The Politics of Post-Thatcherism under the John Major Government: Civic Conservatism and the Reform of Public Services

Abstract

This article offers a new historical interpretation of the British Conservative Party’s politics after post Thatcherism under the leadership of John Major. Much previous research on Major’s leadership has argued his party could not have cope with Thatcherite legacies, including socio-economic divisions.

To counter argue that general understanding, this article addresses the new political ideas suggested under the Major’s premiership, and the effects it had on gave public policies. The result of the analysis revealed that the concept of “Civic Conservatism” which was proposed by party intellectual David Willetts, and it reflected in “Citizen’s Charter”. This article argues that the Conservatives attempted to revive local institutions such as schools, hospitals, and municipalities to distance themselves from Thatcherite policies which was finally implemented as an internal policy.