Third Thatcher ministry

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Third Thatcher ministry
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (St Edwards Crown).svg
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1987–1990
Margaret Thatcher (1983).jpg
Thatcher in 1983
Date formed12 June 1987 (1987-06-12)
Date dissolved28 November 1990 (1990-11-28)
People and organisations
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Prime Minister's history Premiership of Margaret Thatcher
Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Howe (1989–1990)
Total no. of members245 appointments
Member party  Conservative Party
Status in legislature Majority
Opposition cabinet Kinnock Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party  Labour Party
Opposition leader Neil Kinnock
History
Election 1987 general election
Legislature terms 50th UK Parliament
Budgets
Outgoing formation 1990 Conservative leadership election
Predecessor Second Thatcher ministry
Successor First Major ministry

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.

Contents

This article details the third Thatcher ministry which she led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 to 1990.

Election

The Conservatives were elected for a third successive term in June 1987, with a majority of 102 seats. It enabled Margaret Thatcher to become the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century, as Britain's economic recovery continued.

Section 28

In October 1987, Thatcher during her speech at Conservative Party Conference said, "Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life." [1]

In May 1988, Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government introduced Section 28. [2] The law stopped councils and schools "promoting the teaching of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship." [1] The law also effectively encouraged overt discrimination against LGBT people in the UK. [3]

Fate

Then, on 1 November 1990, came the first of a series of events which would spell the end of Margaret Thatcher's years in power. Geoffrey Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister, long resentful of being ousted as Foreign Secretary, resigned from the cabinet over its European policy. Soon afterward, in his resignation speech in the House of Commons, he publicly denounced Thatcher, having once been one of her closest allies, personally and for her hostility towards the programmes of the European Community. On 14 November, former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher's leadership. Thatcher polled higher than him in the first round of the leadership contest, but failed to gain an outright victory in the first round of voting. [4]

Within minutes of the result being announced, Thatcher informed reporters that she intended to let her name go forward for the second ballot. [5] However, on 22 November, before a second round of the contest could take place, Thatcher announced her resignation as prime minister and Leader of the Conservative Party after more than 11 years, explaining that she was resigning to make way for a leader more likely to win the next general election.

Her successor was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major, who was elected on 27 November 1990, and who at 47 became the youngest Conservative Prime Minister of the 20th century.

Cabinets

June 1987 to July 1989

Changes

  • October 1987 – Lord Mackay of Clashfern succeeds Lord Havers as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
  • January 1988 –Viscount Whitelaw retires and is succeeded by John Wakeham as Lord President of the Council. Lord Belstead succeeds Wakeham as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Lord Belstead succeeds Viscount Whitelaw as Leader of the House of Lords.
  • July 1988 – Department of Health and Social Security broken up into component parts:
    • John Moore continues on as Secretary of State for Social Security.
    • Kenneth Clarke becomes Secretary of State for Health. Tony Newton succeeds Clarke as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

