Prime Minister of the 1980’s | Child Of The 1980's Child Of The 1980's Prime Minister of the 1980’s Posted by Big Boo on July 1st, 2008 Margaret Thatcher is the only Prime Minister that I personally remember from my childhood. She was Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, so when she came to power I was only six,Â which would explain why I don’t remember her predecessor James Callaghan. She is the only female Prime Minister (and female leader of the Conservative party) the UK has ever known, her nickname being the Iron Lady because of her no-nonsense attitude. She was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in 1925, and went on to graduate from Oxford with a degree in Chemistry. In 1959 she became the Conservative MP for Finchley, and in 1970 became the Secretary of State for Education and Science. It was during this post that the country took an instant disliking to her when she abolished the free milk for primary school children, earning her the nickname “Maggie Thatcher, Milk Snatcher“.

I guess this particular ruling must have been something that meant the government no longer footed the bill for milk, but local councils could still provide the milk if they wanted to, as I distinctly remember break times at primary school meant dashing for the milk crate for a little half pint bottle of milk and a straw. In 1975 she stood to become leader of the Conservative party and won, then at the next general election in 1979 she became Prime Minister, which was to become one of the longest tenures as Prime Minister in UK history. The following year Ronald Reagan became the President of the United States, and the pair became close allies, particularly when it came to the so called “Cold War” against the Russian government.Â I wonder if this fact had any bearing on why Thatcher and Reagan were two of the mostÂ popular charactersÂ from the puppet show Spitting Image? It seems amazing how she managed to stay in charge for so long when so many of her ideas and movements caused so much outrage. She increased the level VAT to 15% which hit businesses hard and led to large scale unemployment.

She was also behind the unpopular poll tax, more properly called the community charge, which taxed you on the value of your home, and came down hard on trade unions, yielding mass striking throughout the country, most notably with coal miners who began to face mine closures and loss of jobs. Her tenure also saw the privatisation of public utility companies such as British Telecom andÂ British Gas, which also paved the way for the mess that was and still is the privatisation of the UK railways.Â Prior to this these companies had been effectively owned by the government, and so didn’t have to answer to shareholders.Â Now people are outraged when they hear of the profits made by these companies and the bonus payouts paid to bosses and investors, feeling agrieved that they have to pay so much for what often seems like poor quality service, the railways being the biggest example of this. However her leadership during The Falklands War in 1982 impressed the nation enough for her to be re-elected in 1983. Quite why the Falkland Islands are so important to both the UK or Argentina I don’t know, but her resolve to fight and reclaim the islands yielded a huge wave of pride across the UK which was still remembered the following year.

By 1990 her popularity was beginning to wane however, and she eventually stepped down and John Major became Prime Minister. She cast a long shadow though, one which Mr. Major found it particularly difficult to escape during his tenure as PM, especially at the beginning of his eight years in office. Margaret Thatcher is still reasonably active in politics today.Â She was given theÂ life peerage ofÂ Baroness Thatcher which gave her entry to the House of Lords, and has been awarded the Order of the Garter, one of the UK’s highest titles.Â Whether or not you admire her or loathe her though, it can’t be denied that she certainly left a lasting impression on the country. BBC - iWonder - Margaret Thatcher: From grocer’s daughter to Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher: From grocer’s daughter to Iron Lady 13 October 1925 8 April 2013Margaret Thatcher dies Loved and loathed Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, used her cast iron will to help change the face of Britain. She epitomised a particular school of right-wing politics: Thatcherism – laissez-faire economics and individual self-determination.

Even after her death, she remains a controversial figure. Some see her as having saved Britain from economic decline, others believe she destroyed the livelihoods of millions of workers. Yet this powerful woman began her life in a quiet market town. 13 October 1925 Born a grocer’s daughter You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Margaret Thatcher talks about her upbringing in Grantham. Panorama (BBC One, 1960). Margaret Thatcher was born Margaret Roberts in 1925. She grew up in Grantham in Lincolnshire above the family’s corner grocery store. Margaret’s father Alfred Roberts had a huge influence on her. He was an austere man, a devout Methodist and served as a Conservative councillor. Alfred instilled in Margaret the values of hard work and public service. During World War Two she was inspired by Winston Churchill’s defiant speeches and his refusal to give in to Nazism. She saw Churchill as a heroic figure. His uncompromising attitude had a huge influence on her politics and personality. I wasn’t lucky. I deserved it.

Margaret Thatcher on receiving her school prize at the age of nine 1943 A man [has a] right to work as he will, to spend what he earns, to own property, to have the state as servant and not as master. Thatcher puts forward her idea of the British inheritance in her first conference speech 1980 "The Lady’s Not For Turning" You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Thatcher answers her critics. Conservative Party Conference (BBC One, 1981). Despite Thatcher's promises to sort out the nation’s finances, the UK fell into recession. Critics called for a U-turn, but she was defiant. Margaret Thatcher’s economic policies did not bring inflation under control and increased unemployment which rose to two million. That summer riots broke out in British cities. Polls showed she was the most unpopular prime minister since records began. Thatcher sacked the more moderate Tory ‘wets’ and at the 1980 Conservative party conference vowed to hold firm to her policies. However, when the miners threatened a strike in early 1981, the government did back down. You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning.

Margaret Thatcher at the Conservative Party Conference 1981 1982 There's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. Thatcher in an interview in Women's Own, 1987 March 1984 The Miner’s Strike: Thatcher defeats "the enemy within" You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Thatcher battles the unions. Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain (BBC One, 2011). Warning: contains some violent scenes. In response to planned pit closures, miners union leader Arthur Scargill ordered a strike, threatening Britain's power supply. Thatcher stood firm. The biggest clash was a pitched battle at Orgreave near Sheffield, where 7,000 police fought 5,000 strikers. Mrs Thatcher refused to bow under pressure. She stockpiled coal at power stations and deployed the police to break picket lines. After 12 months the miners were defeated and returned to work. The trade union movement was greatly weakened. Thatcher’s actions were supported by her party and the British Establishment. However she became a hate figure among many working class communities.

