Third Thatcher ministry
was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.
This article details the third government Thatcher led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 to 1990.
Election
The Conservatives were elected for a third successive term in June 1987, with a majority of 102 seats. It enabled Margaret Thatcher to become the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, as Britain's economic recovery continued.Policies and economy
With the battle against inflation and strikes long won, an economic boom was in its early stages. Unemployment had fallen below 3,000,000 during the spring of 1987, and the tax cuts by chancellor Nigel Lawson sent the economy into overdrive. By early 1988, unemployment was below 2,500,000. A year later, it fell below 2,000,000. By the end of 1989, it was down to 1,600,000. A residential property price surge saw the average home price in Britain double between 1986 and 1989.However, this led to the government doubling interest rates during 1988 and it chose to increase these further during 1989 and 1990 as inflation increased.
As early as September 1988, economists were warning that the economic boom would soon be over and that 1989 could see a recession set in. For the moment, the economy defied these predictions; it continued to grow throughout 1989 and unemployment continued to fall, despite the United States entering recession that year.
Employment was booming by the late 1980s, above all in the financial and retail sectors, and particularly on new commercial developments that were built on old industrial sites. For example, the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in the West Midlands saw 6,000 retail jobs created between 1984 and 1989 on the former Round Oak Steelworks site that had shed just over 1,200 jobs when it closed in 1982. The comparable MetroCentre was built at Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, around the same time.
On 29 March 1988, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of Trade and Industry, Kenneth Clarke, announced the sale to British Aerospace of the Rover Group, the new name of British Leyland, which had been nationalised in 1975 by the government of Harold Wilson.
The government's popularity declined in 1989 with the commencement of the unpopular "poll tax", which was introduced in Scotland that year and to the rest of Great Britain a year later. By the end of that year, in spite of the economy remaining strong, many opinion polls were showing a double-digit Labour lead, and this was largely blamed on the poll tax. Sir Anthony Meyer, a 69-year-old back-bencher, challenged Mrs Thatcher's leadership in December; his challenge was defeated in a vote by Conservative MPs, although 60 of them failed to vote to keep her premiership.
Problems with the poll tax continued throughout 1990, including riots across London in early spring. Labour continued to benefit from the situation as their lead in the opinion polls widened, and they made gains from the Tories in local council elections and more than once in by-elections. The new Liberal Democrats, after a weak start, were starting to gain ground in the opinion polls, and seized the safe Eastbourne seat in its by-election in October.
The threat of recession finally became reality in October 1990, when it was confirmed that the economy had declined during the third quarter of the year. Unemployment started to rise again. Inflation, which the first Thatcher government had conquered by 1983, was touching 10% for the first time in eight years.
Fate
Then, on 1 November 1990, came the first of a series of events which would spell the end of Margaret Thatcher's years in power. Sir Geoffrey Howe, the Deputy Prime Minister, long resentful of being ousted as Foreign Secretary, resigned from the cabinet over its European policy. Soon afterward, in his resignation speech in the House of Commons, he publicly denounced Thatcher, having once been one of her closest allies, personally and for her hostility towards the programmes of the European Community. On 14 November, former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher's leadership. Thatcher polled higher than him in the first round of the leadership contest, but failed to gain an outright victory in the first round of voting.Within minutes of the result being announced, Thatcher informed reporters that she intended to let her name go forward for the second ballot. However, on 22 November, before a second round of the contest could take place, Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party after more than 11 years, explaining that she was resigning to make way for a leader more likely to win the next general election.
Her successor was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major, who was elected on 27 November 1990, and who at 47 became the youngest Conservative Prime Minister of the 20th century.
Cabinets
June 1987 to July 1989
- Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister
- The Viscount Whitelaw – Lord President of the Council
- The Lord Havers – Lord Chancellor
- John Wakeham – Lord Privy Seal
- Nigel Lawson – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- John Major – Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Geoffrey Howe – Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- Douglas Hurd – Secretary of State for the Home Department
- John MacGregor – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- George Younger – Secretary of State for Defence
- Kenneth Baker – Secretary of State for Education and Science
- Norman Fowler – Secretary of State for Employment
- Cecil Parkinson – Secretary of State for Energy
- Nicholas Ridley – Secretary of State for the Environment
- John Moore – Secretary of State for Health
- Kenneth Clarke – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Tom King – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Malcolm Rifkind – Secretary of State for Scotland
- The Lord Young of Graffham – Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
- Paul Channon – Secretary of State for Transport
- Peter Walker – Secretary of State for Wales
- David Waddington – Chief Whip
- Sir Patrick Mayhew – Attorney General
Changes
- October 1987Lord Mackay of Clashfern succeeds Lord Havers as Lord Chancellor.
