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Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” —Margaret Thatcher Dear Delegates, Welcome to WUMUNS 2018! My name is Stephen Bertelsman, and I am your director for Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet. I am in the class of 2019 at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Political Science and History. In addition to directing this committee, I serve as the president of our Model United Nations team. I have been involved in Washington University’s Model UN organization since my first year and consider my teammates my closest friends. As a native of St. Louis, I cannot wait to welcome you to our city for an exciting weekend. Our committee will begin on May 4, 1979, when Queen Elizabeth II invited Margaret Thatcher to form a government. Thatcher, dubbed “the Iron Lady” by the Soviet press, charged ahead, ready to tackle the daunting issues of the day. But Thatcher, formidable as she may be, cannot lead the whole nation alone. She needs the help of you, her loyal cabinet, to effectively govern the nation. Will you rise to the occasion? Or will you stand idly by as the greatest empire in the world crumbles away? The decisions are yours alone to make. Dare to be bold, but remember the old adage: “The higher up the mountain, the more treacherous the fall.” If you have any questions while preparing for the conference, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. God Save the Queen! Sincerely yours, Stephen Bertelsman Contents Committee Mandate……………….…………..……………………… 1 Background Information..……………………………...…………. 2 A Note about Historical Accuracy and Research…….…….……. 2 The British Government: How It Works.…….…………………….. 2 The Iron Lady’s Rise: The Prime Ministers of the Post- War Era…………….............................................................................. 4 Topic A: Domestic Concerns……………………………………… 7 Topic B: Security Issues..................................................... 8 Topic C: European Union…………………………………………… 9 Topic D: Maintaining Popular and Parliamentary Support…………………………………………………………..…………… 9 Delegate Positions………………………………………………………. 10 Committee Mandate FROM THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE At 9.00 today, 4 May 1979, the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, Leader of the Conservative Party, was summoned to Buckingham Palace to report the results of yesterday’s general election. Upon hearing the outcome and Thatcher’s confidence in her majority, Her Majesty The Queen formally invited Mrs. Thatcher to form a government. After her meeting, Mrs. Thatcher departed for No. 10 Downing Street. The new Cabinet was announced and immediately met to discuss the affairs of state. FROM THE DESK OF THE PRIME MINISTER Dearest Cabinet members, You are my hand-selected. The tasks facing our Government are enormous. We must decide upon a 5 budget, address pressing foreign issues, and deal with whatever crises the universe will throw at us. Although I’m granting you wide authority to govern as you see fit, remember this: I’m not to be trifled with. You work for me. We will enact a conservative vision for this nation without infighting, corruption, or knavish tricks. I reserve final judgement on all matters. If we must pass sweeping new laws, remember the difficulties of wrangling with Parliament. The work ahead is daunting, but I trust you all to work together for the betterment of the nation. God Save The Queen! Background Information A Note This is a historical committee with slight alterations. Committee will about commence on May 4, 1979, when Margaret Thatcher was named prime minister Historical by Queen Elizabeth II. Only slight alterations were made to the cabinet positions; Accuracy the offices and people are real, but may not be tied to this exact start date. When and conducting your research for this committee, it is advisable to read what actually happened in order to understand what can be done. Everything that happened Research before May 4, 1979, has already happened and will not be rewritten. Everything after this date can be rewritten by you, the delegates. Thatcher reigned for a remarkable eleven years. Anything from her tenure is fair game, no matter the current year in committee. Delegates who succeed in this committee will recognize the historical realities but create new solutions and outcomes. While researching, consider: “What if they had taken the other option?”. The British The United Kingdom has one of the world’s oldest governments, with Government: roots extending to the Romans. Presently, the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with power chiefly held by Parliament. British government has How It Works experienced many different phases, but this guide’s focus will be on the government in 1979. At the top of the government is Queen Elizabeth II, who, as 6 the sovereign of the United Kingdom, technically rules the entire country. The government, military, judges, and civil service pledge their loyalty to the sovereign. However, the days of absolute monarchial power are over. In reality, the sovereign is nothing more than a figurehead with very limited powers. The governing power lies in Parliament, which consists of two houses. The upper house is the House of Lords, membership in which is restricted to peers (for example, dukes, earls, viscounts, and barons). The House of Lords, much like the sovereign, is largely ceremonial. While it must vote on all laws, it rarely stops any legislation. Even then, its opposition can only slow legislation, not prevent it. Thus the real power of the British government lies in the House of Commons. The House of Commons contains 650 members of Parliament (MPs) from 650 constituencies across the United Kingdom. MPs are elected when the prime minister, the head of government, calls a general election. Various parties then compete and whichever wins a majority becomes the governing party. However, if a party fails to capture a majority in the House of Commons, then the parties may negotiate with each other to form a coalition government, where two or more parties work together to govern. The United Kingdom has many parties; the two main parties are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. The Conservatives, as their name implies, fall to the right of the political spectrum. Labour represents more leftist interests. When a party captures a majority, or is supported by other parties, it is invited by the sovereign to form a government. The leader of the party then becomes prime minister and selects a cabinet from the elected MPs. Note that if the leader of the party changes due to death, resignation, or an internal party leadership election, the prime minister changes without a general election; the new leader of the ruling party becomes prime minister. The seats in Parliament, as well as the ruling party, remain the same, provided the new prime minister can retain the support of his party. The cabinet comprises ministers, who are also MPs, leading the various governmental departments. The prime minister functions as the chief executive for the nation. He hires and fires the cabinet and dictates policy. It is important to note that “Parliament” and “Government” are not the same and should not be used interchangeably. “Parliament” refers to the 650 MPs and members of the House of Lords who vote on legislation. “Government” comprises the prime minister, cabinet, and other ministers that run the various departments. The Government must maintain the support of Parliament. Without parliamentary support, the Government cannot pass laws and is typically unable to remain in power. The non-majority parties in the Parliament are referred to as Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition, or “the Opposition” for short. The Opposition is led by the leader of the Opposition, who is the foil to the prime minister. The leader of the Opposition has no real power but often resorts to legislative tricks to stymie the prime minister’s agenda and promote policy alternatives from the shadow cabinet, which comprises Opposition ministers with portfolios that mimic those of the prime minister’s cabinet. Shadow ministers are responsible 7 for criticizing the Government departments they seek to lead. Thus, prime ministers face the difficult task of governing while building and maintaining parliamentary support. Members of Parliament gathered in the House of Commons Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons It is important to note that Parliament is not the only government in the country. There are local municipal governments and devolved country-level parliaments. The United Kingdom comprises four countries (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), and the three latter countries have their own local parliaments. Of course, their authority is limited and their actions are always secondary to Parliament in Westminster. Of the separate local governments, Scotland is the most important, with its large population. Northern Ireland technically has a separate local government, but it was suspended due to the increasing unrest in the region as result of conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the late 1960s. In sum, the Queen rules the realm. However, the Crown has delegated much of its authority to Parliament, which is dominated by the House of Commons. The House of Commons, through whichever party controls it, selects the prime minister who truly governs the United Kingdom. The Iron Presently, Thatcher and her government occupy the post-war era, which Lady’s Rise: will be this guide’s focus. World War II shattered Europe. Fascism and The Prime authoritarianism reared their ugly heads, only beaten back by the combined Ministers of powers of the United States, United Kingdom, and the other Allied powers. While the Post- democracy prevailed in Europe, it took many forms. France, for example, developed a presidential system where a central executive commanded the War Era government. West Germany established a system of federalism. The United Kingdom, the only democracy to survive the war intact, stuck to its parliamentary system.
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