John Major formed the second Major ministry following the 1992 general election after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new government. His government fell into minority status on 13 December 1996.[1]
Second Major ministry | |
|---|---|
_(St_Edwards_Crown).svg){kind=small} Cabinet of the United Kingdom | |
| 1992–1997 | |
.jpg) Major in 1996 | |
| Date formed | 10 April 1992 |
| Date dissolved | 2 May 1997 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Prime Minister's history | Premiership of John Major |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Michael Heseltine (1995–1997) |
| Total no. of members | 274 appointments |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature |
|
| Opposition cabinet | |
| Opposition party | |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election | 1992 general election |
| Outgoing election | 1997 general election |
| Legislature terms | 51st UK Parliament |
| Budgets | |
| Predecessor | First Major ministry |
| Successor | First Blair ministry |
Formation
editThe change of leader from Margaret Thatcher to John Major saw a dramatic turnaround in Tory support, with the double-digit lead in the opinion polls for the Labour Party being replaced by a narrow Conservative one by the turn of 1991. Although a general election did not have to be held until June 1992, Labour leader Neil Kinnock kept pressurising Major to hold an election during 1991, but Major resisted the calls and there was no election that year.
The recession which began in the autumn of 1990 deepened during 1991, with unemployment standing at nearly 2.5 million by December 1991, compared to 1.6 million just 18 months earlier. Despite this, Tory support in the opinion polls remained relatively strong, with any Labour lead now being by the narrowest of margins, although Labour still made some gains at the expense of the Tories in local elections, and seized the Monmouth seat from the Tories in a by-election.
Major finally called an election for 9 April 1992 which ended the first Major ministry. In a surprise to most pollsters, Major won the election, which led to the formation of the Second Major Ministry and a fourth consecutive Conservative term in office.
There was widespread media and public debate as to whether the Labour Party could ever win a general election again, as they had failed to do so in 1992, despite the Conservative government having been in power for over a decade and presiding over a recession for the second time. At the same time, there was much private debate (made public many years later in the memoirs of senior figures including John Major himself) within the Conservative government as to whether a fifth successive general election victory was a realistic possibility.
The new term of parliament saw Major gain a new opponent in John Smith, who succeeded Neil Kinnock as Labour leader.
However, the months which followed the 1992 general election saw a series of events which went a long way towards deciding the outcome of the next general election long before it was even on the political horizon.
Fate
editOn Wednesday 16 September 1992, the pound sterling crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont had invested heavily in trying to keep it there, adjusting interest rates four times in one day as a desperate measure, an event which became known as Black Wednesday, leaving the Conservative government's reputation for economic excellence in tatters. Labour was soon ascendant in the opinion polls, and next few years brought a string of heavy defeats for the Conservatives in local council elections and parliamentary by-elections, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats benefiting at their expense.
Internal Conservative Party feuding on Europe and the government defeat on the Maastricht Treaty further dented the government's popularity, as did coal mine closures announced in late 1992, and a series of scandals involving MPs.
The end of the recession was declared in April 1993 after nearly three years, and unemployment – which had peaked at nearly 3,000,000 people by the end of 1992 – quickly began to fall. It had fallen below 2,500,000 within two years of the recession's end, and by the end of 1996 it was below the 2,000,000 mark. Freed from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the British economy outperformed the rest of the continent for the first time in a generation.
However, the strong economic recovery failed to make much difference to the dismal Conservative performance in the opinion polls. Labour leader John Smith died of a sudden heart attack in May 1994 and was succeeded by Tony Blair, who continued the modernisation process of the party which began under Smith's predecessor Neil Kinnock, by branding the party as: "New Labour", and by the end of that year the opinion polls were showing Labour support as high as 60% – putting them more than 30 points ahead of the Conservatives.
With the Conservative government remaining divided on Europe and much more, John Major, in an attempt to silence his critics and opponents, announced his resignation as party leader – but not as Prime Minister – in June 1995, triggering a leadership election. He was opposed by John Redwood, the Secretary of State for Wales, and Major won the leadership election without much difficulty.
