Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet 1982 JHUMUNC 2017 1 Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet 1982 Topic A: Determining Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands Topic B: Establishing a Path to Economic Recovery Committee Overview greater, the fate of the United Kingdom, is at stake. This Cabinet’s job is not only to The committee begins on April 2, protect the UK from domestic and 1982. The Falkland Islands have been international threats, but also to help invaded by the Argentinian Junta at the Margaret Thatcher succeed and thrive as the order of Lieutenant General Leopoldo Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Galtieri and Admiral Jorge Anaya. This during a challenging time. Margaret decision was made after Secretary Nott’s Thatcher’s job as Prime Minister is to lead reluctance to keep the only remaining the country, and help guide its social and British ship in the South Atlantic. This economic policies. As the leader of the signaled British weakness to the rest of the Conservative Party, her job is to keep the world. Conservatives in power as long as possible. It is up to these 22 cabinet ministers To accomplish this goal, she also has to to fend off the Argentinian threat, navigate compromise and work with the Labor Party, the quagmire that is British politics, and which is the second most powerful party in advise Margaret Thatcher, who will be the UK. While the Conservatives supports represented by the chair. Domestically, the right-wing measures, the Labor Party country is facing a recession and supports left-wing measures. consequently faces intense polarization with the Labour party. The Irish Republican Army is becoming more opposed to Margaret Thatcher and her manner of rule, which has contributed to her nickname: the “Iron Lady”. To further complicate matters for the cabinet, Britain and the other Western democracies are embroiled in an ideological war with the Soviet Union. Margaret Thatcher has been the leader of the Conservative Party since 1974, when she defeated Edward Heath in a party leadership contest (in a parliamentary democracy the leader of the party that has Pictured: Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 Cabinet the most seats in Parliament becomes Prime prior to the September 1981 reshuffle. Minister.) This is the first female prime minister in the United Kingdom’s history, and she has taken office at a tremendously tumultuous time. Her legacy and even 2 Parliamentary Procedure military-like discipline with the aim of rehabilitation.1 The Parliamentary Procedure used in this committee will be uniform throughout Francis Pym the entire conference. However, at time Secretary of State for Foreign and some procedures may be overlooked to Commonwealth Affairs maintain the fast pace of the committee. For Francis Pym was Lord President of example, in the event of crises, delegates the Council prior to being appointed may change Parliamentary Procedure to Secretary of State of Foreign and reflect the urgency of said crisis. Commonwealth Affairs in 1982, following Lord Carrington’s resignation during the Falklands War. Pym is known as a “wet,” as Delegate Biographies he is a conservative in opposition to many of Thatcher’s policies, particularly those Note: designed to reduce inflation and public spending. This stance has caused Thatcher’s 1. Cabinet positions are correct as of inner circle to elude Pym despite his high the September 1981 reshuffle. position in the government.2 2. Margaret Thatcher used the term “wet” and “dry” to denote those who John Nott supported her and those who didn’t. Secretary of State for Defense ‘Wets’ are those who Thatcher finds Before being reshuffled to Secretary spineless, as opposed to the ‘dries’ of State for Defense in 1981, John Nott who support monetarist policies served as Secretary of State for Trade in (policies that supported cuts in Thatcher’s Cabinet, where he repealed the government spending and Prices & Incomes policy and privatized borrowing) that are in line with British Airways. In this position, he was Thatcher’s viewpoint. criticized for cutting back on naval spending with the 1981 Defense White Paper, which contributed to Britain’s weak naval display William Whitelaw in the South Atlantic.3 Deputy Prime Minister and Home Secretary William “Willie” Whitelaw was Admiral Lewin appointed to the position after having Chief of Defense Staff shadowed the Home Secretary for three Having served in the Royal Navy for years. Thatcher is a staunch supporter of most of his life, Admiral Terence Lewin is Whitelaw, as he had previously served as Margaret Thatcher’s Chief of Defense Staff. Deputy Prime Minister in Thatcher’s first This position, some say, makes Lewin the Cabinet in 1979. Whitelaw took a hard most powerful man in England. This gives approach to governance, bolstering police forces and prisons in the UK during his tenure, and utilizing a “short, sharp shock” 1 Margaret Thatcher, The Downing Street Years policy of subjecting young criminals to (HarperCollins, 1993), p. 27 2 BBC News. Thatcher's Class of '79 3 Nott, John. