Questions and Answers
What does 'Wets' refer to?
What characterizes 'Dries'?
How did Thatcher initially deal with Wets?
She appointed key Wets to avoid backlash and gain support.
Who was Jim Prior?
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What was Michael Heseltine known for?
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Which role did Francis Pym hold?
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What was Norman Tebbit's approach as Secretary of State for Employment?
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What were some responsibilities of Sir Keith Joseph?
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What did Sir Geoffrey Howe do before his fall from favor?
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Who was John Biffen?
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What was Nigel Lawson's role and his disagreement with Thatcher?
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What was William Whitelaw's position and relationship with Thatcher?
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Study Notes
Wets and Dries Overview
- Wets: Conservative party members opposing hard-line policies, often seen as weak and compromising with unions.
- Dries: Opponents label these members as supporters of policies aimed at reducing government spending, cutting taxes, and promoting private enterprise.
Thatcher's Strategy
- Initially lacked support for hard-line policies; appointed key wets to build trust and avoid backlash.
- Over time, as her reputation and authority grew, she replaced wets with dries, enabling the implementation of tougher policies like tax cuts and deregulation.
Key Wets
- Jim Prior: Served as Secretary of State for Employment (1979-81); agreed unions had excessive power but disagreed with Thatcher’s approach. Reassigned after she deemed him too friendly towards union leaders.
- Michael Heseltine: Held positions as Secretary of State for Environment (1979-83) and Defence (1983-86); known for expressing dissenting views, resigned in 1986 over the Westland affair, and challenged Thatcher's leadership.
- Francis Pym: Defence Secretary (1979-81) and a prominent wet; criticized government actions during the 1983 election campaign, resulting in his dismissal.
Key Dries
- Norman Tebbit: Served as Secretary of State for Employment (1981-87); adopted a more stringent approach compared to his wet predecessor, Jim Prior, and introduced the 1982 Employment Act.
- Sir Keith Joseph: Secretary of State for Industry (1979-81) and Education (1981-86); a leading economic advisor known for advocating privatization and a new national curriculum.
- Sir Geoffrey Howe: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979-83) and Foreign Secretary (1983-89); a stalwart ally of Thatcher whose later disagreements on economic policy contributed to their fallout.
- John Biffen: Lead of the House of Commons (1982-87) who opposed state intervention and was known for voting against EEC entry while generally supporting most dry policies.
- Nigel Lawson: Financial Secretary to Treasury (1979-81) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1983-89); played a crucial role in economic reforms like tax cuts, but clashed with Thatcher over the poll tax and European policies, leading to his resignation.
William Whitelaw
- Neither aligned strictly as a wet or dry; served as Home Secretary (1979-83) and was noted for loyalty and honesty, but Thatcher doubted his commitment to harder line policies. Transitioned to Leader of the House of Lords post-1983 general election; resigned due to health issues in 1987.
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Description
This quiz explores the concepts of Wets and Dries, focusing on British Conservative Party dynamics during Margaret Thatcher's tenure. It highlights the ideological divides and how these factions influenced government policies. Test your understanding of these political terms and their implications.
