The First Thatcher Government, 1979-1983: Contemporary Conservatism and Economic Change
Martin HolmesThis book has two aims: first, to analyse the change in economic policy
formation between 1979 and 1983 and the way in which policy sources
were translated into reality, and second, to analyse how the first Thatcher
government has changed the nature of contemporary Conservatism. These
two themes overlap so consistently that they are dealt with
simultaneously. Economic policy and political ideology have always been
closely linked in modern British politics and the Thatcher government
proved no exception. In the following chapters, therefore, the stress is laid
on how Mrs Thatcher's political aspirations affected the economic policy
machine and how, in turn, the effects of these policies affected the
presentation of Conservatism both within the party itself and, ultimately,
to the electorate.