How did Thatcherism effect local governments in England and Wales? In this lesson, we will: Explain how local councils, schools and the LGBT community were effected by local government reform. Starter: This cartoon is clearly Anti- Thatcher, but what is the cartoonist trying to say? Can you provide contextual knowledge to both support and argue against this representation?

How were local councils affected by Thatcherism? Between 1986 and 1988, Thatcher’s government introduced a series of reforms to local government (councils) The Local Government Act (1985) abolished 6 metropolitan councils including Greater London, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. In 1985 to stop Labour LAs from overspending, rate capping limited the amount of money that council could raise through the rates system (local tax). A number of LAs (e.g. Sheffield and Liverpool) tried to rebel against the cap and refused to set budgets. Threatened by bankruptcy, they had to back down. In 1988 Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) allowed central government to control the spending of local government.

What was the reaction? In 1985, Ted Knight the leader of Lambeth Council, and John McDonnel (MP) set up a campaign to stop the abolition of Greater London Council. A survey showed 70% did not agree with abolition. Anti-rate capping demonstrations were held across various cities in England like Sheffield, Islington, Liverpool etc. Some councils, like David Blunkett’s Labour council in Sheffield deliberately set budgets over the cap (£31.1 million) Labour leader Neil Kinnock had made clear his opposition to the policy of not setting a rate. Unions like UNISON vocalised their opposition to CCT. The think-tank LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) openly criticised the impact of CCTs on local councils. It claimed: “CCT has been a springboard for the further fragmentation and diminution of local government – in community care, education, and housing.”

What impact did the 1988 Education Reform Act have? In 1986, Kenneth Baker was made Secretary of State for Education and Science. Through the 1988 Education Reform Act, Thatcherites hoped to inject neo-liberal thought into schools. They intended to make the service provider (schools) more responsible to the needs of the consumer (children and parents). Schools were entitled to free themselves from financial control by the LEA. School budgeting could now be taken over by the head teacher and governors. Schools could opt out to become Grant Maintained Schools. This meant they were had no connection to the Local Authority and were financed directly by central government. A National Curriculum was introduced which included ‘core subjects like English and maths, and ‘foundation’ subjects like history, geography and art. The National Curriculum was introduced, which made it compulsory for schools to teach certain subjects and syllabuses. Previously the choice of subjects had been up to the school. National curriculum assessments were introduced at the Key Stages 1 to 4 (ages 7, 11, 14 and 16 respectively) through what were formerly called Standard Assessment Tests(SATS). At Key Stage 4 (age 16), the assessments were made from the GCSE exam. Formula funding was introduced, which meant that the more children a school could attract to it, the more money the school would receive. Open enrolment and choice for parents was brought back, so that parents could choose or influence which school their children went to. Schools could, if enough of their pupils' parents agreed, opt out of local government control, becoming grant maintained schools and receiving funding direct from central government. The government offered more money than the school would get usually from the local authority as an enticement. This was seen as a politically motivated move since the Conservative central government was taking control from local authorities which were often run by other parties.[59] Religious education was reformed; Chapter 1 of the law required that the majority of collective worship be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character".

What impact did the 1988 Local Government Act have? Under Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988), Local Authorities were prohibited from “promoting homosexuality”. It claimed “promoting the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.” Groups such as Campaign for Homosexual Equality openly opposed the policy. In a radio debate on the clause, actor Sir Ian McKellen came out as gay, subsequently co-founding Stonewall, as a lobbying group. In 1990 Outrage! was established as a non-violent direct action gay rights group.