- January 1988Lord Whitelaw retires and is succeeded by John Wakeham as Lord President. Lord Belstead succeeds Wakeham as Lord Privy Seal.
- July 1988Department of Health and Social Security broken up into component parts:
- *John Moore continues on as Secretary of State for Social Security.
- *Kenneth Clarke becomes Secretary of State for Health. Tony Newton succeeds Clarke as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
July 1989 to November 1990
- Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister
- Sir Geoffrey Howe – Deputy Prime Minister and Lord President of the Council
- The Lord Mackay of Clashfern – Lord Chancellor
- The Lord Belstead – Lord Privy Seal
- Nigel Lawson – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Norman Lamont – Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- John Major – Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- Douglas Hurd – Secretary of State for the Home Department
- John Gummer – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Tom King – Secretary of State for Defence
- John MacGregor – Secretary of State for Education and Science
- Norman Fowler – Secretary of State for Employment
- John Wakeham – Secretary of State for Energy
- Chris Patten – Secretary of State for the Environment
- Kenneth Clarke – Secretary of State for Health
- Kenneth Baker – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Peter Brooke – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Malcolm Rifkind – Secretary of State for Scotland
- Tony Newton – Secretary of State for Social Security
- Nicholas Ridley – Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
- Cecil Parkinson – Secretary of State for Transport
- Peter Walker – Secretary of State for Wales
Changes
- October 1989
- *John Major succeeds Nigel Lawson as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- *Douglas Hurd succeeds John Major as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
- *David Waddington succeeds Douglas Hurd as Secretary of State for the Home Department.
- *Tim Renton succeeds David Waddington as Chief Whip.
- January 1990Norman Fowler resigns as Secretary of State for Employment and is succeeded by Michael Howard.
- May 1990Peter Walker resigns as Secretary of State for Wales, having announced his intention in March. David Hunt succeeds him.
- July 1990Nicholas Ridley resigns as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Peter Lilley succeeds him.
- November 1990At the start of the month, Geoffrey Howe resigns and the title of Deputy Prime Minister is not reallocated. John MacGregor succeeds him as Lord President of the Council and is in turn succeeded by Kenneth Clarke as Secretary of State for Education and Science, who is succeeded by William Waldegrave as Secretary of State for Health.
List of Ministers
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
| Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service | Margaret Thatcher | June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Havers | 13 June 1987 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 26 October 1987 | |
| Lord President of the Council | The Viscount Whitelaw | June 1987 | also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the House of Lords |
| Lord President of the Council | John Wakeham | 10 January 1988 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Lord President of the Council | Sir Geoffrey Howe | 24 July 1989 | also Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons |
| Lord President of the Council | John MacGregor | 2 November 1990 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Minister of State for the Privy Council Office | Richard Luce | June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Minister of State for the Privy Council Office | David Mellor | 24 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Lord Privy Seal | John Wakeham | 13 June 1987 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Lord Belstead | 10 January 1988 | also Leader of the House of Lords |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Nigel Lawson | June 1987 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | John Major | 26 October 1989 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | John Major | 13 June 1987 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Norman Lamont | 24 July 1989 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | David Waddington | 13 June 1987 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Timothy Renton | 28 October 1989 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Norman Lamont | June 1987 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Peter Lilley | 24 July 1989 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Hon. Francis Maude | 14 July 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Michael Neubert | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Peter Lloyd | June 1987 – 24 July 1988 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Tony Durant | June 1987 – 19 December 1988 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Lightbown | 26 July 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Alan Howarth | 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Maclean | 27 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Kenneth Carlisle | 27 July 1988 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Stephen Dorrell | 20 December 1988 – 3 May 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Heathcoat-Amory | 26 July 1989 – 28 October 1989 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | John Taylor | 26 July 1989 – 29 November 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Tom Sackville | 30 October 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Michael Fallon | 10 May 1990 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Sydney Chapman | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Greg Knight | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Irvine Patnick | 25 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Sir Geoffrey Howe | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | John Major | 14 June 1989 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Douglas Hurd | 26 October 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Lynda Chalker | June 1987 – November 1990 | also Minister of Overseas Development from 24 July 1989 |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Chris Patten | June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | also Minister of Overseas Development |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | David Mellor | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Lord Glenarthur | 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. William Waldegrave | 26 July 1988 – 2 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Francis Maude | 24 July 1989 – 14 July 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Lord Brabazon of Tara | 24 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Earl of Caithness | 14 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Tristan Garel-Jones | 14 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Douglas Hogg | 2 November 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Timothy Eggar | June 1987 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 24 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd | 24 July 1990 | |
| Minister for Overseas Development | Chris Patten | June 1987 | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
