Junior ministerial offices

Minister of State for Social Security
In office 10 September 1986 – 13 June 1987
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Tony Newton
Succeeded by	Nicholas Scott
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security
In office 2 September 1985 – 10 September 1986
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	John Patten
Succeeded by	Nicholas Lyell
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
In office 3 October 1984 – 1 November 1985
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Alastair Goodlad
Succeeded by	Tim Sainsbury

Shadow Cabinet portfolios

Shadow Foreign Secretary
In office 2 May 1997 – 19 June 1997
Leader	Himself
Preceded by	Robin Cook
Succeeded by	Michael Howard
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
In office 2 May 1997 – 19 June 1997
Leader	Himself
Preceded by	David Clark
Succeeded by	Sir George Young

Member of Parliament
for Huntingdon

In office
3 May 1979 – 14 May 2001

Preceded by

David Renton

Succeeded by

Jonathan Djanogly

Personal details

Born

29 March 1943 (age 82)
St Helier, Surrey, England

Political party

Conservative

Spouse

Norma Johnson

(m. 1970)

Children

Parent

Tom Major-Ball (father)

Relatives

Terry Major-Ball (brother)

Education

Rutlish School

Signature

Sir John Major (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997. Before becoming Prime Minister, he held important roles in the government of Margaret Thatcher, including Chancellor of the Exchequer (in charge of the country's money). He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon from 1979 to 2001. After leaving Parliament, Sir John has focused on writing, business, sports, and charity work. He sometimes shares his thoughts on politics as an experienced elder statesman.

John Major left school when he was almost 16. He worked as an insurance clerk and joined the Young Conservatives in 1959. He quickly became a very active member. In 1968, he was elected to the Lambeth London Borough Council. Ten years later, in 1979, he became an MP for Huntingdonshire. He held several junior government jobs under Prime Minister Thatcher from 1984 to 1987. He then became Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987–1989), Foreign Secretary (1989), and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–1990). When Margaret Thatcher resigned in 1990, John Major won the leadership election and became Prime Minister.

As Prime Minister, John Major had a calm and moderate style. He introduced the Citizen's Charter to improve public services. He replaced the unpopular Poll Tax with the Council Tax. He sent British troops to the Gulf War and led the UK's talks on the Maastricht Treaty for European cooperation. He guided the country through an economic downturn in the early 1990s. He also played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process. In 1992, two years into his time as Prime Minister, he led the Conservatives to a fourth election victory. His party received over 14 million votes, which is still the highest number ever won by a political party in Britain.

In 1995, Major resigned as party leader due to disagreements within his party and other issues. He was re-elected as Conservative leader, but his government remained unpopular. The Labour Party gained popularity, especially after Tony Blair became their leader in 1994. In the 1997 general election, the Conservatives lost by a large amount to Labour. This ended 18 years of Conservative government.

After the 1997 election, John Major was Leader of the Opposition for seven weeks. He then stepped down as Conservative leader when William Hague was elected. Major remained an MP until 2001, regularly taking part in debates. Since leaving Parliament, he has mostly stayed out of the media spotlight. However, he has spoken out on important political issues. For example, he supported the UK staying in the European Union and has often criticized Brexit. In 2005, he was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG) for his work in politics and charity. In 1999, he became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his efforts in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Early Life and Education (1943–1959)

260 Longfellow Road, Worcester Park, where John Major lived until age twelve

John Major was born on 29 March 1943 in St Helier, Surrey. His mother was Gwen Major and his father was Tom Major-Ball, a former music hall performer. John was the youngest of three children. The family lived in Worcester Park, where his father ran a garden ornaments business. John described their life as "comfortable but not well off." During World War II, the family moved to Norfolk for safety.

John started primary school in 1948. He had a happy childhood, enjoying reading, sports like cricket and football, and keeping pets. In 1954, he passed the 11+ exam and went to Rutlish School, a grammar school. However, his family faced financial difficulties, and they had to sell their house in 1955. They moved to a small, rented flat in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. John found school difficult during this time and left before his 16th birthday in 1959. He had three O-level passes in History, English Language, and English Literature.

John's interest in politics began in this period. He read newspapers to keep up with current events. In 1956, he met local MP Marcus Lipton and watched his first debate in the House of Commons. This event inspired his political ambitions.

Early Career and Entering Politics (1959–1979)

After leaving school, John Major worked as a clerk in an insurance company but found it boring. He then worked with his brother in the garden ornaments business. In 1962, he was unemployed for a while, which he found "degrading." He later found a job at the London Electricity Board (LEB) in December 1962.

In 1959, Major joined the Young Conservatives in Brixton. This helped him gain confidence. He started giving speeches in Brixton Market. In 1964, he ran as a Councillor for Lambeth London Borough Council but lost. He continued to help other Conservative candidates in elections.