July 1989 to November 1990

Changes

List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service 		Margaret Thatcher June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw June 1987 – January 1988also Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Michael Havers, Baron Havers 13 June 1987 
James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern 26 October 1987 
Leader of the House of Commons John Wakeham 13 June 1987also Lord Privy Seal from June 1987 – January 1988, Lord President of the Council from January 1988 – July 1989
Sir Geoffrey Howe 24 July 1989also Lord President of the Council
John MacGregor 2 November 1990also Lord President of the Council
Leader of the House of Lords William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw June 1987also Lord President of the Council
John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead January 1988also Lord Privy Seal
Lord President of the Council The Viscount Whitelaw June 1987also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the House of Lords
John Wakeham 10 January 1988also Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Geoffrey Howe 24 July 1989also Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons
John MacGregor 2 November 1990also Leader of the House of Commons
Minister of State for the Privy Council Office Richard Luce June 1987 – 24 July 1990 
David Mellor 24 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal John Wakeham 13 June 1987also Leader of the House of Commons
John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead 10 January 1988also Leader of the House of Lords
Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson June 1987 
John Major 26 October 1989 
Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Major 13 June 1987 
Norman Lamont 24 July 1989 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury David Waddington 13 June 1987 
Tim Renton 28 October 1989 
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Norman Lamont June 1987 
Peter Lilley 24 July 1989 
Francis Maude 23 July 1990 
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Peter Lilley June 1987 
Richard Ryder 25 July 1989 
John Maples 23 July 1990 
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury Michael Neubert June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Peter Lloyd June 1987 – 24 July 1988 
Mark Lennox-Boyd June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Tony Durant June 1987 – 19 December 1988 
David Lightbown 26 July 1987 – 24 July 1990 
Alan Howarth 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
David Maclean 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
Kenneth Carlisle 27 July 1988 – 22 July 1990 
Stephen Dorrell 20 December 1988 – 3 May 1990 
David Heathcoat-Amory 26 July 1989 – 28 October 1989 
John Taylor 26 July 1989 – 29 November 1990 
Tom Sackville 30 October 1989 – November 1990 
Michael Fallon 10 May 1990 – 22 July 1990 
Sydney Chapman 25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Greg Knight 25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Irvine Patnick 25 July 1990 – November 1990 
Assistant Whips Richard Ryder June 1987 – July 1988 
Kenneth Carlisle June 1987 – July 1988 
Stephen Dorrell June 1987 – December 1988 
Alan Howarth June 1987 – July 1988 
David Maclean June 1987 – July 1988 
Tom Sackville July 1988 – October 1989 
John Taylor July 1988 – July 1989 
Michael Fallon July 1988 – May 1990 
David Heathcoat-Amory July 1988 – July 1989 
Sydney Chapman December 1988 – July 1990 
Greg Knight July 1989 – July 1990 
Irvine Patnick July 1989 – July 1990 
Nicholas Baker November 1989 -November 1990 
Timothy Wood May 1990 – November 1990 
Timothy Kirkhope July 1990 – November 1990 
Tim Boswell July 1990 – November 1990 
Neil Hamilton July 1990 – November 1990 
Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe June 1987
John Major 14 June 1989 
Douglas Hurd 26 October 1989 
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Lynda Chalker June 1987 – November 1990also Minister of Overseas Development from 24 July 1989
Chris Patten June 1987 – 24 July 1989also Minister of Overseas Development
David Mellor 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 
William Waldegrave 26 July 1988 – 2 November 1990 
Francis Maude 24 July 1989 – 14 July 1990 
Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara 24 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 
Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness 14 July 1990 – November 1990 
Tristan Garel-Jones 14 July 1990 – November 1990 
Douglas Hogg 2 November 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Timothy Eggar June 1987 
Tim Sainsbury 24 July 1989 
Mark Lennox-Boyd 24 July 1990 
Minister for Overseas Development Chris Patten June 1987also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Lynda Chalker 24 July 1989also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Home Secretary Douglas Hurd June 1987 
David Waddington 26 October 1989 
Minister of State for Home Affairs Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness June 1987 – 10 January 1988 
Tim Renton 15 June 1987 – October 1989 
John Patten 13 June 1987 – November 1990 
Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers 10 January 1988 – November 1990 
David Mellor 27 October 1989 – 22 July 1990 
Angela Rumbold 23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs Douglas Hogg June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Peter Lloyd 25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food John MacGregor 13 June 1987 
John Gummer 24 July 1989 
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food John Gummer June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington 28 September 1989 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Donald Thompson June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington 13 June 1987 – 28 September 1989 
Richard Ryder 25 July 1988 – 14 July 1989 
David Curry 26 July 1989 – November 1990 
