1987–8: The Flagships Launched

Abstract

As the likely time for the next general election drew nearer, a considerable policy effort was mounted to prepare for the next Conservative manifesto. A range of policy groups were set up in the latter part of 1986, normally chaired by the appropriate minister: they were to report to a steering group of senior members of the government, nicknamed ‘the A-team’. Although there were some Conservatives, like the Leader of the House John Biffen, who argued that the need was for a period of consolidation rather than radical change, both the Prime Minister’s temperament and the belief that a policy of consolidation would make it looks as though the party had run out of steam led to the party fighting the June 1987 election on what seemed to some a high risk social policy.