Thatchers Policies

1979 Pensions

Jun 25, 1979

June 1979 Pensions would be based not on the ‘movement in prices + earnings, whichever is greater’ but solely on prices – Pensioners set to get poorer relative to those in work

1979 Goverment incomes policy

Jun 25, 1979

June 1979 Government Incomes policy was dropped

1980 Army Budget:

Apr 25, 1980

1980 Budget large pay awards for police + army

1981 Productivity:

Apr 25, 1981

1981 Productivity increased amongst those still in work

1981 Butget abolioshed

Apr 25, 1981

1981 Budget 25p lower rate of tax introduced by Labour in 1978 was abolished

1981 Riots

Apr 25, 1981

Consequences of economic recession wave of riots across inner-city London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds + Bristol in summer 1981

1982 Opnion Poll

Apr 25, 1982

1982 Thatcher’s continuation in office threatened. Opinion polls showed the Prime Minister’s personal popularity + that of her govt. had declined significantly.

Unenployment levels:

Apr 25, 1982

1982 unemployment > 3 million

Tax Burden

Apr 25, 1982

Although direct taxes fell, the overall tax burden increased from 34% of GDP in 1978-79 to 40% of GDP in 1982/3

1982 Inflation:

Apr 25, 1982

Inflation down to 10% 1982 – partly due to high unemployment

Emplyoment Act 1982:

Jul 25, 1982

Employment Act 1982 provided compensation from public funds to people dismissed from closed shops. It also made ‘union labour only’ requirements in contracts illegal. Trade unions became liable for damages if they were the cause of unlawful industrial actions. It gave employers legal redress against industrial action where the action was not wholly or mainly about employment matters (i.e. strikes which could be considered political)

Inflation in 1983:

Apr 25, 1983

Inflation 5% in 1983