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Thatcher resigns: from the archive, 23 November 1990 Thatcher resigns: from the archive, 23 November 1990
(6 months later)
Margaret Thatcher yesterday took the last great gamble of her political career when she announced her intention to resign her remarkable premiership in an attempt to prevent Michael Heseltine from storming the gates of Downing Street against the wishes of most of the Cabinet.Margaret Thatcher yesterday took the last great gamble of her political career when she announced her intention to resign her remarkable premiership in an attempt to prevent Michael Heseltine from storming the gates of Downing Street against the wishes of most of the Cabinet.
In a concerted response, negotiated privately as the 20-day crisis mounted, Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary, and John Major, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, emerged as the Cabinet's unofficial "Stop Michael" alternatives with a twin candidacy designed to maximise the anti-Heseltine vote in the second round of the leadership election on Tuesday.In a concerted response, negotiated privately as the 20-day crisis mounted, Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary, and John Major, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, emerged as the Cabinet's unofficial "Stop Michael" alternatives with a twin candidacy designed to maximise the anti-Heseltine vote in the second round of the leadership election on Tuesday.
Norman Tebbit resisted strong pressure to stand as a spoiler for the right, and later endorsed Mr Major as "an economic dry" who would prove resistant to a single European currency. He joined a staunch minority of MPs insisting it had been "a mistake to dump the Prime Minister".Norman Tebbit resisted strong pressure to stand as a spoiler for the right, and later endorsed Mr Major as "an economic dry" who would prove resistant to a single European currency. He joined a staunch minority of MPs insisting it had been "a mistake to dump the Prime Minister".
Vulnerable to defections from MPs who had voted for change in order to get a second ballot, the Heseltine camp claimed to be holding its strength late last night. "What surprises me is that Major is emerging as the challenger, not Hurd," said one key aide. "The Thatcherites are going hard for Major," another MP reported. Mr Hurd's broad-based team dismissed it as disinformation designed to damage their man. "Douglas is a man unchained," said one.Vulnerable to defections from MPs who had voted for change in order to get a second ballot, the Heseltine camp claimed to be holding its strength late last night. "What surprises me is that Major is emerging as the challenger, not Hurd," said one key aide. "The Thatcherites are going hard for Major," another MP reported. Mr Hurd's broad-based team dismissed it as disinformation designed to damage their man. "Douglas is a man unchained," said one.
But amid the day's tumultuous events at Westminster there was no certain calculation that Mrs Thatcher's sacrifice would enable one or other late entrant to win over enough MPs to stop the sheer momentum generated by Mr Heseltine, whose 152-204 votes in Tuesday's first round toppled the most powerful premiership since Churchill in his prime.But amid the day's tumultuous events at Westminster there was no certain calculation that Mrs Thatcher's sacrifice would enable one or other late entrant to win over enough MPs to stop the sheer momentum generated by Mr Heseltine, whose 152-204 votes in Tuesday's first round toppled the most powerful premiership since Churchill in his prime.
The Prime Minister had announced her decision to a much-relieved but chastened Cabinet at a 9am session after "sleeping on" the overnight majority view of the Cabinet that she might not beat Mr Heseltine. She went on to face the Commons at Question Time and Labour's no confidence motion with a predictably formidable performance from a politician always at her best with her back to the wall. The motion was defeated by 367 votes to 247, a government majority of 120, with no Tory defections.The Prime Minister had announced her decision to a much-relieved but chastened Cabinet at a 9am session after "sleeping on" the overnight majority view of the Cabinet that she might not beat Mr Heseltine. She went on to face the Commons at Question Time and Labour's no confidence motion with a predictably formidable performance from a politician always at her best with her back to the wall. The motion was defeated by 367 votes to 247, a government majority of 120, with no Tory defections.
Tributes flooded in from admirers and opponents around the world, including Neil Kinnock and President Bush, who called her a staunch ally to the United States and added: "I'll miss her." But the Stock Market rose at the news.Tributes flooded in from admirers and opponents around the world, including Neil Kinnock and President Bush, who called her a staunch ally to the United States and added: "I'll miss her." But the Stock Market rose at the news.
Mr Heseltine joined the plaudits to the longest premiership since 1827. But among Tory MPs one theory gathering strength was that the enormity of the matricide they had collectively committed would rebound against the former Defence Secretary. Around the country, Tory activists wept, flooded their MPs' switchboards and swore revenge. In the Commons, Nicholas Ridley warned of a backlash against a "sort of medieval betrayal... if any of those who have used this device were to inherit the crown, uneasy would lie their head". In effect the right was saying unity could not be achieved with Mr Heseltine.Mr Heseltine joined the plaudits to the longest premiership since 1827. But among Tory MPs one theory gathering strength was that the enormity of the matricide they had collectively committed would rebound against the former Defence Secretary. Around the country, Tory activists wept, flooded their MPs' switchboards and swore revenge. In the Commons, Nicholas Ridley warned of a backlash against a "sort of medieval betrayal... if any of those who have used this device were to inherit the crown, uneasy would lie their head". In effect the right was saying unity could not be achieved with Mr Heseltine.
Proclaiming the paramount need to reunite the party after what one cabinet minister called "this fratricidal warfare", the two new challengers for the Thatcher succession issued a joint statement of policy. They promised they were engaged "in a friendly contest so that our party colleagues who take the decision can choose which of us is better placed to unite the party".Proclaiming the paramount need to reunite the party after what one cabinet minister called "this fratricidal warfare", the two new challengers for the Thatcher succession issued a joint statement of policy. They promised they were engaged "in a friendly contest so that our party colleagues who take the decision can choose which of us is better placed to unite the party".