| Minister for Overseas Development | Lynda Chalker | 24 July 1989 | also Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | Hon. Douglas Hurd | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | David Waddington | 26 October 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Earl of Caithness | June 1987 – 10 January 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | John Patten | 13 June 1987 – November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | The Earl Ferrers | 10 January 1988 – November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | David Mellor | 27 October 1989 – 22 June 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Angela Rumbold | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Hon. Douglas Hogg | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | Peter Lloyd | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John MacGregor | 13 June 1987 | |
| Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | John Gummer | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Baroness Trumpington | 28 September 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Donald Thompson | June 1987 – 25 September 1987 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Baroness Trumpington | 13 June 1987 – 28 September 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Richard Ryder | 25 July 1988 – 14 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | David Curry | 26 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | David Maclean | 26 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Minister for the Arts | Richard Luce | June 1987 | |
| Minister for the Arts | David Mellor | 26 July 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Hon. George Younger | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Tom King | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Ian Stewart | 13 June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Hon. Archie Hamilton | 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | The Lord Trefgarne | June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Alan Clark | 24 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Roger Freeman | June 1987 – 15 December 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Michael Neubert | 19 December 1988 – 23 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | The Earl of Arran | 25 July 1989 – 26 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Kenneth Carlisle | 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Kenneth Baker | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | John MacGregor | 24 July 1989 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Kenneth Clarke | 2 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Science | Angela Rumbold | June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Science | Timothy Eggar | 24 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Bob Dunn | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | The Baroness Hooper | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Robert Jackson | 13 June 1987 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | John Butcher | 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Alan Howarth | 24 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Michael Fallon | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | Norman Fowler | 13 June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | Michael Howard | 3 January 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | John Cope | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | Timothy Eggar | 25 July 1989 – 23 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | John Lee | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Patrick Nicholls | 13 June 1987 – 28 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | The Lord Strathclyde | 26 July 1989 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Robert Jackson | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Eric Forth | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | The Viscount Ullswater | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | Cecil Parkinson | 13 June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | John Wakeham | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Energy | Peter Morrison | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Michael Spicer | 13 June 1987 – 3 January 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | The Baroness Hooper | 26 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Tony Baldry | 3 January 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Hon. Colin Moynihan | 24 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Hon. Nicholas Ridley | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Chris Patten | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | Michael Howard | 13 June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | John Gummer | 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | David Hunt | 25 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | Michael Portillo | 4 May 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | Hon. William Waldegrave | 13 June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | The Earl of Caithness | 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | Michael Howard | 25 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | Michael Spicer | 3 January 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Environment | The Lord Belstead | 13 June 1987 – 10 January 1988 | |
| Minister of State, Environment | The Earl of Caithness | 10 January 1988 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State, Environment | Michael Howard | 25 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Environment | David Trippier | 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Hon. Colin Moynihan | 22 June 1987 – 26 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Robert Atkins | 26 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Christopher Chope | June 1987 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Marion Roe | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | David Trippier | 13 June 1987 – 23 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Virginia Bottomley | 25 July 1988 – 28 October 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Lord Hesketh | 31 January 1989 – 2 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | David Heathcoat-Amory | 28 October 1989 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Patrick Nicholls | 26 July 1990 – 12 October 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Lord Strathclyde | 26 July 1990 – 7 September 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Baroness Blatch | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Robert Key | 12 October 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | John Moore | 13 June 1987 | Reorganised into Office of Health and Office of Social Security 25 July 1988 |
| Secretary of State for Health | Kenneth Clarke | 25 July 1988 | |
| Secretary of State for Health | Hon. William Waldegrave | 2 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Tony Newton | June 1987 | |
| Minister of State, Health | David Mellor | 25 July 1988 | under separate Office of Health |