She hated the English poor and did nothing at all to help them. Morrissey, formerly of 1980s band The Smiths criticises Thatcher in 2012 12 October 1984 Escapes IRA assassination Getty Margaret and her husband Denis leave the Grand Hotel in Brighton, after a bomb attack by the IRA. In 1984, at the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton, Margaret Thatcher narrowly survived the IRA bombing of her hotel. Five people died and 34 were injured. Mrs Thatcher was adamant the conference should carry on. The next morning she condemned the bombers in her conference speech. Yet later in the Troubles, she was willing to compromise and she played an important part in the 1985 Anglo-Irish Peace agreement. This attack has failed. All attempts to destroy democracy by terrorism will fail. Thatcher's speech to the 1984 Tory Party Conference 1984 Thatcher and Reagan: A special relationship Getty Margaret Thatcher shares a joke with American President Ronald Reagan in 1984. During the 1980s Thatcher saw the USA as Britain’s most important strategic ally. She admired American enterprise and society.

Like her hero Churchill, Margaret Thatcher sought to forge a "special relationship" with the US. She was on famously good terms with US President Ronald Reagan and supported his defence policies by permitting the stationing of US nuclear missiles in Britain. She later acted as a go-between for Soviet leader Gorbachev and Reagan, paving the way for nuclear disarmament talks. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1990 was seen by many as vindication of the political philosophy she epitomised. I like Mr Gorbachev. We can do business together. Margaret Thatcher talks about her meeting with the Soviet leader in 1984 20 September 1988 We have not... rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state… Margaret Thatcher's speech to the College of Europe - "The Bruges Speech" March 1990 The Poll Tax You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Thatcher's biggest political mistake? Portillo on Thatcher: The Lady's Not for Spurning (BBC Two 2009). Warning: contains some violent scenes.

After winning a third General election in 1987, Thatcher introduced the Poll Tax. This proved a huge political mistake. Local council rates were replaced with a flat Community Charge that everyone paid regardless of income. Margaret Thatcher drove the policy through without consulting her colleagues. Riots and marches erupted across the UK. In March around 100,000 protestors descended on London under the slogan “Can't pay, won't pay”; 340 people were arrested and 113 injured. The policy was unpopular with the public and caused many Tory MPs to lose faith in their prime minister. Again, she refused to give in. Margaret Thatcher's downfall You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Thatcher steps down. Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain (BBC Two, 2009). Warning: contains flashing lights. The Poll Tax, disputes over Europe and an overbearing attitude lost Margaret Thatcher support within her own party. Former Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine stood against her in a leadership election. Thatcher felt betrayed. Facing a leadership vote she called in members of her cabinet one by one to try to win their support. She wrote later “Almost to a man they used the same formula.

This was that they themselves would back me, of course, but that regretfully they did not believe I could win.” Margaret Thatcher resigned and left Downing Street as Prime Minister for the last time on 28 November 1990. It was treachery with a smile on its face. Margaret Thatcher describes feeling betrayed by her cabinet 2007 Legend in her own lifetime You need to have JavaScript enabled to view this clip. Thatcher's legacy. Newsnight (BBC Two, 2007). Warning: contains violent images and flashing lights. After resigning as prime minister, Margaret Thatcher wrote her memoirs and continued to make speeches around the world. In 1992 she was given a life peerage and became Baroness Thatcher. She continued to be politically active and became a figurehead for anti-European sentiment in the Conservative party. In June 2003, Margaret Thatcher's husband Denis died and her public appearances became more infrequent. In 2007 she became the first living prime minister to be honoured with a statue in the Houses of Parliament. It stands opposite a statue of her hero Winston Churchill.

BBC - History : British History Timeline 15 August 1947 India gains independence from Britain India was regarded as the most valuable British imperial possession. World War Two forced Britain to realise that it could not maintain a global empire and the British agreed to Indian self-government. However, they could not find a political solution that was acceptable to both Hindus and Muslims, and the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan. The British were unable to prevent the resulting inter-communal violence which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. 22 June 1948 Post-war immigration from the Commonwealth begins The liner 'SS Empire Windrush' docked at Tilbury carrying nearly 500 Caribbean immigrants to Britain, many attracted by offers of work. This arrival represented the beginning of significant immigration to Britain from the Commonwealth, particularly the Caribbean, and later the Indian subcontinent. 5 July 1948 National Health Service is established The National Health Service, established by the post-war Labour government, represented a fundamental change in the provision of medical services. The General Practitioner (GP) service became organised on the basis of a 'capitation fee' paid by the government on every patient registered with a doctor.

Voluntary and municipal hospitals were integrated under state control, exercised by the Ministry of Health 25 July 1948 Berlin Airlift begins after Soviet forces blockade the city In June 1948, the Soviet Union began a blockade of Berlin, which had been divided into occupation zones by the victorious Allies at the end of the war. They hoped to drive the western Allies out of Berlin. The following month, British and American aircraft began to airlift supplies to West Berliners. In total, there were more than 277,000 flights to deliver food, fuel and medicine. In May 1949, the Soviets backed down and lifted their blockade. 29 July 1948 Olympic Games open at Wembley Stadium in London The so-called 'Austerity Games' were held in London while rationing was still in force in Britain. Fifty nine nations took part, but the defeated powers of Germany and Japan were excluded. London saw the first Olympic photo finish, in the 100 metres, and the introduction of starting blocks for sprinters. These were the first Games since Berlin in 1936.

