt.
Background
During 1989 the Conservative government led by Thatcher had run into difficulties. The Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson
Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989...
, had resigned in October over Thatcher's determination to to follow the advice of her advisers, specifically Sir Alan Walters
Alan Walters
Professor Sir Alan Arthur Walters was a British economist, best known as the former Chief Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1989 after his return from the USA.- Early life :...
. In 1989 Labour won their first national electoral victory since 1974 in the elections to the European Parliament
European Parliament election, 1989 (UK)
The European Parliament Election, 1989 was the third European election to be held in the United Kingdom. It was held on 15 June. The electoral system was First Past the Post in England, Scotland and Wales and Single Transferable Vote in Northern Ireland. The turnout was again the lowest in Europe...
, beating the Conservatives. Opinion polls were also starting to show a widening Labour lead.
As a result Thatcher faced mounting internal party criticism, which culminated in the decision of Meyer to offer a stalking horse
Stalking horse
A stalking horse is a person who tests a concept with someone or mounts a challenge against them on behalf of an anonymous third party. If the idea proves viable and/or popular, the anonymous figure can then declare their interest and advance the concept with little risk of failure...
candidacy for the party leadership.
Sir Anthony Meyer was critical of the recently introduced Community Charge
Community Charge
The Community Charge, popularly known as the "poll tax", was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of the rates to part fund local government in Scotland from 1989, and England and Wales from 1990. It provided for a single flat-rate per-capita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the...
(which was seen by many as the key factor in the government's declining popularity), Thatcher's leadership style and her Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
.
Results
| Ballot: 5 December 1989 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990... |
314 | 84.0 | |
| Anthony Meyer Anthony Meyer Sir Anthony John Charles Meyer, 3rd Baronet was a British soldier, diplomat, and Conservative and later Liberal Democrat politician, best known for standing against Margaret Thatcher for the party leadership in 1989... |
33 | 8.8 | |
| Abstentions | 3 | 0.8 | |
| Spoilt | 24 | 6.4 | |
| Majority | 281 | 75.1 | |
| Turnout | 374 | ||
| Thatcher re-elected | |||
Thatcher won the contest overwhelmingly and her campaign was organised by former UK Cabinet minister, George Younger
George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie
George Kenneth Hotson Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie KT KCVO TD PC was a British politician and banker....
. She announced to the press outside 10 Downing Street, Thatcher said:
- I would like to say how very pleased I am with this result and how very pleased I am to have had the overwhelming support of my colleagues in the House and the people from the party in the country.
However, a total of 60 Conservative MPs failed to support Thatcher by either actively voting for Meyer, spoiling their ballot papers, or abstaining. After the ballot Meyer said:
- I was quite surprised to get so many votes, I thought I'd be beaten by the abstentions. The total result I think is rather better than I'd expected and not quite as good as some of my friends were hoping for.
Within the year, as Poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
sparked public uproar, the economy slid towards recession and the Labour lead in the opinion polls mounted into double digits, Thatcher would be ousted as party leader and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
following a further contest in November 1990
Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 1990
The 1990 Conservative Party leadership election in the United Kingdom took place in November 1990 following the decision of former Defence and Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine to stand against the incumbent Conservative leader and Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.Thatcher failed to win...
.