The Conservative majority of 21 seats was gradually eroded by a string of by-election defeats as well as the defection of one MP to Labour, and by the turn of 1997 the Conservatives were without a majority in the House of Commons.
Major left it until the last possible moment before calling a general election, finally holding it on Thursday, 1 May 1997. He pinned his hopes of election success on a six-week campaign exposing New Labour's policies to scrutiny, as well as pointing towards a booming economy and falling unemployment. However, as the Conservatives had denied responsibility for the recession at the turn of the decade, few voters were willing to give them credit for the economic recovery, and Labour returned to power after eighteen years in opposition, with a 179-seat majority that saw several powerful Conservative figures (most notably Michael Portillo, widely tipped to be the next Leader of the Conservative Party) lose their seats and the loss of all Conservative seats in Wales and Scotland; the Conservatives subsequently suffered their worst general election result of the twentieth century and their place in government was taken by Labour, led by Tony Blair, after four successive parliamentary terms of Conservative Party rule.[2]
The Conservatives did not return to government until 2010, and did not win a parliamentary majority until 2015, having had to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in order to form their first government under David Cameron.
Cabinet
editApril 1992 to May 1993
editChanges
edit- On 24 September 1992 David Mellor resigns as Secretary of State for National Heritage following tabloid reporting of an affair with actress Antonia de Sancha. He was replaced by Peter Brooke.[4]
May 1993 to July 1994
editJuly 1994 to July 1995
editJuly 1995 to May 1997
editList of ministers
editMembers of the Cabinet are in bold face.
| Office | Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister First Lord of the Treasury Minister for the Civil Service |
John Major | Continued in office – 1 May 1997 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister First Secretary of State |
Michael Heseltine | 20 July 1995 | |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | Continued in office | |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord President of the Council |
Tony Newton | 10 April 1992 | |
| Leader of the House of Lords Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal |
The Lord Wakeham | 11 April 1992 | |
| Viscount Cranborne | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Norman Lamont | 28 November 1990 | |
| Kenneth Clarke | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Michael Portillo | 10 April 1992 | |
| Jonathan Aitken | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Hon. William Waldegrave | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Treasury | Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | also Paymaster General |
| Anthony Nelson | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 – 20 July 1996 | also Paymaster General | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Government Chief Whip |
Richard Ryder | 28 November 1990 | |
| Alastair Goodlad | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Stephen Dorrell | 14 April 1992 | |
| Sir George Young | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Michael Jack | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Anthony Nelson | 14 April 1992 | |
| Angela Knight | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | Phillip Oppenheim | 23 June 1996 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Greg Knight | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| Irvine Patnick | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Nicholas Baker | 3 December 1990 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Tim Wood | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | ||
| Timothy Kirkhope | 11 December 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 27 May 1993 – 17 October 1995 | ||
| Derek Conway | 20 July 1994 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Andrew Mitchell | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Bowen Wells | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Simon Burns | 5 July 1995 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| David Willetts | 5 July 1995 – 28 November 1995 | ||
| Michael Bates | 17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996 | ||
| Liam Fox | 28 November 1995 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Roger Knapman | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Richard Ottaway | 23 July 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Gyles Brandreth | 11 December 1996 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Assistant Whips | Timothy Kirkhope | 25 July 1990 - 15 December 1992 | |
| David Davis | 3 December 1990 - 28 May 1993 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 15 April 1992 - 7 June 1993 | ||
| Robert Hughes | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Arbuthnot | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 | ||
| Andrew Mitchell | 15 December 1992 -20 July 1994 | ||
| Michael Brown | 7 June 1993 - 9 May 1994 | ||
| Derek Conway | 7 June 1993 - 20 July 1994 | ||
| Bowen Wells | 9 May 1994 - 7 July 1995 | ||
| Simon Burns | 20 July 1994 - 7 July 1995 | ||
| David Willetts | 20 July 1994 - 7 July 1995 | ||
| Michael Bates | 20 July 1994 - 17 October 1995 | ||
| Liam Fox | 20 July 1994 - 29 November 1995 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 7 July 1995 - 23 July 1996 | ||
| Roger Knapman | 7 July 1995 - 23 July 1996 | ||
| Gary Streeter | 7 July 1995 - 3 June 1996 | ||
| Richard Ottaway | 17 October 1995 - 23 July 1996 | ||
| Gyles Brandreth | 29 November 1995 - 12 December 1996 | ||
