1990 in The United Kingdom - Events - November

November

• November
  • British Sky Broadcasting founded as a merger between Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting.
  • Government produces Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning to advise local authorities on the treatment of archaeology within the planning process. Site developers are required to contract with archaeological teams to have sites investigated in advance of development.
  • Neil Kinnock, who has been leader of the Labour Party since October 1983, is now the longest serving opposition leader in British political history.
• 1 November
  • Geoffrey Howe, Deputy Prime Minister, resigns over the government's European policy.
  • Broadcasting Act makes bidding for independent television franchises more commercially-based and relaxes regulation of television and radio broadcasting.
  • Courts and Legal Services Act introduces major reforms of the legal profession and Courts of England and Wales.
• 2 November – Neil Kinnock announces his support for the adoption of a single European currency.
• 8 November – The second Bootle by-election of the year sees Labour hold onto the seat once more with new MP Joe Benton gaining nearly 80% of the votes.
• 12 November – The Football Association penalises Arsenal two points and Manchester United one point and fines both clubs £50,000 for a mass player brawl in a Football League match between the two clubs last month at Old Trafford.
• 13 November – Geoffrey Howe makes a dramatic resignation speech in the House of Commons, attacking the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher's hostility towards the EC.
• 14 November –
  • The CBI confirms that the whole of Britain is now in recession, with every region now reporting a fall in output.
  • Former cabinet minister Michael Heseltine announces that he will challenge Margaret Thatcher's leadership.
• 15 November – Despite constant disputes in the government and widespread doubt over Mrs Thatcher's position as prime minister and party leader, as well as the economy sliding into recession, the Conservatives have cut Labour's lead in the opinion polls to four points as they gain 41% of the vote in the latest MORI poll.
• 19 November – Major job cuts are reported to be on the way at the Rover Group as the recession affects demand for the company's Rover and Land Rover products.
• 20 November – Margaret Thatcher fails to win outright victory in a leadership contest for the Conservative Party.
• 22 November – Margaret Thatcher announces her resignation as Leader of the Conservative Party and therefore as Prime Minister, having led the government for more than 11 years and the Conservative Party for nearly 16 years. She was the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century.
• 26 November – Plastic surgeons Michael Masser and Kenneth Patton are murdered in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
• 27 November – John Major is elected Leader of the Conservative Party, defeating Douglas Hurd and Michael Heseltine.
• 28 November – John Major appointed Prime Minister by the Queen, as Margaret Thatcher officially tenders her resignation after leaving 10 Downing Street for the last time.