The 1940 Games went to Tokyo, then Stockholm, but were cancelled - as were the 1944 games - due to World War Two. 18 April 1949 Republic of Ireland comes into being The Republic of Ireland Act (1948) came into force on Easter Monday, April 1949, ending vestigial British authority in Eire. Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, the British crown had retained some authority in the Irish Free State, although this was limited by the 1937 constitution. The 1948 Act repealed the External Relations Act and took Eire out of the Commonwealth. 8 June 1949 George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' is published Orwell's novel was a bleak political account of the future, in which big government had created a destructive totalitarianism which denied both human values and the truth. The novel made a major impact - such that it contributed the phrase 'Big Brother' to the language - and was seen as an attack on the Soviet Union.

23 February 1950 Labour wins the general election with Clement Attlee returned as prime minister Labour remained in government but its majority fell greatly, to only five seats, as the electorate's enthusiasm for Labour's post-war vision dwindled away. 29 August 1950 British troops arrive to support US forces in the Korean War British troops were sent to help the US-led United Nations force repel the Communist invasion of South Korea by North Korea. The conflict set the pattern for the Cold War, with South Korea backed by the US and its allies, and North Korea backed by the Soviet Union and China. An armistice was agreed in July 1953 and Korea was partitioned. Approximately two million Korean civilians, 1.5 million Communist troops and 450,000 UN and South Korean troops were killed. No peace treaty was ever agreed. 3 May 1951 Festival of Britain is opened by George VI The Festival sought to sustain a mood of post-war optimism and confidence - or at least interest - in new solutions. The site chosen for the Festival, on the South Bank of the Thames, London, had been extensively bombed in World War Two.

The dominant artistic mood of the Festival was neo-Romantic, apt for the traditionalist 1950s, although the Royal Festival Hall itself was a Modernistic work. 23 October 1951 Conservatives under Winston Churchill win the general election The Labour government fell as the Conservatives won a clear majority. Remarkably, Winston Churchill became prime minister again at the age of 76. He focused on foreign affairs, including reducing escalating Cold War tensions and maintaining the 'special relationship' with America, which he had done so much to develop during World War Two. Other foreign concerns included the Malayan emergency and the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya. 6 February 1952 Elizabeth II succeeds her father, George VI Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya when news of her father's death reached her. She immediately returned to Britain and was crowned on 2 June 1953. Elizabeth II proved an experienced and skilful adviser of successive prime ministers, but was careful to main constitutional conventions and not take a political stand publicly. Nonetheless, she held strong opinions, not least a belief in the Commonwealth. Under Elizabeth, members of the royal family maintained their important charitable role.

25 April 1953 Watson and Crick publish their discovery of the structure of DNA Scientists James Watson and Francis Crick were the first to describe the structure of a chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which makes up the genes that pass hereditary characteristics from parent to child. They received the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, which they shared with another DNA pioneer, Maurice Wilkins. A hugely important discovery, it has since formed the basis for a wide range of scientific advances. 5 April 1955 Winston Churchill retires as prime minister Winston Churchill was by now 80 and his health was declining. He was succeeded as prime minister by Anthony Eden, who had also served as Churchill's Foreign Secretary and was widely recognised as his 'heir apparent'. Conservatives win the general election, with Sir Anthony Eden as prime minister This Conservative victory, with 345 seats to Labour's 277, strengthened the Conservatives' parliamentary position.

22 September 1955 Commercial television starts with the first ITV broadcast The monopoly of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was broken when commercial television companies, financed by advertising, began broadcasting under the name of Independent Television (ITV) following the Television Act of 1954. The BBC started broadcasting a second channel, BBC Two, in 1964, and Channel 4 started broadcasting in 1982. 11 February 1956 'Cambridge spies' surface in Moscow after disappearing in 1951 Two British diplomats, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, were among five men recruited by the Soviet secret service, the KGB, at Cambridge University in the 1930s. The others were Harold (Kim) Philby, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross. All had been involved in passing to the Soviets highly damaging military information, and the identities of British agents. Burgess and Maclean, who had fled Britain five years before, suddenly reappeared in the Soviet Union where they denied being spies.

8 May 1956 John Osborne's play 'Look Back in Anger' is staged The 'Angry Young Men' generation of writers rejected what they saw as Britain's vulgar 'materialist' society, which they believed was disagreeable in itself and frustrating to them as individuals. Social values were lacerated by Osborne's play and in the novels 'Room at the Top' (1957) by John Braine, 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' (1958) by Alan Sillitoe, and 'This Sporting Life' (1960) by David Storey. 5 July 1956 Worsening pollution prompts the passing of the Clean Air Act The Clean Air Act was part of a general move towards a cleaner environment, directed in particular against the burning of coal in urban areas. The Act was in response to the severe London smog of 1952, which killed more than 4,000 people. Another Clean Air Act followed in 1968.

17 October 1956 Britain switches on its first nuclear power station Calder Hall, Britain's first nuclear power station - and the first in the world to supply substantial quantities of electricity to a national system - was opened by Elizabeth II. 5 November 1956 Britain and France invade Egypt after nationalisation of the Suez Canal The Suez Crisis was sparked when Britain and France, allied with Israel, invaded Egypt over its decision to nationalise the Suez Canal - a vital waterway connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. Under American pressure, the canal was handed back to Egypt and the invasion force was withdrawn. The crisis revealed Britain's declining world status and its subordination to the US. 9 January 1957 Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden resigns and is replaced by Harold Macmillan The Suez Crisis of 1956 ruined Anthony Eden's reputation and fatally compromised his political career. His health seriously diminished as a result. His successor, Harold Macmillan, had been chancellor of the exchequer under Eden. Macmillan was the third Conservative prime minister in as many years.

6 March 1957 Ghana becomes the first British colony in Africa to gain independence The British colony of Gold Coast gained its independence, with Kwame Nkrumah as its first leader, following election victories for Nkrumah's nationalist Convention People's Party (CPP). The country was renamed Ghana in the declaration of independence. This event marked the beginning of rapid decolonisation in Africa. 15 May 1957 Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb Following tests over Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean, the government announced that Britain had joined the Soviet Union and the US as a nuclear power, with its own hydrogen bomb. The tests led to a debate in Britain about the dangers of nuclear weapons, and to the foundation in 1958 of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). 5 December 1958 Motorway system opens with the M6 Preston bypass The opening of the M6 Preston bypass by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was the first stage in the motorway system. The following year, the M1 was punched through the Midlands from Watford to Birmingham. The developing motorway system encouraged a major rise in long-distance private and goods travel by road.

