【正文】
? Only 47 on accession ? Early success with Gulf war, 1991 –Record popularity ? Abolished poll tax which had brought down Thatcher Unpromising reelection prospects ? longest recession since 1930s ? consumer unconfidence 1990, Tories drooped ? Tories 30% 1990, Lab 53% ? voters polarized by Mrs. Thatcher ? Short bounces from Major?s accession and Gulf War Economic policy Uturn ? Major eased interest rates Oct 1990 ? Lamont increased PSBR (unThatcherite) Won 1992 election by upset ? Polls predicted hung Parliament ? Neil Kinnock?s welsh oratory ? Labour?s slick Americanstyle campaigning ? Major?s Lambeth soapbox speechifying ? Major?s man in the street style. Won 1992 election by upset ? voters lied – or opinion polls skewed? ? Late deciders Tory ? “best to control economy” swing to Tory ? Tories returned with small majority ? Lost only 41 seats, retained 43% of vote Economic difficulties ? Stagflation 199293 ? Black Wednesday, 16 Sep. 1992, ERM withdrawal Statesmanship ? European engagement: – EU?s Maastricht Treaty 1992, despite – Tory “bastard” eurosceptic rebels (Lilley, Portillo Howard) – Labour tactical forced vote defeat on EU Social Chapter – Major forced vote of no confidence, won by 40 – Opted out of Euro currency, protected British economy Northern Ireland ? Irish peace talks earned Companion of Honour – IRA ceasefire 1994 – despite mortar bombing of – denied negotiating secretly with IRA 1993 – “it would turn my stomach” – t