| Seb Coe | 6 June 1996 - 2 May 1997 | ||
| Anthony Coombs | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 | ||
| Jacqui Lait | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 | ||
| Peter Ainsworth | 23 July 1996 - 2 May 1997 | ||
| Matthew Carrington | 12 December 1996 - 2 May 1997 | ||
| Foreign Secretary | Douglas Hurd | 26 October 1989 | |
| Malcolm Rifkind | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey | Continued in office – 1 May 1997 | also Minister of Overseas Development; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| Tristan Garel-Jones | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. Douglas Hogg | Continued in office – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | 15 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| David Davis | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Jeremy Hanley | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Sir Nicholas Bonsor | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | Continued in office - 20 July 1994 | |
| Tony Baldry | 20 July 1994 - 5 July 1995 | ||
| Liam Fox | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Minister for Overseas Development | Lynda Chalker | Continued in office | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; created Baroness Chalker of Wallasey 24 April 1992 |
| Home Secretary | Kenneth Clarke | 11 April 1992 | |
| Michael Howard | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Michael Jack | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Peter Lloyd | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| David Maclean | 27 May 1993 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Michael Forsyth | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| The Baroness Blatch | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Ann Widdecombe | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Charles Wardle | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Nicholas Baker | 20 July 1994 – 17 October 1995 | ||
| Timothy Kirkhope | 17 October 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| The Hon. Tom Sackville | 28 November 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | Continued in office | |
| Gillian Shephard | 24 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. William Waldegrave | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Hon. Douglas Hogg | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | David Curry | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Michael Jack | 27 May 1993 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Tony Baldry | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| The Earl Howe | 14 April 1992 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Angela Browning | 20 July 1994 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 5 July 1995 – 1 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Defence | Malcolm Rifkind | 15 April 1992 | |
| Michael Portillo | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | The Hon. Archie Hamilton | Continued in office | |
| Jeremy Hanley | 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Hon. Nicholas Soames | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Jonathan Aitken | 14 April 1992 | |
| Roger Freeman | 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Arbuthnot | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence | Viscount Cranborne | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| The Lord Henley | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Earl Howe | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Education | John Patten | 10 April 1992 | |
| Gillian Shephard | 20 July 1994 | Secretary of State for Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Education | The Baroness Blatch | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Eric Forth | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | Minister of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Employment | The Lord Henley | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education | Eric Forth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Nigel Forman | 14 April 1992 – 11 December 1992 | ||
| Tim Boswell | 19 December 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| Robin Squire | 27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997 | Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment after 5 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Employment | James Paice | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | |
| Cheryl Gillan | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Employment | Gillian Shephard | 12 April 1992 | |
| David Hunt | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Michael Portillo | 20 July 1994 | Merged with the Office of Education 5 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | Michael Forsyth | 14 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Ann Widdecombe | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | The Viscount Ullswater | Continued in office – 16 September 1993 | |
| Patrick McLoughlin | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Ann Widdecombe | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Henley | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Paice | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Phillip Oppenheim | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Energy | Timothy Eggar | 15 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | under Office of Trade and Industry; became Minister of State, Energy and Industry 20 July 1994 |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Michael Howard | 11 April 1992 | |
| John Gummer | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Local Government | John Redwood | 15 April 1992 | |