8 October 1959 Conservatives under Harold Macmillan win the general election In a massive personal triumph for Harold Macmillan, the Conservatives won by 365 seats (and 49.3% of the vote) to 258 for Labour. The Conservative campaign slogan 'you've never had it so good' reflected the growing affluence of the electorate. 14 January 1963 France vetoes Britain's entry to the European Common Market President of France Charles de Gaulle announced the French veto on Britain's application to join the European Common Market, the forerunner of the European Union. De Gaulle said the British government lacked 'commitment' to European integration. October 1963 New universities open and students get state support The Robbins Report on Higher Education (1963) was followed by the state-funded growth of universities. Government support was seen as necessary, not least in order to change the social composition of the student body. State-paid fees and maintenance were designed to help increase the percentage of working-class students. New universities were established, including Essex, Lancaster, Kent and Sussex.

19 October 1963 Conservative Sir Alec Douglas-Home becomes prime minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home became Conservative party leader and prime minister following the resignation of Harold Macmillan on health grounds. He became the fourth Conservative prime minister since 1951. The preceeding three - Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden and Macmillan - all resigned for a variety of reasons. 1964 Abolition of Resale Price Maintenance prompts the rise of supermarkets Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) obliged shops to sell goods at standard prices set by suppliers, and thus prevented the search for better business through undercutting. This helped small independent shopkeepers in their resistance to larger traders. Abolition of RPM opened the way to the rise of supermarkets and the transformation of the retail industry. 15 October 1964 Labour wins the general election, with Harold Wilson as prime minister Labour, under Harold Wilson, narrowly won the general election, by 317 seats to 304 for the Conservatives. Considered something of an intellectual, Wilson successfully contrasted his 'meritocratic' beliefs against his 'establishment' opponent, Conservative Alec Douglas-Home.

12 July 1965 Comprehensive education system is initiated Circular 10/65', issued by the Labour government's education secretary, Anthony Crosland, obliged local education authorities to draw up plans for replacing the existing division between 'grammar' and 'secondary modern' schools in order to create all-inclusive 'comprehensive' schools. It represented the first step towards a comprehensive education system that served all pupils on an equal basis. 8 November 1965 Death penalty is abolished The abolition of the death penalty for murder - one of the few remaining crimes for which capital punishment could still be handed down - effectively meant the final abolition of the death penalty. This was a major symbolic act in the reduction of the power of the state. The death sentence for treason and piracy with violence remained on the statue books until 1998 when they were abolished by the Crime and Disorder Act. 31 March 1966 Labour strengthens its parliamentary position in the general election Labour's share of the vote went up from 44.1% in the 1964 general election to 48%, and the Conservatives down from 43.4 to 41.9.

The shift in seats, from 317 to 364, compared with 304 to 253, was more dramatic, leaving Harold Wilson, the Labour prime minister, with a much-improved majority of nearly 100. 30 July 1966 England win the football World Cup England defeated West Germany in the World Cup final, which was held at Wembley and watched by 93,000 people in the stadium and 400 million people around the world on television. Geoff Hurst became the first - and thusfar only - player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final when he powered home his third goal in the final moments of extra time, giving England a decisive 4-2 victory. 1967 Abortion and homosexuality are legalised A number of Acts of Parliament in this period reflected the changing social climate. As well as the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which legalised homosexuality between men over 21, and the 1967 Abortion Act which legalised abortion under certain conditions, there was also the 1969 Divorce Reform Act and the 1970 Equal Pay Act.

1 June 1967 Beatles release 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' This was the Beatles' eighth album, and is widely recongnised as one of the most influential records ever released. The album was heavily influenced by the group's increasing use of drugs, and enjoyed immediate critical and popular success at the start of the 'psychedelic era'. Peter Blake's collage for the album cover has become iconic. 2 March 1969 Concorde, the world's first supersonic airliner, makes its maiden flight The first supersonic (above the speed of sound) airliner was developed jointly by Britain and France. It did not begin commercial flights until 1976. The fleet was grounded in 2000 after Concorde's first and only major fatal accident in July of that year. Concorde was finally retired in 2003. 18 June 1970 Conservatives win the general election, with Edward Heath as prime minister The Conservatives won the general election by 330 seats to 287 for Labour. This unexpected result appears to have reflected doubts about Labour's economic management, a view focused by a poor set of trade figures.

The failure of Labour to motivate its own supporters was also important. Evidence suggested that voters had turned against Harold Wilson, rather than towards the uncharismatic Edward Heath. 6 February 1971 First British soldier is killed in Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' The first British soldier, Gunner Robert Curtis (aged 20), was killed in Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' by the self-styled 'Irish Republican Army' (IRA). He was shot while on foot patrol in North Belfast. British troops had been sent to Northern Ireland in 1969 in a 'limited operation' to restore law and order. 15 February 1971 Decimalised currency replaces 'pounds, shillings and pence' The old sterling denominations of pounds, shillings and pennies were phased out over a period of 18 months, and replaced with decimal pounds and pennies. The decimalisation of the pound came to be blamed for an increase in inflation. 20 August 1971 North Sea oil concessions are auctioned The discovery of oil under the North Sea was a major boost to British public finances.

