Government at the Centre

Abstract

At the surface of political life the change from the dominant, decisive and strident Mrs Thatcher to the hesitant, indecisive and ‘nice’ Mr Major could hardly be more dramatic. But we should be careful with our comparisons. It is a standard error amongst sports writers to compare the first performance of newly-appointed captains with the final performance of those they have replaced. If we compare Major’s first 18 months in office with the first 18 months of Thatcher’s administration it is not Major who looks indecisive nor Thatcher who looks assured. But certainly there is a difference in their style, their relationship with their cabinet and senior civil servants, and the conduct of cabinet government.