| David Curry | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Minister of State for Housing | Sir George Young | 28 November 1990 | |
| The Viscount Ullswater | 20 July 1994 | Post renamed Minister of State for Construction 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Construction | Robert Jones | 6 July 1995 | |
| Minister of State for Environment and Countryside | David Maclean | 14 April 1992 | |
| Tim Yeo | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Robert Atkins | 7 January 1994 | ||
| The Earl Ferrers | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Tony Baldry | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| The Lord Strathclyde | 15 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | ||
| Robin Squire | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| The Earl of Arran | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| Sir Paul Beresford | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Robert Jones | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| James Clappison | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Health | Virginia Bottomley | 10 April 1992 | |
| Stephen Dorrell | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, Health | Brian Mawhinney | 14 April 1992 | |
| Gerry Malone | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Hon. Tom Sackville | 14 April 1992 – 29 November 1995 | |
| The Baroness Cumberlege | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Yeo | 15 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| John Bowis | 27 May 1993 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| John Horam | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Simon Burns | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Social Security | Peter Lilley | 10 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Nicholas Scott | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| William Hague | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Alistair Burt | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Lord Henley | Continued in office - 16 September 1993 | |
| Ann Widdecombe | 30 November 1990 – 27 May 1993 | ||
| Alistair Burt | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| William Hague | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| James Arbuthnot | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| Roger Evans | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Andrew Mitchell | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Oliver Heald | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Hon. William Waldegrave | 11 April 1992 | also Minister for the Public Service |
| David Hunt | 20 July 1994 | also Minister for the Public Service | |
| Roger Freeman | 5 July 1995 | also Minister for the Public Service | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Public Service | Robert V. Jackson | 15 April 1992 | |
| David Davis | 27 May 1993 | ||
| Robert Hughes | 20 July 1994 | ||
| John Horam | 6 March 1995 | ||
| David Willetts | 28 November 1995 | ||
| vacant | 20 July 1996 | ||
| Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | ||
| Secretary of State for National Heritage | David Mellor | 11 April 1992 | |
| Peter Brooke | 25 September 1992 | ||
| Stephen Dorrell | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Virginia Bottomley | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State, National Heritage | Iain Sproat | 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, National Heritage | Robert Key | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Iain Sproat | 27 May 1993 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Viscount Astor | 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Sir Patrick Mayhew | 10 April 1992 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Robert Atkins | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| Michael Mates | 15 April 1992 – 24 June 1993 | ||
| Sir John Wheeler | 25 June 1993 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Michael Ancram | 11 January 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Jeremy Hanley | 3 December 1990 – 27 May 1993 | |
| The Earl of Arran | 22 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| Michael Ancram | 27 May 1993 – 5 January 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Tim Smith | 6 January 1994 – 20 October 1994 | ||
| Malcolm Moss | 25 October 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Paymaster General | Sir John Cope | 14 April 1992 | also Minister of State, Treasury |
| David Heathcoat-Amory | 20 July 1994 | also Minister of State, Treasury | |
| David Willetts | 20 July 1996 | ||
| Michael Bates | 16 December 1996 | ||
| Minister without Portfolio | Jeremy Hanley | 20 July 1994 – 5 July 1995 | |
| Brian Mawhinney | 5 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Ian Lang | 28 November 1990 | |
| Michael Forsyth | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | |
| The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | The Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | Continued in office – 6 July 1995 | |
| Allan Stewart | 28 November 1990 – 8 February 1995 | ||
| Sir Hector Monro | 14 April 1992 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| George Kynoch | 8 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Earl of Lindsay | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Raymond Robertson | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | 20 July 1994 | Under Office of Trade and Industry; office abolished 6 July 1995 |
| Minister for Trade | Richard Needham (The Earl of Kilmorey) |
14 April 1992 | |
| Anthony Nelson | 6 July 1995 | ||
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Michael Heseltine | 10 April 1992 | |
