Editing Conservative Party (UK) (section)

===1990–1997: John Major===
[[File:John Major 1996.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[John Major]], Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1990–1997)]]
[[John Major]] won the party leadership election on 27 November 1990, and his appointment led to an almost immediate boost in Conservative Party fortunes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/27/newsid_2528000/2528847.stm |title=1990: Tories choose Major for Number 10 |publisher=BBC On This Day |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307114011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/27/newsid_2528000/2528847.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[1992 United Kingdom general election|election]] was held on 9 April 1992 and the Conservatives won a fourth successive electoral victory, contrary to predictions from opinion polls.<ref name="1992GE">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4393317.stm|work=BBC News|title=1992: Tories win again against odds|date=5 April 2005|access-date=1 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422045259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4393317.stm|archive-date=22 April 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/exclusive-how-did-labour-lose-in-92-the-most-authoritative-study-of-the-last-general-election-is-published-tomorrow-here-its-authors-present-their-conclusions-and-explode-the-myths-about-the-greatest-upset-since-1945-1439286.html |title=Exclusive: How did Labour lose in '92?: The most authoritative study of the last general election is published tomorrow. Here, its authors present their conclusions and explode the myths about the greatest upset since 1945 |author=Anthony Heath, Roger Jowell and John Curtice |work=The Independent |date=29 May 1994 |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=14 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914014804/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/exclusive-how-did-labour-lose-in-92-the-most-authoritative-study-of-the-last-general-election-is-published-tomorrow-here-its-authors-present-their-conclusions-and-explode-the-myths-about-the-greatest-upset-since-1945-1439286.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Conservatives became the first party to attract 14 million votes in a general election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/background/pastelec/92keyiss.htm |title=Key Issues in the 1992 Campaign |publisher=BBC News |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914194203/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/background/pastelec/92keyiss.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m13.pdf |title=General Election Results, 9 April 1992 (PDF) |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114185026/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m13.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 16 September 1992, the Government suspended Britain's membership of the [[European Exchange Rate Mechanism]] (ERM), after the pound fell lower than its minimum level in the ERM, a day thereafter referred to as ''[[Black Wednesday]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/16/newsid_2519000/2519013.stm |title=1992: UK crashes out of ERM |publisher=BBC On This Day |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613130202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/16/newsid_2519000/2519013.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after, approximately one million householders faced repossession of their homes during a recession that saw a sharp rise in unemployment, taking it close to 3 million people.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=22 April 1993 |title=Mr Major's Comments on the Economy (I) – 22 April 1993 – The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH |url=https://johnmajorarchive.org.uk/1993/04/22/mr-majors-comments-on-the-economy-i-22-april-1993/ |access-date=21 September 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> The party subsequently lost much of its reputation for good financial stewardship. The end of the recession was declared in April 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/26/newsid_2503000/2503271.stm|work=BBC News|title=1993: Recession over&nbsp;– it's official|date=26 April 1993|access-date=1 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916043238/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/26/newsid_2503000/2503271.stm|archive-date=16 September 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> From 1994 to 1997, Major [[privatisation of British Rail|privatised British Rail]].

The party was plagued by internal division and infighting, mainly over the UK's role in the [[European Union]]. The party's [[Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom|Eurosceptic]] wing, represented by MPs such as [[John Redwood]], opposed further EU integration, whilst the party's pro-European wing, represented by those such as Chancellor of the Exchequer [[Kenneth Clarke]], was broadly supportive. The issue of the creation of a single European currency also inflamed tensions.<ref>{{cite web|last=W|first=Tony Blair, Cameron, Gordon Brown, Labour Party, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, John Redwood, Kenneth Clarke, Diana, Princess of Wales, George|title=Lecture 5 The Blair Revolution ppt download|url=https://slideplayer.com/slide/14043750/|access-date=25 February 2021|website=slideplayer.com|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108140520/https://slideplayer.com/slide/14043750/|url-status=live}}</ref> Major survived a leadership challenge in 1995 by Redwood, but Redwood received 89 votes, further undermining Major's influence.<ref>The Conservative Party – From Thatcher to Cameron</ref>

The Conservative government was increasingly accused in the media of "[[Political scandals in the United Kingdom|sleaze]]". Their support reached its lowest ebb in late 1994. Over the next two years the Conservatives gained some credit for the strong economic recovery and fall in unemployment.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8280050.stm|work=BBC News|title=Poll tracker: Interactive guide to the opinion polls|date=29 September 2009|access-date=1 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217050955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8280050.stm|archive-date=17 December 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> But an effective opposition campaign by the Labour Party culminated in a landslide defeat for the Conservatives [[1997 United Kingdom general election|in 1997]], their worst defeat since the [[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906 general election]]. The 1997 election left the Conservative Party as an England-only party, with all Scottish and Welsh seats having been lost, and not a single new seat having been gained anywhere.