Margaret Thatcher 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.

Quick Facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

Third Thatcher ministry
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1987–1990
Thatcher in 1990
Date formed	11 June 1987 (1987-06-11)
Date dissolved	28 November 1990 (1990-11-28)
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Prime Minister's history	1979–1990
Deputy Prime Minister	Sir Geoffrey Howe (1989–1990)
Total no. of members	245 appointments
Member party	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Majority 376 / 650 (58%)
Opposition cabinet	Kinnock Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leader	Neil Kinnock
History
Election(s)	1987 general election
Legislature term(s)	50th UK Parliament
Budget(s)	1988 budget 1989 budget 1990 budget
Predecessor	Second Thatcher ministry
Successor	First Major ministry

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This article details the third Thatcher ministry which she led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1987 to 1990.

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.

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.^[1]

Within minutes of the result being announced, Thatcher informed reporters that she intended to let her name go forward for the second ballot.^[2] 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.

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.