Mrs Thatcher had earlier pointedly stressed her backing for cabinet colleagues entering the race, but that was as close as either contender came to admitting that they are prepared to throw their weight and votes behind whichever of them does better in Tuesday's round two. First they must succeed in their initial aim of stopping Mr Heseltine from gaining the extra 17 votes to reach the simple majority of 187 needed to receive a summons to Buckingham Palace.Mrs Thatcher had earlier pointedly stressed her backing for cabinet colleagues entering the race, but that was as close as either contender came to admitting that they are prepared to throw their weight and votes behind whichever of them does better in Tuesday's round two. First they must succeed in their initial aim of stopping Mr Heseltine from gaining the extra 17 votes to reach the simple majority of 187 needed to receive a summons to Buckingham Palace.
That would lead to a third round on Thursday in which the single transferable vote would be used. As all three camps claimed surges of support and, in Mr Major's case, a majority within Cabinet there was no clear view as to who would get most second preferences in a third round. All three camps think the mechanism can work their way.That would lead to a third round on Thursday in which the single transferable vote would be used. As all three camps claimed surges of support and, in Mr Major's case, a majority within Cabinet there was no clear view as to who would get most second preferences in a third round. All three camps think the mechanism can work their way.
Faced with the prospect that Mrs Thatcher's gut instincts would make her fight on and lose to a man she fears and dislikes, Tory MPs were grateful she had released her two nominators to run in what is virtually a fresh election.Faced with the prospect that Mrs Thatcher's gut instincts would make her fight on and lose to a man she fears and dislikes, Tory MPs were grateful she had released her two nominators to run in what is virtually a fresh election.
What bothered some Tories was that they are both distinctly uncharismatic candidates, one a 60-year-old Old Etonian diplomat, the other a Brixton meritocrat the same age as Neil Kinnock but "with eight years in government" as he said last night. Worrying to the right was that they were too close on policy to offer an ideological alternative to Mr Heseltine.What bothered some Tories was that they are both distinctly uncharismatic candidates, one a 60-year-old Old Etonian diplomat, the other a Brixton meritocrat the same age as Neil Kinnock but "with eight years in government" as he said last night. Worrying to the right was that they were too close on policy to offer an ideological alternative to Mr Heseltine.
As they launched instant five-day campaigns and gathered cabinet endorsements, both tried to establish product identity. Mr Hurd underlined his experience in the Foreign Office and Home Office where his performance, so aides stressed, offended liberals. Mr Major stressed his youth and economic experience.As they launched instant five-day campaigns and gathered cabinet endorsements, both tried to establish product identity. Mr Hurd underlined his experience in the Foreign Office and Home Office where his performance, so aides stressed, offended liberals. Mr Major stressed his youth and economic experience.
Mrs Thatcher's Commons appearance yesterday must have made some Tory MPs who stood and cheered her amid Labour cries of "Judases" wonder if they had blundered. Efforts to pay tributes ranged from the mawkish to the aggressive, but she handled them deftly, even humorously. She would be back on Tuesday, possibly on Thursday too, she said, amid laughter.Mrs Thatcher's Commons appearance yesterday must have made some Tory MPs who stood and cheered her amid Labour cries of "Judases" wonder if they had blundered. Efforts to pay tributes ranged from the mawkish to the aggressive, but she handled them deftly, even humorously. She would be back on Tuesday, possibly on Thursday too, she said, amid laughter.
In the ensuing debate, Mr Kinnock savaged Conservatives who had abandoned a leader they had supported through "11 oil-rich years with a recession at each end and a miracle in between".In the ensuing debate, Mr Kinnock savaged Conservatives who had abandoned a leader they had supported through "11 oil-rich years with a recession at each end and a miracle in between".
In the election contest, Mr Hurd's sponsors are Tom King (Defence) and Chris Patten (Environment), and he promptly claimed the support of William Waldegrave (Health), Malcolm Rifkind (Scotland) and Kenneth Clarke (Education). Mr Major's sponsors Norman Lamont (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and John Gummer (Agriculture) were joined by Peter Lilley and Michael Howard, both economic rightwingers.In the election contest, Mr Hurd's sponsors are Tom King (Defence) and Chris Patten (Environment), and he promptly claimed the support of William Waldegrave (Health), Malcolm Rifkind (Scotland) and Kenneth Clarke (Education). Mr Major's sponsors Norman Lamont (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and John Gummer (Agriculture) were joined by Peter Lilley and Michael Howard, both economic rightwingers.
In a frenetic atmosphere at Westminster, extravagant claims of support are yet to be tested by weekend polls, constituency sentiment and lobbying.In a frenetic atmosphere at Westminster, extravagant claims of support are yet to be tested by weekend polls, constituency sentiment and lobbying.
Mr Heseltine rightly judged that it was not a day for anything but praise for Mrs Thatcher's achievements. He promised to name cabinet supporters, whom he had solicited by telephone, and last night addressed the rightwing No Turning Back group.Mr Heseltine rightly judged that it was not a day for anything but praise for Mrs Thatcher's achievements. He promised to name cabinet supporters, whom he had solicited by telephone, and last night addressed the rightwing No Turning Back group.
There are economic rightwingers who see him as an election winner who is a self-made tycoon, and traditional rightwingers who feel that Mr Hurd is the perfect stop-gap to bind up the party's wounds. Mr Major has made remarkably few enemies in his mercurial career.There are economic rightwingers who see him as an election winner who is a self-made tycoon, and traditional rightwingers who feel that Mr Hurd is the perfect stop-gap to bind up the party's wounds. Mr Major has made remarkably few enemies in his mercurial career.
By general consent, there is everything to play for.By general consent, there is everything to play for.
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