| Ian Lang | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister for Industry | Tim Sainsbury | 15 April 1992 - 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Strathclyde | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | |
| The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 6 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Minister of State, Energy and Industry | Timothy Eggar | 20 July 1994 | |
| Greg Knight | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Edward Leigh | Continued in office – 27 May 1993 | |
| Neil Hamilton | 14 April 1992 – 25 October 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Denton | 14 April 1992 – 16 September 1993 | ||
| Jonathan Evans | 27 October 1994 – 29 November 1995 | ||
| Patrick McLoughlin | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 16 September 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| Charles Wardle | 20 July 1994 – 11 February 1995 | ||
| Ian Taylor | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Richard Page | 14 February 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Phillip Oppenheim | 7 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| John Mark Taylor | 29 November 1995 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Transport | John MacGregor | 10 April 1992 | |
| Brian Mawhinney | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Sir George Young | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister for Public Transport | Roger Freeman | 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Minister for Railways and Roads | The Earl of Caithness | 14 April 1992 – 11 January 1994 | |
| John Watts | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Kenneth Carlisle | 14 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 | |
| Steven Norris | 14 April 1992 – 23 July 1996 | ||
| Robert Key | 27 May 1993 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 11 January 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Goschen | 20 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| John Bowis | 23 July 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Secretary of State for Wales | David Hunt | Continued in office | |
| John Redwood | 27 May 1993 | ||
| David Hunt | 26 June 1995 | (Acting) | |
| William Hague | 5 July 1995 | ||
| Minister of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | Continued in office – 20 July 1994 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Nicholas Bennett | 3 December 1990 – 14 April 1992 | |
| Gwilym Jones | 14 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Rod Richards | 20 July 1994 – 2 June 1996 | ||
| Jonathan Evans | 2 June 1996 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| Attorney General | Sir Patrick Mayhew | Continued in office | |
| Sir Nicholas Lyell | 9 April 1992 | ||
| Solicitor General | Sir Derek Spencer | 15 April 1992 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry | 15 April 1992 | |
| The Lord Mackay of Drumadoon | 7 November 1995 | ||
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Thomas Dawson | 15 April 1992 | Not an MP |
| Donald Mackay | 4 May 1995 | Not an MP | |
| Paul Cullen | 7 November 1995 | Not an MP | |
| Treasurer of the Household | David Heathcoat-Amory | 15 April 1992 | |
| Greg Knight | 7 June 1993 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Comptroller of the Household | David Lightbown | 28 November 1990 | |
| Timothy Wood | 7 July 1995 | ||
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Sydney Chapman | 15 April 1992 | |
| Timothy Kirkhope | 7 July 1995 | ||
| Andrew MacKay | 18 October 1995 | ||
| Derek Conway | 23 July 1996 | ||
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Hesketh | 2 May 1991 | |
| The Viscount Ullswater | 16 September 1993 | ||
| The Lord Strathclyde | 20 July 1994 | ||
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl of Strathmore | 30 December 1991 | |
| The Earl of Arran | 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | January 1995 | ||
| The Lord Chesham | 8 July 1995 | ||
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Cavendish of Furness | Continued in office – 22 April 1993 | |
| The Viscount Astor | Continued in office – 16 September 1993 | ||
| The Viscount Long | Continued in office – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Viscount St Davids | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Viscount Goschen | 22 April 1992 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Baroness Trumpington | 22 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish | 15 October 1993 – 11 January 1994 | ||
| The Lord Annaly | 18 March 1994 – 20 July 1994 | ||
| The Lord Lucas of Crudwell | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Baroness Miller of Hendon | 21 July 1994 – 2 May 1997 | ||
| The Lord Inglewood | 21 July 1994 – January 1995 | ||
| The Earl of Lindsay | 12 January 1995 – 6 July 1995 | ||
| The Earl of Courtown | 8 July 1995 – 2 May 1997 |
References
edit
- ^ Brown, Colin; Abrams, Fran (13 December 1996). "The Major minority". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "John Major: A life in politics". BBC News. 28 September 2002.
- ^ a b c d "Holders of Ministerial Office in the Conservative Governments 1979-1997" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "1992: Mellor resigns over sex scandal". BBC. 24 September 1992. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
Further reading
edit- D. Butler and G. Butler (ed.), Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000
- Julian Critchley and Morrison Halcrow, Collapse of Stout Party: The Decline and Fall of the Tories (Victor Gollancz, 1997)
External links
edit- British Cabinet and Government Membership, archived from the original on 16 January 2009, retrieved 20 April 2012
- British Government 1979–2005, archived from the original on 7 February 2012, retrieved 20 November 2007