Drilling and exploration concessions were auctioned to maximise government income, and the first oil was piped ashore at Teesside in 1975. Full scale exploitation of the fields would not begin until the 1980s, when rising oil prices made it economically viable. 30 January 1972 British army kills 14 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on Bloody Sunday British troops opened fire on a crowd of civil rights protestors in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, killing 13 civilians and injuring a further 17. The crowd of between 7,000 and 10,000 people had been marching in protest at the policy of detention without trial. The sequence of events on 'Bloody Sunday' remains highly controversial, with accusations that senior IRA figures were present on the day and shot at British troops. 4 August 1972 Idi Amin expels Uganda's Asians and many settle in Britain On 4 August, Ugandan President Idi Amin gave his country's Asian population just 90 days to leave, claiming god had told him to do it in a dream.

Over half of the 55,000 Asians expelled from Uganda came to Britain and many settled permanently. Their resettlement came to be viewed as a success story. In 1991, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni invited them to 'return home' to help the Ugandan economy. 1 January 1973 Britain joins the European Economic Community Britain, Ireland and Denmark joined the European Economic Community (EEC), bringing the total number of member states to nine. The three countries, together with Norway, signed an accession treaty in 1972, but Norwegians rejected the treaty in a referendum. Britain held a referendum on the matter in 1975, after renegotiating its terms of entry, and 67% voted in favour of staying in the EEC. 28 February 1974 Election ends in a 'hung parliament' with Harold Wilson as prime minister The Conservatives won more votes than Labour (37.9% of the popular vote to 37.1%), but Labour won more seats (301 to 297). Neither party had achieved an outright majority, resulting in a 'hung parliament'.

The Liberals, with 19.3% and 14 seats, held the balance of power. Edward Heath initially held on to office in the hope of persuading the Liberals to enter into a coalition, but the Liberals rejected this idea and Harold Wilson returned to head a minority administration. 10 October 1974 Labour wins a tiny majority in the election with Harold Wilson as prime minister In order to tackle his party's minority status following the 'hung parliament' produced by the general election of February 1974, Harold Wilson called a new election, which he won with a small overall majority. Labour's percentage of the vote went up from 37.1 to 39.2, while Conservative percentage fell from 37.9 to 35.8. 16 March 1976 Prime Minister Harold Wilson resigns and is replaced by James Callaghan Harold Wilson's resignation after 13 years as Labour leader and nearly eight as prime minister was completely unexpected, and has never been properly explained. It was probably related to his awareness of the early onset of Alzheimer's disease and a feeling that he was losing control.

On 5 April, James Callaghan was elected Labour Party leader and became the new prime minister. September 1976 Britain is forced to borrow money from the International Monetary Fund A crisis in sterling forced the Labour government to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making Britain the first major Western state to be forced into this humiliating course of action. In return for the loan, the IMF demanded cuts in government spending. After a political battle within the British government, the IMF terms were accepted and imposed in December. 25 July 1978 World's first test-tube baby is born in Oldham Louise Brown, the first 'test-tube baby', was a success for 'in vitro' fertilisation (IVF), a method by which egg and sperm are mixed in a glass dish, and the embryos inserted into the womb. By the end of the 20th century, about 1,400 IVF babies were being born each year. Winter 1978/79 Strikes paralyse Britain during the so-called 'Winter of Discontent' Industrial action by petrol tanker and lorry drivers was followed by hospital ancillary staff, ambulance men and dustmen going on strike.

Hospitals were picketed, the dead left unburied, and troops called in to control rats swarming around heaps of uncollected rubbish. The large number of simultaneous strikes, the violence and perceived mean-mindedness of the picketing (which included the turning away of ambulances) created a sense of alarm in the electorate about the decline of British society. 1 March 1979 Scotland and Wales reject devolution The referenda required the support of 40% of the electorate, not simply the majority of votes. This was not obtained in Scotland, although the majority of votes were in favour of devolution. Devolution was heavily defeated in Wales. As a result of the referenda, the Scottish Nationalists joined the Conservatives and Liberals in passing a vote of no confidence in the government, and Labour lost control of the House of Commons - a bad prelude to the general election. 3 May 1979 Conservative Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain's first female prime minister Margaret Thatcher, party leader since 1975, became Britain's first female prime minister with a majority of 43 seats.

The Conservatives won 43.9% of the votes and 339 seats, Labour 36.9% and 269 seats, and Liberals 13.8%. She came to power on the promise that the Conservatives would cut income tax, reduce public expenditure, make it easier for people to buy their own homes and curb the power of the unions. 27 August 1979 IRA kill the Queen's cousin Lord Mountbatten Elizabeth II's cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, one of his teenage grandsons and two others were killed by a bomb on his boat at Mullaghmore in county Sligo, Ireland. On the same day the IRA also killed 18 soldiers at Warrenpoint in County Down. 11 April 1981 Racial tensions spark riots in Brixton and other areas Serious rioting in Brixton following the arrest of a local black man marked the start of violent unrest across England. In London's Southall, Toxteth in Liverpool, Moss Side in Manchester, and to a lesser extent other centres such as Derby, crowds rioted, looted, and fought the police.

Many of the riots reflected specific local problems, especially poor relations between predominantly black communities and the police. 24 June 1981 Humber Bridge opens, the longest single-span bridge in the world The Humber Bridge was built between 1972 and 1980. At the time, it was the longest single-span bridge in the world at nearly 2,200m. 3 October 1981 Hunger strike by Republican prisoners ends after ten deaths Republican prisoners at the Maze prison near Belfast had begun their hunger strike over the right to be treated as political prisoners rather than criminals. A first strike, begun in late 1980, was called off with no deaths. But failure to secure concessions resulted in a second, led by Bobby Sands. It began in March 1981. The British government refused to concede. Ten men, including Sands, starved themselves to death, while 61 people were killed outside the prison in related violence. 26 January 1982 Economic recession leads to high unemployment Unemployment breached the psychologically significant barrier of three million as manufacturing was hard hit by a deep economic recession.