David Maclean 26 July 1989 – November 1990 
Minister for the Arts Richard Luce June 1987 
David Mellor 26 July 1990 
Secretary of State for Defence George Younger June 1987 
Tom King 24 July 1989 
Minister of State for the Armed Forces Ian Stewart 13 June 1987 
Archie Hamilton 25 July 1988 
Minister of State for Defence Procurement David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne June 1987 
Alan Clark 24 July 1989 
Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Roger Freeman June 1987 – 15 December 1988 
Michael Neubert 19 December 1988 – 23 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Tim Sainsbury 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Arthur Gore, 9th Earl of Arran 25 July 1989 – 26 July 1990 
Kenneth Carlisle 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Secretary of State for Education Kenneth Baker June 1987 
John MacGregor 24 July 1989 
Kenneth Clarke 2 November 1990
Minister of State, Education and Science Angela Rumbold June 1987 – 24 July 1990 
Tim Eggar 24 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science Bob Dunn June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Gloria Hooper, Baroness Hooper 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Robert Jackson 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1990 
John Butcher 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
Alan Howarth 24 July 1989 – November 1990 
Michael Fallon 24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Employment Norman Fowler 13 June 1987 
Michael Howard 3 January 1990 
Minister of State, Employment John Cope 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Timothy Eggar 25 July 1989 – 23 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Employment John Lee June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Patrick Nicholls 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1990 
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde 26 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 
Robert Jackson 24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Eric Forth 24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater 24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Energy Cecil Parkinson 13 June 1987 
John Wakeham 24 July 1989 
Minister of State, Energy Peter Morrison 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Energy Michael Spicer 13 June 1987 – 3 January 1990 
Gloria Hooper, Baroness Hooper 26 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 
Tony Baldry 3 January 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Colin Moynihan 24 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for the Environment Nicholas Ridley June 1987 
Chris Patten 24 July 1989 
Minister of State for Local Government Michael Howard 13 June 1987 
John Gummer 25 July 1988 
David Hunt 25 July 1989 
Michael Portillo 4 May 1990 
Minister of State for Housing William Waldegrave 13 June 1987 
Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness 25 July 1988 
Michael Howard 25 July 1989 
Michael Spicer 3 January 1990 
Minister of State, Environment John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead 13 June 1987 – 10 January 1988 
Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness 10 January 1988 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Howard 25 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 
David Trippier 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Sport Colin Moynihan 22 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 
Robert Atkins 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990
Under-Secretary of State, Environment Christopher Chope June 1987 – 22 July 1990 
Marion Roe 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
David Trippier 13 June 1987 – 23 July 1989 
Virginia Bottomley 25 July 1988 – 28 October 1989 
Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh 31 January 1989 – 2 November 1990 
David Heathcoat-Amory 28 October 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Patrick Nicholls 26 July 1990 – 12 October 1990 
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde 26 July 1990 – 7 September 1990 
Emily Blatch, Baroness Blatch 7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Robert Key 12 October 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Social Services John Moore 13 June 1987Reorganised into Office of Health and Office of Social Security 25 July 1988
Secretary of State for Health Kenneth Clarke 25 July 1988 
William Waldegrave 2 November 1990 
Minister of State, Health Tony Newton June 1987 
David Mellor 25 July 1988under separate Office of Health
Anthony Trafford, Baron Trafford 29 July 1989 – September 1989 
Virginia Bottomley 28 October 1989 
Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security Edwina Currie June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Portillo 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Under-Secretary of State, Health Edwina Currie 25 July 1988 – 16 December 1988 
Roger Freeman 16 December 1988 – 4 May 1990 
Gloria Hooper, Baroness Hooper 29 September 1989 – November 1990 
Stephen Dorrell 4 May 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Social Security John Moore 25 July 1988 
Tony Newton 23 July 1989 
Minister of State, Social Security Nicholas Scott 13 June 1987under separate Office of Social Security 25 July 1988
Under-Secretary of State, Social Security Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale 25 July 1988 – 26 July 1989 
Peter Lloyd 25 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 
Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley 25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Gillian Shephard 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Kenneth Clarke 13 June 1987 
Tony Newton 25 July 1988 
Kenneth Baker 24 July 1989also Chairman of the Conservative Party
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Tom King June 1987 
Peter Brooke 24 July 1989 
