John Major, the movie

You can't lift yourselves out of recession with short term stimuli or with high taxes.

That was one of the messages that John Major communicated in this nine minute broadcast from 1992 (when Britain was last in recession).  We see the former Tory leader (now enjoying a measure of rehabilitation) tour Brixton - where he grew up - and he talks about his love of the House of Commons, about multiracial Britain, his Citizen's Charter, the NHS and schooling.

As with 1992's tax bombshell PPB, we are grateful to the Conservative Party's Archive for allowing us to republish this broadcast.

After eight minutes the video climaxes with some memorable blasts of Purcell.

Tim Montgomerie

Comments

[Sally Roberts]

This brings back many memories of the 1992 Election when I was working for David Amess! I am sure it was the message contained in this PEB and others which helped to keep Basildon Man (and woman!) Conservative!
The message on the economy is particularly interesting. Thanks to Conservative policy at that time we handed the country over to Labour in 1997 in good shape.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Brings back happy memories. I was never so proud of my country as when they reelected JM. A pity that the following years were such a disappointment.

[Richard]

Last week I had the privilege to attend a reception in Lambeth Town Hall, held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sir John Major's election as a Lambeth councillor in 1968. Sir John gave a very powerful speech at the reception in which he attacked this Labour Government for all the damage they have done; not just in the economy, but to our constitution, to the people's faith in Parliament and to our armed forces.

[Walaa]

Malcolm....are you having a Michelle Obama moment? ' I was never so proud of my country as when they reelected JM.' ;-)))

[Jennifer Wells]

The gentle compassion of John Major was simply engulfed by the one huge mistake of joining the ERM. The scale of the defeat was a product of the Mandelson machine's systematic attempt to build mountains of molehills of sleaze and bring the whole political profession low in the process.

[Norm Brainer]

John Major for PM!

The guy talks sense... and not just on the economy.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Not sure what a Michelle Obama moment is!!!But I was sure we were going to lose in 1992,canvassing in Battersea during that election wasn't much fun, the relief when we won was wonderful. Our victory was so much Major's own I thought (and Kinnock's too!).

[Sally Roberts]

Kinnock certainly played his part!

"Alll....Riiiiiiggghhht!!"

[Walaa]

It will take long to explain, next time I see you I'll explain. The 1992 was an awesome win and it was truly all Major.

[David_at_Home]

I’m sorry to seem like the bad fairy at the christening but:

Is this the same John Major who initiated the “Dash for Gas” which killed of nearly all the British Coal Industry, stopped the nuclear power programme that was to follow Sizewell B and landed us in the current energy crisis?

Is this the same John Major who forced through the Maastricht Teary which gave yet more power to the EU Commission and split his own party?

Is this the same John Major whose government took the decision to close all the military hospitals?

Is this the same John Major who, after he left office, became a director of Mayflower plc and a member of the audit committee but resigned shortly before a massive hole was found in Mayflower’s account and the company went spectacularly bust?

[Matt Wright]

Did you notice that people in Brixton were genuinely pleased to see him and meet him and that you heard people say they had met him at shops in years gone by etc. This was the absolute opposite of the corroding stage managed spin of Labour that we have become so used to and now almsot accept. Really fascinating seeing this and hearing the thread of Conservatism that he explaining.

[Anatole]

Yes I found the whole clip incredibly touching. I think we can have no doubt that the majority of people in the country, notwithstanding their political allegiences, found Major a fundamentally decent person and that this counted for much in not just 1992 which we won, but in 1997 where we could have done even worse.

The fact is that such fundamental decency is rare in politics. Fan as I am of Margaret Thatcher, she did not have this kind of touch; neither did Blair and certainly not Brown. In fact Brown represents the almost polar opposite in many sense: gentlemanly conduct is something he is completely devoid of. Reagan is the closest comparison, another fundamentally decent man who would not temper or ruthlessness overcome a deep humility.

Not a comment on whether this makes a great PM of course. But surely it can't hurt ...

[Mark Fulford]

I've come over all emotional!

As I think I’ve said before, my perfect day out would be watching cricket at the Oval with JM. Of course, it would have to be rounded off at the Kennington Tandoori.

[resident leftie]

Posted by: Mark Fulford | December 05, 2008 at 11:14

I've come over all emotional!

As I think I’ve said before, my perfect day out would be watching cricket at the Oval with JM. Of course, it would have to be rounded off at the Kennington Tandoori.

Perhaps at some point you could engage in badinage.

[rugfish]

I thought and still do think very highly of John Major. A very sensible man, forthright, bold and honest. Truly a great man and a great leader if he'd not been scuppered by the bar stewards he so aptly named as such.

