About 1979-2006

Thatcher to today

The Conservatives returned to office in 1979 under Margaret Thatcher. The first and so far only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher held office until 1990. Two COI films in this selection illustrate the Conservatives’ policy of privatisation, as opposed to state ownership. “Right to Buy” (1984) promotes public housing tenants’ new right to buy their homes. “Gym” (1990) features electricity privatisation

John Major replaced Thatcher in 1990 to be followed by Tony Blair and New Labour in 1997. The remaining films in this selection reflect some of the social and environmental concerns of the last years of the last millennium and the first years of this millennium.