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Recollections of an Errant Politician. London: Politico's, 2002. Print. 3 him direct access to Thatcher as her sole the Falklands War in order to have Havers military advisor during the Falklands War.4 knowledge and expertise regarding the rules of engagement and international law.7 Sir Geoffrey Howe Chancellor of the Exchequer Patrick Jenkin As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Secretary of State for Industry Geoffrey Howe is in charge of financial and Patrick Jenkin served as the Minister economic matters in the United Kingdom. for Energy and the Secretary of State for He has adopted policies to reduce inflation Social Services under Thatcher before being and free up the economy, as well appointed Secretary of State for Industry in as transition to indirect taxation. Howe has a 1981. In this position, he headed the tense relationship with Thatcher to say the Department of Trade and Industry, least, as she assured him that any faults and overseeing the energy and technology weakness with their country’s economy sectors. Thatcher recognized Jenkin as loyal would rest solely on his shoulders.5 and trustworthy, despite his decision to vote for Willie Whitelaw.8 Cecil Parkinson Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leon Brittan pay-master general Chief Secretary to the Treasury Cecil Parkinson was appointed Leon Brittan served in the Queen’s Paymaster-General, the position in charge of Counsel and as the Minister of State in the government payments and funds in 1981 and Home Office until 1981, when he was shortly after was named Chancellor of the appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Duchy of Lancaster in 1982. He was also making him the youngest member of appointed to Thatcher’s War Cabinet for the Thatcher’s Cabinet. He warned the other Falklands War despite his relative lack of members of the cabinet that expenditure on experience. Thatcher trusted Parkinson social security, healthcare, and education immensely, giving him positions would have to be cut during the recession, domestically and in her War Cabinet, no matter how unwanted.9 knowing that the Falklands War would have consequences for domestic policy.6 James Prior Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Michael Havers James Prior held the office of Attorney General Secretary of State for Employment under Michael Havers was appointed the Thatcher. In this position, he and Thatcher Attorney-General for England and Wales agreed that trade unions were too powerful and Northern Ireland under Thatcher in and that this must be addressed, but beyond 1979, making him essentially her chief advisor in the governing of these areas. She 7 appointed Havers to her War Cabinet during "Havers, (Robert) Michael Oldfield, Baron Havers (1923–1992)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 4 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47904. p. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/51093 8998. 16 July 1979. Retrieved 30 August 2012. 8 "History of Parliament Online." JENKIN, Patrick 5 The Daily Telegraph, Monday 12 October 2015, (b.1926). N.p., n.d. Web. 11 July 2016. Obituary [paper only], p. 29. 9 Parkhouse, Geoffrey (23 September 1982). "Brittan 6 The London Gazette: no. 52979. p. 11141. 2 July warns 'wets' of cuts". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 1992. 3 July 2014. 4 that, the two had serious disagreements as to Norman Tebbit how the issue should be resolved. As a Secretary of State for Employment result, he was considered to be a ‘Wet’. In Norman Tebbit is a staunch 1981, Prior was named Secretary of State for Thatcherite (Dry) and nationalist. He is Northern Ireland. Many believed that this against trade unions and governmental was because of the many disagreements the intervention in markets. He holds far-right 10 two had over economic issues. views on immigration, European integration, and welfare. He is extremely close with Peter Walker Margaret Thatcher. 13 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Peter Walker is considered to be a Nigel Lawson vocal ‘wet’ and a critic of Thatcher’s Secretary of State for Energy economic policies. He was also a masterful Nigel Lawson is a staunch tactician, running the campaign for Edward Thatcherite (Dry), as he supports many neo- Heath, the former head of the Conservative liberal economics policies. He has a strong Party. An entrepreneur at heart, he was a background in journalism, especially millionaire by the time he took office. financial journalism, which makes him Similar to his parents, he is an avid astute in financial matters. 14 conservative and joined the Young Conservatives at age 13 to eventually 11 Michael Heseltine become national Chairman. Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine is a major Keith Joseph proponent and player in the Right to Buy Secretary of State for Education and Science movement.