I recall his NHS Citizen's Charter and I have no doubt if he'd still been in power, we'd have had a British Constitution now.
I also think if they'd let him alone and not driven him into the ERM, we'd be better placed now economically than at anytime in our history both economically and socially.

Not perhaps a genius but he was certainly bright enough to have gotten the top job which his adversaries failed to do.

Pah ! to his adversaries and Rah ! to John Major.

[The Bishop Swine]

Sally Roberts said:

"Kinnock certainly played his part!

"Alll....Riiiiiiggghhht!!"

I recall how much John's ability to talk sense kept Labour out. It was also true that Kinnock said far too much and was able to squander Labours advantage. He was (Kinnock) deeply irritating and far too cock-sure; he turned a lot of people off.
I recall listening to one of John’s soapbox style address’s and thinking that we stood more than a chance of winning. It really was a fantastic victory against the poll trend, and a tribute to the very real skills Major has of putting quite difficult concepts into simple words. In the end the British people didn’t want the welsh wind bag and the rest is as they say History.

[Simon R]

Could you guys please please put the 1987 ppb up with Maggie driving a tank and the patriotic style music blasting out? I love that one -I had a video with it on, but I no longer have it.

[Opinicus]

Meanwhile in other news Hitler was nice to his pet Alsatians...

John Major was a disaster for this Party and this country

He forced Mrs Thatcher to take us into the ERM after she had lost Lawson over the issue. That precipitated the recession which cost us our economic credibility.
He rammed through the Maastricht treaty splitting the Party and condemning us all to the EU

Winning the 1992 election was a proof only that God has a sense of humour. Homeliness was never a substitute for ability.

There is no forgiveness, there is no need for reassessment. The sentence of History is perpetual ignominy.

[The Bishop Swine]

"There is no forgiveness, there is no need for reassessment. The sentence of History is perpetual ignominy."

Utterly wrong. Utter nonsense. Other than the ERM, I disagree with your assessment of Major’s troubled tenure in office. He was weighed down by a minority of dinosaurs who’s dogma had drained the country of much of its vitality. Major was a much needed return to the center right after a period of bloody-minded and often wrong governance. If Thatcher had not made such a mess of Britain, Major would have had a strong economy to work with, not one that was near death, that took only a tiny glitch to force back into recession. Much of our current economic weakness can be traced back to the mismanagement of the sainted Margaret.

[NorthernMonkey]

Watching that clip reminds me of just how awful a Prime Minister he was.

I thought Brown has no charisma, but my goodness John Major takes the biscuit.

NHS is tatters, education down the pan, recession, Black Wednesday, an under-confident Britain that looked old and tired - that was John Major's Britain. It's truly astonishing that he even managed to win one general election.

[Malcolm Dunn]

He was a decent man Northern Monkey,much better than the actor/crook who suceeded him.

[Mark Fulford]

Perhaps at some point you could engage in badinage.

Badinage, n, Verbal masturbation typical of a leftie.

[Sally Roberts]

Well said, Malcolm! Sir John Major was and still is a very decent man who is also vastly underestimated for his political skill honed during his time in the Whips Office.

[resident leftie]

Posted by: Mark Fulford | December 05, 2008 at 13:09

Perhaps at some point you could engage in badinage.

Badinage, n, Verbal masturbation typical of a leftie.

I think you might be right - apart from the leftie bit - as I was quoting John Major from this video. He said he "engaged in badinage" with the people of Brixton from a soap box when he was a teenager. Thank you for this horrible image, although it won't replace Edwina Curry in my nightmares.

The phrase just reminded me how awkward and dull he was, but also strangely endearing, putting aside what a useless PM he was.

As for Kinnock, I threw something at the TV when he made that unspeakable noise. He lost us the election. "From the jaws of victory..."

[Mark Fulford]

LOL

[Joe James B]

Resident leftie - time you learnt some manners.

[rugfish]

Posted by: resident leftie | December 05, 2008 at 13:31

"Kinnock lost us the election" ???

Didn't policy actually have anything to do with it then RT, else how do you explain changing policy as well as the leader ?

Policy is surely going to wreck it for you again I feel so maybe a change of leader and a change of policy would settle the matter and bring you luck ?

Incidentally, I haven't forgotten Kinnock's gleeful air punch at the last Labour conference either when he shouted "grind the bastards into the ground" when talking about the millions of British citizens who will just happen by sheer coincidence to be voting for Tory policies despite what the Tory Party doesn't have a clown like Kinnock in charge of it. he he he

I wonder if "grinding half the British electorate into the ground", actually became Brown's new policy and whether it emanated from Kinnock or if he dreamt it up all by himself.