Minister of State, Northern Ireland John Stanley 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Ian Stewart 25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989 
John Cope 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Charles Lyell, 3rd Baron Lyell June 1987 – 25 July 1989 
Richard Needham June 1987 – April 1992 
Peter Viggers June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Brian Mawhinney June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Peter Bottomley 4 July 1989 – 28 July 1990 
Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 
Paymaster General Peter Brooke 13 June 1987also Chairman of the Conservative Party
Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness 24 July 1989 
Richard Ryder 14 July 1990 
Secretary of State for Scotland Malcolm Rifkind June 1987 
Minister of State for Scotland Ian Lang 13 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Charles Sanderson, Baron Sanderson of Bowden 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 
Michael Forsyth 7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Lord James Douglas-Hamilton 13 June 1987 – 6 July 1995 
Michael Forsyth 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde 7 September 1990 – November 1990 
Minister for Trade Alan Clark June 1987 
David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne 25 July 1989 
Tim Sainsbury 23 July 1990 
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry David Young, Baron Young of Graffham 13 June 1987 
Nicholas Ridley 24 July 1989 
Peter Lilley 14 July 1990 
Minister for Industry Douglas Hogg 24 July 1989 
Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh 2 November 1990 
Minister for Corporate Affairs John Redwood 2 November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry John Butcher June 1987 – 26 July 1988 
Robert Atkins 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Francis Maude 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Eric Forth 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1990 
John Redwood 26 July 1989 – 2 November 1990 
Edward Leigh 2 November 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Transport Paul Channon 13 June 1987 
Cecil Parkinson 24 July 1989 
Minister of State, Transport David Mitchell June 1987 – 25 July 1988 
Michael Portillo 25 July 1988 – 4 May 1990 
Roger Freeman 4 May 1990 – 28 November 1990 
Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara 23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Under-Secretary of State for Transport Peter Bottomley June 1987 – 24 July 1989 
Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara June 1987 – 23 July 1989 
Robert Atkins 25 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 
Patrick McLoughlin 25 July 1989 – November 1990 
Christopher Chope 23 July 1990 – November 1990 
Secretary of State for Wales Peter Walker 13 June 1987 
David Hunt 4 May 1990 
Minister of State for Wales Wyn Roberts 15 June 1987 
Under-Secretary of State for Wales Ian Grist 15 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 
Attorney General Sir Patrick Mayhew 11 June 1987 
Solicitor General Nicholas Lyell 13 June 1987 
Lord Advocate Kenneth Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochbroom June 1987 
Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie 4 January 1989 
Solicitor General for Scotland Peter Fraser June 1987 
Alan Rodger 14 January 1989Not an MP
Treasurer of the Household David Hunt 15 June 1987 
Tristan Garel-Jones 25 July 1989 
Alastair Goodlad 22 July 1990 
Comptroller of the Household Robert Boscawen June 1987 
Tristan Garel-Jones 26 July 1988 
Alastair Goodlad 25 July 1989 
Sir George Young, 6th Baronet 23 July 1990 
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Tristan Garel-Jones June 1987 
Michael Neubert 26 July 1988 
Tony Durant 20 December 1988 
David Lightbown 25 July 1990 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham June 1987 
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard Andrew Davidson, 2nd Viscount Davidson June 1987 
Lords-in-Waiting Richard Long, 4th Viscount Long June 1987 – November 1990 
Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh June 1987 – January 1989 
Maxwell Aitken, 3rd Baron Beaverbrook June 1987 – 28 July 1988 
Alexander Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee June 1987 – 26 July 1989 
Arthur Gore, 9th Earl of Arran 18 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde 12 August 1988 – 24 July 1989 
Oliver Eden, 8th Baron Henley 13 February 1989 – 24 July 1989 
Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater 26 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 
Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord Reay 2 August 1989 – November 1990 
Michael Bowes-Lyon, 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne 2 August 1989 – November 1990 
Emily Blatch, Baroness Blatch 15 January 1990 – 7 September 1990 
Hugh Cavendish, Baron Cavendish of Furness 14 September 1990 – November 1990 
William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor 11 October 1990 – November 1990 

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 Day, Harvey (1 November 2019). "Section 28: What was it and how did it affect LGBT+ people?". BBC News. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
    2. ↑ Sommerlad, Joe (25 May 2018). "Section 28: What was Margaret Thatcher's controversial law and how did it affect the lives of LGBT+ people?". The Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
    3. ↑ McGhee, Kelly. "The Destruction Caused by Clause 28". Glasgow Women’s Library. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
    4. ↑ "Obituary: Margaret Thatcher". BBC News. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
    5. ↑ "Thatcher fails to win party mandate". On This Day. BBC News. 20 November 1990. Retrieved 23 May 2018.

    Sources

    Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
    1987–1990    		Succeeded by
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