2 April 1982 Argentina invades the British territory of the Falkland Islands Three days after the invasion, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a naval task force to liberate the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The subsequent conflict cost the lives of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, many of them sailors who died during attacks on Royal Navy warships. The conflict ended on 14 June when the commander of the Argentine garrison at Port Stanley surrendered to British troops. 10 June 1983 Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is re-elected by a landslide The Conservatives were re-elected with 379 seats and an enormous majority of 144 seats. Labour's share crashed to 209 seats. The Social Democratic-Liberal 'Alliance' won 23 seats. The Conservatives benefited from division among their opponents and doubts about Labour's competence on the economy and defence. Thatcher's government used its majority to embark on a radical programme of privatisation and deregulation, trade union reform and tax cuts.

12 March 1984 12-month 'Miners' Strike' over pit closures begins A local strike on 5 March over a threatened pit closure in Yorkshire had, within a week, broadened into a national miners' strike. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pitted her personal authority against that of the militant socialist president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill. There were violent clashes between striking miners and policemen. The strike failed and was called off after a year, allowing the pit closures to go ahead. The strike left a legacy of deep bitterness. 12 October 1984 IRA bombers strike at the Conservative conference in Brighton The bombing by Irish Republican Army terrorists of the Grand Hotel Brighton during the Conservative Party conference killed five and left more than 30 injured. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher narrowly escaped the blast. It was the closest the IRA had come to killing a British prime minister. 8 December 1986 Major national industries are privatised The privatisation of British Gas was a major step in the Conservative government's policy of privatisation.

It paved the way for the privatisation of British Aerospace, Cable and Wireless, Britoil, the National Bus Company, British Airways, Rolls Royce, British Steel, British Telecom, the electricity-generating industry and the water companies. These sales cut government expenditure, by bringing in large sums of money and by reducing the need for state subsidies. 11 June 1987 Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wins a third term Margaret Thatcher was re-elected for an historic third term, with an overall majority of 101 - less than in 1983, but still significant. The Conservatives had 376 seats (42.3 % of the vote), Labour 229 (30.8%) and Alliance 22 (22.5%). It paved the way for Thatcher to become the longest serving prime minister for more than 150 years. Signs of a Labour recovery appeared in Scotland, where they won 50 of the 72 seats.

1989 Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web In 1989, while working at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee came up with the idea of the World Wide Web, a new way of using existing internet technology to share information. He wrote the first web browser the following year, and went on to found the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 1994. 31 March 1990 Introduction of new local taxes sparks 'poll tax' riots in London The Conservative plans for a 'poll tax', introduced in England and Wales on 1 April 1990, provoked vocal opposition across Britain in the form of anti-poll tax rallies and acts of civil disobedience. A largely peaceful march in London, attended by 70,000 people, degenerated into serious rioting centred on Trafalgar Square. The unpopularity of the tax contributed to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. Her successor John Major replaced the poll tax with the council tax.

22 November 1990 Margaret Thatcher resigns and John Major becomes prime minister Faced by large-scale opposition within her own parliamentary party, Margaret Thatcher, who was widely seen as remote and autocratic, resigned as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party. The crisis of confidence in her leadership had been sparked by her attitude to Europe, while her support for the so-called 'poll tax' had undermined her standing with the electorate. Five days later, John Major succeeded her as party leader and prime minister. 17 January 1991 Liberation of Kuwait begins as Allies launch Operation Desert Storm Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and refused to withdraw. Following a massive military build up, US-led forces backed by a United Nations mandate launched 'Operation Desert Storm' to liberate Kuwait. A huge aerial bombardment preceded the ground attack on 24 February. The Iraqi army fell into headlong retreat and on 27 February, US President George Bush declared that Kuwait had been liberated. Saddam Hussein remained in power in Iraq.

9 April 1992 Conservatives win the general election, returning John Major as prime minister A poor Labour campaign by leader Neil Kinnock squandered significant support for the opposition and helped Conservative John Major to a surprise general election victory, with a slim overall majority of 21. The Conservatives won 326 seats, Labour 271. 6 May 1992 Channel Tunnel opens, linking London and Paris by rail The Channel Tunnel provided an unprecedented rail link between London and Paris, something that had been planned for over a century. The tunnel became the longest undersea tunnel in the world, measuring 50km in total, with 39km of it under the sea. Three tunnels - two for trains and one for service - lie an average of 40m below the sea bed. 16 September 1992 'Black Wednesday' forces withdrawal of sterling from the ERM Sterling, under strong financial pressure from speculation on the money markets, was pulled out of the European Union's Exchange Rate Mechanism. This was a major blow to the Conservatives' reputation for economic competence, but it relieved pressure on Britain's economy by ensuring that the currency could float independently.

1994 First women priests are ordained by the Church of England The decision to ordain women to the priesthood in the Church of England was taken in 1992 and implemented in 1994. It was a controversial step, welcomed by most of the church but rejected by traditionalists, some of whom joined the Catholic Church in protest. 1 May 1997 Labour wins the general election, with Tony Blair as prime minister Tony Blair had become leader of the Labour Party in 1994 after the sudden death of John Smith. Blair continued the modernisation of the party begun by Smith. Voters responded to 'New Labour' in the 1997 election, giving the party a huge majority of 179 seats. One of the new Labour government's first acts was to give the Bank of England control of interest rates. It also embarked on a programme of far-reaching constitutional reform. 1 July 1997 Britain hands Hong Kong back to China After more than 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong was returned to Chinese control.

Britain had held the New Territories north of Hong Kong under a 99-year lease that expired in 1997, requiring the 'handing back' of the colony to China. Under the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy, Hong Kong retained its own legal system, currency, customs policy and immigration laws for a minimum 50 years after the handover. 31 August 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in a car crash in Paris Diana was the ex-wife of the heir to the British throne, Charles, Prince of Wales. A controversial figure in life, Diana's death in a car crash in Paris provoked widespread public mourning. On 6 September, one million people lined the streets of London for her funeral. It was later discovered that the driver of the car in which he, Diana and her friend Dodi Al Fayed were killed had more than the legal limit of alcohol in his blood and was travelling at over 100mph.

