Succeeding to office after eleven years of Thatcherism, John Major is often portrayed as one of the less significant PMs of the 20th century. Yet his involvement in the demanding issues of his time, Ireland and Europe being the outstanding examples, surely demands close attention and analysis.
Course aim
Was John Major ever anything more than the grey figure mockingly portrayed by Spitting Image cartoonists? The talk will offer a reappraisal of his premiership.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Judge Major's role in dealing with the dominant issues of his day
- Grasp the key features of his character and personality
- Judge how accurate it is to suggest that Major merely filled the gap between Thatcherism and Blairism
- Have an understanding of the extent to which Major succeeded in his Irish and European policies
- Assess both his inheritance legacy as PM
What else do I need to know?
Relevant material will appear on Canvas
View full course information sheet