| Minister of State, Health | The Lord Trafford | 29 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Virginia Bottomley | 28 October 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Edwina Currie | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Michael Portillo | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Lord Skelmersdale | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health | Edwina Currie | 25 July 1988 – 16 December 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health | Roger Freeman | 16 December 1988 – 4 May 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health | The Baroness Hooper | 29 September 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health | Stephen Dorrell | 4 May 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | John Moore | 25 July 1988 | |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | Tony Newton | 23 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Nicholas Scott | 13 June 1987 | under separate Office of Social Security 25 July 1988 |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Lord Skelmersdale | 25 July 1988 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Peter Lloyd | 25 July 1988 – 28 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | The Lord Henley | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Social Security | Gillian Shephard | 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Kenneth Clarke | 13 June 1987 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Tony Newton | 25 July 1988 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Kenneth Baker | 24 July 1989 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Tom King | June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Hon. Peter Brooke | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | John Stanley | 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Ian Stewart | 25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | John Cope | 25 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Lord Lyell | June 1987 – 25 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Richard Needham | June 1987 – May 1997 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Peter Viggers | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Brian Mawhinney | June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Peter Bottomley | 4 July 1989 – 28 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Lord Skelmersdale | 24 July 1989 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Paymaster-General | Hon. Peter Brooke | 13 June 1987 | |
| Paymaster-General | The Earl of Caithness | 24 July 1989 | |
| Paymaster-General | Richard Ryder | 14 July 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Malcolm Rifkind | June 1987 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | Ian Lang | 13 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Lord Sanderson of Bowden | 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | Michael Forsyth | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 13 June 1987 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Michael Forsyth | 13 June 1987 – 7 September 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | The Lord Strathclyde | 7 September 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Minister for Trade | Alan Clark | June 1987 | |
| Minister for Trade | The Lord Trefgarne | 25 July 1989 | |
| Minister for Trade | Hon. Tim Sainsbury | 23 July 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Lord Young of Graffham | 13 June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 24 July 1989 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Peter Lilley | 14 July 1990 | |
| Minister for Industry | Hon. Douglas Hogg | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister for Industry | The Lord Hesketh | 2 November 1990 | |
| Minister for Corporate Affairs | John Redwood | 2 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | John Butcher | June 1987 – 26 July 1988 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Robert Atkins | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Hon. Francis Maude | 13 June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Eric Forth | 26 July 1988 – 24 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | John Redwood | 26 July 1989 – 2 November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | Edward Leigh | 2 November 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Paul Channon | 13 June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Cecil Parkinson | 24 July 1989 | |
| Minister of State, Transport | David Mitchell | June 1987 – 25 July 1988 | |
| Minister of State, Transport | Michael Portillo | 25 July 1988 – 4 May 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Transport | Roger Freeman | 4 May 1990 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Minister of State, Transport | The Lord Brabazon of Tara | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Peter Bottomley | June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | The Lord Brabazon of Tara | June 1987 – 23 July 1989 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Robert Atkins | 25 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Patrick McLoughlin | 25 July 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Christopher Chope | 23 July 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | Peter Walker | 13 June 1987 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | David Hunt | 4 May 1990 | |
| Minister of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | 15 June 1987 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Ian Grist | 15 June 1987 – 28 November 1990 | |
| Attorney General | Sir Patrick Mayhew | 11 June 1987 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Nicholas Lyell | 13 June 1987 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Cameron of Lochbroom | June 1987 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie | 4 January 1989 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Peter Fraser | June 1987 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Alan Rodger | 14 January 1989 | Not an MP |
| Treasurer of the Household | David Hunt | 15 June 1987 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Tristan Garel-Jones | 25 July 1989 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Alastair Goodlad | 22 July 1990 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Hon. Robert Boscawen | June 1987 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Tristan Garel-Jones | 26 July 1988 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Alastair Goodlad | 25 July 1989 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Sir George Young, Bt | 23 July 1990 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Tristan Garel-Jones | June 1987 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Michael Neubert | 26 July 1988 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Tony Durant | 20 December 1988 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | David Lightbown | 25 July 1990 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Denham | June 1987 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Viscount Davidson | June 1987 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Long | June 1987 – November 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Beaverbrook | June 1987 – 28 July 1988 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Dundee | June 1987 – 26 July 1989 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Arran | 18 June 1987 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Strathclyde | 12 August 1988 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Henley | 13 February 1989 – 24 July 1989 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Ullswater | 26 July 1989 – 22 July 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Reay | 2 August 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Strathmore | 2 August 1989 – November 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Baroness Blatch | 15 January 1990 – 7 September 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Cavendish of Furness | 14 September 1990 – November 1990 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Astor | 11 October 1990 – November 1990 |