September 1997 Scotland and Wales vote in favour of devolution In two referenda, a large majority in Scotland (74.9% of those who voted), and a smaller one in Wales (50.3%), provided the basis for the creation of national assemblies with legislative powers. The assemblies first met in 1999, with the Scottish Parliament, but not the Welsh Assembly, gaining tax-varying powers. 10 April 1998 Good Friday Agreement establishes a devolved Northern Irish assembly An agreement between Northern Ireland's nationalists and unionists was reached after 30 years of conflict, as a result British government negotiations and US pressure on Sinn Féin, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army. It set out plans for devolved government and provided for the early release of terrorist prisoners and the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. Referenda in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland endorsed the agreement on 22 May. The assembly met on 1 July. 1 January 1999 Britain decides not to join the European Single Currency Widespread British unease about the European single currency obliged Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was keen on the project, to stay out.

The 'euro' was launched as an electronic currency used by banks, foreign exchange dealers, big firms and stock markets in 1999. Euro coins first hit the streets of the 12 'eurozone' countries on 1 January 2002. 1 January 2000 Britain celebrates the new millennium There were widespread celebrations of the new millennium and relief that the 'millennium bug', which had been predicted to cause global computer meltdown, failed to materialise. Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair joined a party at the ill-starred Millennium Dome in Greenwich, east London. The controversial dome was considered a massive flop and only stayed open until December 2000. March 2000 Global stock markets tumble as the 'dotcom bubble' bursts The late 1990s saw a profusion of start-up companies selling products or services either using or related to the internet. There was a speculative frenzy of investment in these 'dotcom' companies, much of it by small investors. The bursting of the 'dotcom bubble' saw the collapse of many of these companies and marked the beginning of a mild yet lengthy recession.

2001 Foot-and-mouth disease wreaks havoc on rural Britain The nine-month epidemic of 'foot-and-mouth' disease resulted in the culling of millions of animals and devastated large sections of the rural economy. The crisis brought the countryside to a virtual standstill and the cost to British farming was put between £800 million and £2.4 billion. The Labour government was heavily criticised for its handling of the crisis. 7 June 2001 Labour wins the general election, with Tony Blair returned as prime minister Labour won a commanding majority of 167 seats. Prime Minister Tony Blair's second term came to be dominated by controversial foreign policy issues, mainly the 'war on terror' begun after the terror attacks in the United States on 11 September. The Conservative leader, William Hague, resigned after the party showed little sign of electoral recovery. 11 September 2001 Islamic terrorists crash aircraft on targets in New York and Washington Nineteen mainly Saudi Arabian terrorists used hijacked planes to destroy the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York and part of the Pentagon building in Washington. A fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, killing all on board.

Among the approximately 3,000 people killed in the attacks were 67 Britons. In response, US President George W Bush declared a worldwide 'war on terror'. 7 October 2001 Britain joins the US in strikes on Taleban-controlled Afghanistan British forces contributed to the initial US military strikes against the Islamic fundamentalist Taleban regime in Afghanistan - the first retaliation to the terrorist attacks of '9/11'. The Taleban, who had allowed the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda to use Afghanistan as a base, was overthrown and replaced with a US-backed administration. Coalition forces, including British troops, remain in Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader responsible for the '9/11' attacks, was not found. 20 March 2003 Britain joins the US in an invasion of Iraq Despite significant opposition at home, the British government gave military support to the controversial United States-led invasion of Iraq. Crucially, the action was not backed by a United Nations mandate, sparking debate over the legality of the invasion. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was overthrown and captured.

Iraq now has a democratically elected government, but the country remains deeply unstable as a result of the deliberate stoking of sectarian tensions by terrorist groups. 1 May 2004 Ten new states join the European Union Ten new states from eastern and southern Europe joined the European Union, making it the largest trading bloc in the world by population. Their inclusion sparked fears, stoked by lurid media stories, of a huge influx of 'economic migrants' from the poorer eastern countries to the wealthier western countries such as Britain. 16 February 2005 Kyoto Protocol on measures to control climate change comes into force The agreement required countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 5.2% by 2012. The treaty was signed by 141 countries but the world's largest economy - and largest polluter - the United States, did not ratify it. Climate scientists argued that the 5.2% target was far too low, and a 60% cut was needed to make an impact on climate change caused by human activity. 5 May 2005 Labour wins a third consecutive term with Tony Blair as prime minister Labour won, but with a substantially reduced majority.

Tony Blair joined Margaret Thatcher as the only post-war prime ministers to have won three successive general elections. Nonetheless, he quickly announced his intention not to stand for a fourth term, sparking ongoing speculation about when he would hand over to his annointed successor, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. Conservative leader Michael Howard resigned to make way for a younger leader. 7 July 2005 Suicide bombers kill 52 people on London's transport system Three men blew themselves up on London Underground trains, while a fourth exploded his bomb on a double-decker bus. Fifty two people were killed and more than 700 injured. On 21 July there were four more attempted suicide bombings in London, but none of the devices exploded. Islamic terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility, but it is thought that the bombers, all British Muslims, acted alone. December 2005 Civil partnerships give same-sex couples legal rights Civil partnerships between same-sex couples were introduced in the 2004 Civil Partnership Act and came into law in December 2005. Partnered couples gained the same legal rights as married couples and were permitted to hold wedding-style 'civil union' ceremonies.

History of Baroness Margaret Thatcher - GOV.UK GOV.UK Baroness Margaret Thatcher Conservative 1979 to 1990 Born 13 October 1925, Grantham, Lincolnshire Died Conservative Major acts Housing Act 1980: gave security of tenure, and the right to buy homes, to tenants of local authorities and other bodies. Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the 'Iron Lady', was the first female British Prime Minister and the longest serving PM for over 150 years. Margaret Thatcher’s father, a shopkeeper and Mayor of Grantham, was a major influence in her childhood. She was educated at the local grammar school and studied Chemistry at Oxford University, where she became president of the university Conservative association. Thatcher read for the Bar before being elected as the Conservative MP for Finchley in 1959. She held junior posts before becoming Shadow Spokesperson for Education, and entered the Cabinet as Education Secretary in 1970. In Opposition she stood against Edward Heath for the party leadership in 1975 and won. Her victory was considered a surprise by many.

