This volume provides a balanced historical analysis of the Thatcher years and their consequences in the light of the miners' strike, unfavourable relations with Europe, the poll tax and the Falklands War. An Introduction to the Series vii Note on Referencing System viii Author's Acknowledgements ix Publisher's Acknowledgements x List of Acronyms xii PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 1(6) The Road to 1979 1(6) Mrs Thatcher's Political Rise 1(1) Challenge for the Party Leadership (February 1975) 2(2) Preparing for Power (1975--79) 4(2) The 1979 Election 6(1) PART TWO: ANALYSIS 7(58) Establishing Hegemony Appointing a Government (1979) 7(2) Economic Battles: the First Budget and Economic Strategy (1979--80) 9(2) A Busy First Year: Early Union Clashes, EC Budget Wrangles and Rhodesian Independence (1979--80) 11(3) Tough Going: Vanquishing the `Wets' (1980--81) 14(6) The Falklands War and its Aftermath (1981--83) 20(5) The High Tide of Thatcher 25(17) A Troubled Start: Early Reshuffles and the Invasion of Grenada (1983) 25(2) Vintage Thatcher: Privatisation, an EC Budget Settlement and the Miners' Strike (1984--85) 27(6) Mid-Term Difficulties: the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Westland Affair and US Relations (1985--86) 33(5) The Recovery: the Commonwealth, Economic Upturn and the General Election (1986--87) 38(4) The Centre Cannot Hold 42(17) The Revolution Continues: Further Privatisation, Education and NHS Reform (1987--89) 42(4) The Flagship Hits the Rocks: the Poll Tax (1985--90) 46(4) Clashes with Colleagues: Disagreements over Europe and the ERM (1987--89) 50(6) After Nigel: the Prime Minister Loses her Way (1989--90) 56(3) The End of an Era 59(6) Jittery October (1990) 59(1) A Challenge Emerges (early November 1990) 60(3) The Lady Bows Out (late November 1990) 63(2) PART THREE: ASSESSMENT 65(30) Britain Under Thatcher 65(14) Macroeconomics 65(2) The Supply Side 67(1) Trade Union Reform 68(2) The Welfare State 70(2) Britain in the World 72(3) The Government and the Constitution 75(2) The Establishment and Values 77(2) Thatcherism in History 79(16) The Right-wing Perspective 79(4) The Centre-Left Conservative (`Wet') Critique 83(3) The Centralisation (`Strong State') Critique 86(2) A Left of Centre Critique 88(2) A Contemporary Historian's Perspective 90(1) The Historical Determinist Thesis 90(1) An Historian's Perspective 91(1) Conclusion: Thatcher and Thatcherism in History 92(3) PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS 95(26) Chronology 121(6) Glossary 127(3) Guide to Characters 130(4) Bibliography 134(4) Index 138