What do you think RT ?

[JAT]

To all of those who bleat about the ERM and say that Major was a disaster and responsible for our entry, wake up and smell the coffee.

We joined the ERM under Thatcher -yes, we joined the ERM under Thatcher (as Major says, are we honestly to believe that a very experienced PM of some 10 years standing was hoodwinked by her new, young Chancellor?).

What was the credible alternative on offer at the time for bringing down inflation -even higher interest rates?

The rate of entry was too high -something She insisted on by the way- but by the time we left (kicked/forced out) inflation was down and continued to fall.

As for Northern Monkey, resident leftie and those Tories who condemn him, is it not funny that under his leadership the Conservatives won the 1992 election with some 14 million votes -clearly he presented a welcome change.

Further, the sham of a government which took over in 1997 only did so by stealing most of the Conservatives' policies, and by promising to stick to Conservative spending plans (if only they'd continued being so responsible).

It is noticeable that Labour failed to repeal any of the Conservative legislation -oh, sorry, forgot, they changed the NHS structure, then realised the mistake and changed it back.

Continuing the theme, they abolished grant maintained schools realised it was a mistake and changed the funding structures back.

Thank goodness for Major and thank goodness for the 1992 win.

Tim, can we please get hold of the "I warn you not to be ..." speech? It was another very apt, understated message from a very decent man and leader

[Sally Roberts]

"Resident leftie - time you learnt some manners."

I thought it was quite amusing actually - but then grubby little boys indulging in...er....badinage are quite fun occasionally - just so long as they don't do anything to frighten the horses!

[resident leftie]

Posted by: Joe James B | December 05, 2008 at 13:39

Resident leftie - time you learnt some manners.

It obviously is, because I have no idea how I have offended you or anyone else on this thread.

[resident leftie]

Posted by: rugfish | December 05, 2008 at 13:51

"Kinnock lost us the election" ???

Didn't policy actually have anything to do with it then RT, else how do you explain changing policy as well as the leader ?

Simply, new leader, new policies.

John Major had the advantage of incumbency, and in retrospect I don't think Kinnock looked to the British public like a PM. I think the extra four years, while bad for the country, were very good for the Labour party.

On a separate note, as of the end of play today, I will being leaving you all until the 22nd December to stew in your marinade of clear blue water, foam, bile and sherry.

[Sally Roberts]

"On a separate note, as of the end of play today, I will being leaving you all until the 22nd December to stew in your marinade of clear blue water, foam, bile and sherry."

Leftie, we will all feel bereft but do enjoy yourself wherever you are going!

[Votedave]

John Major and Ken Clarke had left the economy in good shape when they left office. Now look at the state it's in.

[Norm Brainer]

clear blue water, foam, bile and sherry.

Sounds like blackpool, if it weren't for the clear blue water.

[John Wilkin]

Let's credit the former chancellor who was really responsible for leaving the economy in good shape - Norman Lamont. It was so sad that the man who took us out of the ERM had to lose his job to save the neck of the man who took us in.

[rugfish]

On a separate note, as of the end of play today, I will being leaving you all until the 22nd December to stew in your marinade of clear blue water, foam, bile and sherry.

Posted by: resident leftie | December 05, 2008 at 14:14

Yes and a merry Christmas to you too RT and I hope you won't choke on your Christmas cake so much as to need hospitalisation throughout the cold wintery Labour festivities 'your lot' have heaped upon us both / all. lol

Cheer up if you do as it will soon be warm and sunny sunny Tory Spring Time when you can metaphorically choke again on the results. lol

[resident leftie]

A merry non-religion-specific Winterval to you all too. Toodle pip!

[The Bishop Swine]

"Well said, Malcolm! Sir John Major was and still is a very decent man who is also vastly underestimated for his political skill honed during his time in the Whips Office"

Not unlike Ted Heath in many important respects. The One Nation thread was apparent in both of these men. Maggot for all of her Brilliance, was the odd one out of recent Tory leaders. The Difference is most evident in their approach to the Whole Nation. Thatcher was willing to sacrifice some for the benefit of the others, and this dammed us all to NU-Labour and the ten years of credit boom. We should not for one moment consider David a leader in the Thatcher Mold. We need to deal with our systemic weakness not punish a class for not being able to employ itself. Thatcher was willing to scapegoat the unemployed and as a result brought us close to open revolution. There is no point trying to repeat a divisive set of policies. Britain needs to produce a mass of goods, not consume worthless Chinese knock offs. By the time we get into power the coffers will be bare and there will be little room for spending. So whatever we do in the way of spending should be aimed at kick starting production. The Unemployed are going to cost a pretty packet, so it is better for us to lend the best; start up capital, than to pay them to sit around idle. The recession is not going to be half as bad as Nu-Labour want us to believe. Its all in the mind (to quote G.Harrison)

[Conserv-a-tory]

I'm not sure John Major will be judged by history as one of the country's great Prime Ministers but as many of the contributors have already mentioned he was and is a decent bloke who cares for his country and his party. And as many will testify a good constituency MP.

