Conservative Government

• Who were the leaders of the Conservative government from 1979 to 1997?

  Margaret Thatcher and John Major
• What perspective greatly influenced the Conservative governments from 1979 to 1997?

  The New Right perspective
• What was the Conservative government's preference regarding family structure?

  Preference for traditional nuclear families
• What responsibility did the Conservative government encourage among parents?

  Encouraging individual and parental responsibility
• What was the Conservative government's stance on mothers working?

  Encouraging mothers to stay at home
• What concern did the Conservative government have regarding the welfare system?

  It might encourage non-traditional family forms
• How did Margaret Thatcher describe the family in 1988?

  As the building block of society
• What did the Children Act 1989 outline?

  The rights of children
• What was the purpose of the Child Support Agency established in 1993?

  To ensure absent fathers paid maintenance
• What tax allowance was a long-term feature of the UK tax system?

  Married Men’s Tax Allowance
• What change occurred regarding married women's tax affairs during the Conservative government?

  Shift towards individual taxation
• What was the Conservative government's proposal regarding divorce rules?

  To make divorce more difficult
• What was the proposed "cooling off" period for divorce?

  One year between separation and divorce
• What did Section 28 prevent local government from doing?

  Promoting homosexuality
• What was John Major's "back to basics" approach associated with?

  Traditional family values
• What was a criticism of the "back to basics" campaign?

  It was seen as hypocritical due to scandals
• How did the Conservative governments' ideology conflict with societal trends?

  Family diversity increased during their era
• What do Marxists argue about the New Right ideology?

  It justifies policies benefiting the ruling class
• What did future governments legislate to recognize?

  Family diversity
• What is a criticism of encouraging a particular family form through tax changes?

  It is a bad reason to marry or stay together