In 1979, the Conservative Party won the General Election and Thatcher became PM, taking over from James Callaghan. Her first 2 years in office were not easy - unemployment was very high, but the economy gradually showed improvement. She brought more of her supporters into the Cabinet, and added to her reputation by leading the country to war against Argentina in the Falkland Islands. The Conservatives went on to win the 1983 election by an overwhelming majority, helped by a divided opposition. Her government followed a radical programme of privatisation and deregulation, reform of the trade unions, tax cuts and the introduction of market mechanisms into health and education. The aim was to reduce the role of government and increase individual self-reliance. She also became a familiar figure internationally, creating a famous friendship with US President Reagan and gaining the praise of Soviet leader Gorbachev. One great difficulty during her time in office was the issue of Europe. Her long-serving Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe resigned in November 1990 in protest at her attitude to Europe. His resignation speech brought about events which were to lead to her exit from 10 Downing Street later that month.

Michael Heseltine challenged her for the leadership, and while he failed to win, he gained 152 votes – enough to make it evident that a crucial minority favoured a change. Thatcher was eventually persuaded not to go forward to the second ballot, which was won by her Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major . She left the House of Commons in 1992, and was appointed a life peerage in the House of Lords in the same year, receiving the title of Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven. In 1995 she was appointed as Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of Chivalry in the UK. Her writings include 2 volumes of memoirs: The Downing Street Years and The Path to Power. Thatcher died on 8 April 2013 at The Ritz Hotel in London, after suffering a stroke. She received a ceremonial funeral including full military honours, with a church service at St Paul’s Cathedral. More from the GOV.UK History of Government blog Yes Minister (TV Series 1980–1984) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title.

Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms - or so he thinks. Stars: Sir Humphrey Appleby receives his just reward when he's told by Sir Arnold Robinson that he is to be his successor as Cabinet Secretary. Jim Hacker has mixed feelings about the whole thing and while ... 9.2 The Minister is once again locking horns with Sir Humphrey, this time over a local Council's inability, or refusals, to submit its statistical reports. The local Council government belongs to ... 9.0 The Minister wants to give citizens access to their files on a new national database, but Sir Humphrey is at his obfuscating best. Accused by his political advisor and his wife of being a mouthpiece ...

8.9 a list of 47 titles created 17 Jun 2011 a list of 31 titles created 01 Feb 2013 a list of 40 titles created 21 Apr 2013 a list of 31 titles created 12 Jun 2015 a list of 36 titles created 3 weeks ago Search for " Yes Minister " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: Yes Minister (1980–1984) 8.7/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 6 wins & 3 nominations. See more awards » Photos James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - No. 10. Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.

Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie In the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder strives to win Her Majesty's favour while attempting to avoid a grisly fate should he offend her. Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war. Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away. Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs Francis Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative party. When Margaret Thatcher resigns as leader, he remains neutral and after a general election where the conservatives are returned ... See full summary » Stars: Ian Richardson, Susannah Harker, Miles Anderson Bertram Wooster, a well-intentioned, wealthy layabout, has a habit of getting himself into trouble and it's up to his brilliant valet, Jeeves, to get him out.

Stars: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Robert Daws Set in the corridors of power and spin, the Minister for Social Affairs, is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants. Stars: Chris Addison, James Smith, Peter Capaldi Comedy sketches written and performed by renowned duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Stars: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Deborah Norton Crazy sitcom about 3 priests and their housekeeper who live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland it seems! Stars: Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly Yes, Prime Minister (TV Series 2013) Comedy The modern version of British comedy 'Yes, Prime Minister'. Stars: David Haig, Henry Goodman, Chris Larkin I, Claudius (TV Mini-Series 1976) Drama | History The history of the Roman Empire as experienced by one of its rulers. Stars: Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, Siân Phillips Edit Storyline James Hacker is the British Minister for Administrative Affairs.

He tries to do something and cut government waste, but he is continually held back by the smart and wily Permanent Secretary of the Department, Sir Humphrey Appleby. Private secretary Bernard Woolley is caught in the middle, between his political master, and his civil service boss. Written by Tony Lammens <lammens@connexus.apana.org.au> 25 February 1980 (UK) See more » Also Known As: Javisst, herr minister See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The British Film Institute (BFI) named this as one of the top ten television programmes of all time. See more » Goofs During the train sequence in "The Official Visit", a close-up shows that the warning notice on the wall is written in gibberish. See more » Quotes Not to put too fine a point on it, absolutely fabulous! 7 May 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews Quite easily among the best-written comedies of all time. The razor-sharp wit and the superbly crafted word-play will have you both laughing out loud and oooohing and aaaahing in appreciation.

Yes Minister tracks the day jobs of its three pivotal characters: Jim Hacker, the honorable Minister of the Dept of Administrative Affairs, his Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby and his Private Sct, Bernard. In each episode, the somewhat idealistic (though exceedingly publicity-hungry) Minister tries to reform govt in one way or the other, but is blocked by his Permanent Sct, Sir Humphrey. Though this comedy is based on the British system of govt, I think the problems presented have universal appeal and so it would be appreciated by Americans, in fact by people of all nationalities. The highlight of the comedy, in my mind, is the brilliant script, esp the lines Sir Humphrey delivers when he wishes to "talk a lot but say nothing". Nigel Hawthorne's acting is Grade A material and a treat to watch. For those of you who enjoy wordplay, a somewhat cererbral comedy, or are simply an official in one or the other branch of govt, don't miss this one. 31 of 31 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Question: Who was Prime Minister of the UK in 1980?
Answer: MARGARET THATCHER