[Jamie]

In my humble opinion, "decent, principled men" do NOT betray their marriage vows and have sex over a number of years with other men's wives.

[The Bishop Swine]

"In my humble opinion, "decent, principled men" do NOT betray their marriage vows and have sex over a number of years with other men's wives."

I must admit that I find the notion of JM in bed with EC a bit hard to swollow as well. That woman was awful, she was excatly what the worse of the Tory party became under the Maggot.

[SuperBlue]

After the liaison with Mrs. Currie, I presume he visited his optician again quickly.

[Andrew Morrison, Glasgow]

I just started primary school when this PEB was first broadcast, meaning I didn't see it the first time around.

What strikes me is just how ordinary and humble a background he had but it doesn't show and he doesn't carry it around like a chip on his shoulder in the same manner as John Prescott.

In terms of mannerisms, eloquence, speech and presentation, Major is along similar lines to David Cameron I'd say. We know about Cameron's priviledged upbringing, and we know about Major's childhood - my point is you end up with pretty much the same end result, so why do Labour keep bringing the background issue up? It doesn't matter!

What a big achievement John Major had though - surely there is no longer journey through life and the social ladder than which he completed?

[The Bishoip Swine]

We have already won the war of ideas it is now a case of having some! Really the slate is clean, Maggot is behind us and "DAVE" is still ahead of us. I think that we need to come up with micro-management style answers to policy, we will have to marry what is possible to what is expectable. I think we can truly trust that DC is up to the job.
We will of course have to cut like it was going out of fashion, and IT may have to be a tighter and slimmer work force to start the upswing. The Damage has been done the overspend was a gross out, Labour are in too much of a hurry, they are running away from a simple truth and that is the rub, you must live within your means.

Come on - labour spin-meisters need to hear Tory policies so they have something to say.

So we keep the real polices under our hat and attack their policies regardless of their merits. Brown is on borrowed time. DAVE is coming and we all know exactly what medicine this nation is in need of. Labour will try to shift the game to our policies, so it better if we do not have big ideas for a while. We can play spin the Laour policy for all its worth. By pointing out what Labour is doing wrong we will be defining our policies and build a consensus for the coming mandate.

"We aren’t earning enough"

This is because we are not producing enough.
To cope with falling wages we have relied on cheap (and nasty) imports.
We have forsaken the sensible pay rise and have been forced to borrow.
We have raised Tax’s to stifling levels and we have allowed monopolies to
take much of the remaining monies. we allowed repeated and big increases beyond inflation.
We are unable to shift goods not because people do not want them but because we can no longer afford them. There is only one answer and that is raise production. We need a concerted effort to rebuild our manufacturing base. The danger is that Browns actions will weaken our recovery with an excessive debt burden. We should be cutting spending and we should be diverting monies to business startups. The Civil Service and the Public Sector is bloated, sack a proportion of very able people
"What a big achievement John Major had though - surely there is no longer journey through life and the social ladder than which he completed?"

I know for a fact that life improved for me during Major's leadership. I had been caught in a poor position by the Thatcher era. So I have very mixed feelings about Maggot. We cannot afford to treat people badly like that again. The general public will Howl like dogs at the walls only if they believe the cuts are not justified. We are coming into power at a difficult moment and Labour are going to continue to squander our position. Many of the people in the better Civil Service jobs should be encouraged to set up manage and run enterprises. We need to put the Nation above the needs of the market. We will have to turn to the Royal Family for Moral support. I suspect that this recession will be all the deeper for Labours meddling madness. The Civil Service should be a way into the boardroom as we need management that is done with the interest of Britain first and always. In short we are going to have nothing less than a revolution and we are going to put Britain beyond the reach of the Socialist control freaks forever. There that’s putting “DAVE” in a nutshell. Of course Dave the man is compassionate, we must have compassion as we wean them off dependence. We must eject hope and that can only come from being hopeful. We have the answers because we have a core of conservative beliefs that has always come to the rescue in times of national uncertany