St Matthew's Church, Brixton where John and Norma Major married in 1970

Major left the LEB in 1965 and joined Standard Bank in 1966, hoping to work abroad. He was sent to Jos, Nigeria, in December 1966, which he enjoyed. In 1967, he was in a serious car crash and had to return home. He continued his banking studies and Young Conservative activities.

In 1968, Major was elected as a Councillor for Lambeth. He focused on housing issues, as Lambeth had many overcrowded and poor-quality homes. In 1970, he became Chairman of the Housing Committee. He oversaw the building of several large council estates and promoted public meetings with residents. He lost his seat in the 1971 election.

Major met Norma Johnson at a Conservative party event in April 1970. They got engaged quickly and married on 3 October 1970 at St Matthew's Church in Brixton. They had their first child, Elizabeth, in 1971, and their second child, James, in 1975. Major continued working at Standard Chartered (the new name for Standard Bank from 1975).

Despite his council election loss, Major still wanted to be an MP. He ran for the Labour-dominated St Pancras North seat in both 1974 general elections but lost. He kept trying for a more promising seat and finally succeeded in December 1976, being chosen for the safe Conservative seat of Huntingdonshire. The Major family moved to Hemingford Grey in 1977. Major took a less demanding job at Standard Chartered in 1978 to focus on his political duties.

Early Parliamentary Career (1979–1987)

Major won the Huntingdon seat by a large amount in the 1979 general election. This election brought Margaret Thatcher to power as Prime Minister. Major gave his first speech in the House of Commons on 13 June 1979, supporting the government's budget. He worked hard to build connections within the party. He became Secretary of the Environment Committee and helped with the Housing Act 1980, which allowed council house tenants to buy their homes.

In January 1981, Major received his first promotion. He became a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Home Office. To learn more about international affairs, he traveled to the Middle East in April 1982. He met with King Hussein of Jordan and Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.

A demonstration against the deployment of cruise missiles at RAF Molesworth in the early 1980s

In January 1983, Major became an assistant whip, responsible for MPs in East Anglia. He also dealt with protests at RAF Molesworth in his constituency. Peace groups were against placing cruise missiles at the base. Major spoke at public meetings against the protesters, who were later removed in February 1984.

Major was easily re-elected for the Huntingdon seat in the 1983 general election. He and Norma moved to a larger house in Great Stukeley. Major was invited to join the 'Blue Chip' group of rising Conservative Party members. In October 1984, he was promoted to Treasury Whip. In October 1984, Major narrowly missed the IRA's Brighton hotel bombing, having left the hotel just hours before. He also visited South America, including Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, on behalf of the Foreign Office.

In September 1985, he became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS). He was promoted to Minister of State in the same department in September 1986. The DHSS was a large department, giving ministers significant responsibility. Major helped with the Social Security Act 1986 and improved support for disabled people. He gained more public attention, giving his first speech at the Conservative Party Conference in October 1986. In January 1987, he attracted media attention over cold weather payments for the elderly during a severe winter. He discussed the issue with Margaret Thatcher, and payments were increased.

In Cabinet (1987–1990)

Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1987–1989)

After the 1987 general election, Major kept his seat and was promoted to the Cabinet. He became Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the first MP from his 1979 group to reach the Cabinet. In this role, he was responsible for agreeing on budgets with different government departments. He successfully completed these discussions without needing outside help.

As Chief Secretary, Major was involved in talks about funding the NHS. This was during an NHS strike in February 1988 over pay. These discussions led to new policies for the NHS. Major also insisted that the government help support the sale of Short Brothers, an aerospace company in Northern Ireland, to prevent its collapse.

Foreign Secretary (July–October 1989)

In July 1989, Major was surprisingly appointed Foreign Secretary. This was a big step up, and he found the idea challenging. He tried to convince Thatcher to let him stay at the Treasury, but she refused. There were concerns within the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) that Major would be too strict, as Thatcher's relationship with the department had been difficult. Major accepted the job and worked to settle into the department.

One of Major's first actions as Foreign Secretary was to stop the sale of Hawk aircraft to Iraq. He was worried they would be used to harm people. He represented Britain at the Paris Peace Conference on the future of Cambodia. Major also met with US Secretary of State James Baker and Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen. He was the first senior Western politician to meet a Chinese official after the protests in Tiananmen Square. Discussions focused on the future of Hong Kong.

Major spent a summer holiday studying foreign affairs. He then met with French President François Mitterrand to discuss the future of the European Community. In September 1989, Major spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, repeating Britain's opposition to apartheid in South Africa. He also met US President George H. W. Bush and the Argentine foreign minister, the first such meeting since the Falklands War.

Major's last major meeting as Foreign Secretary was the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malaysia. The main topic was sanctions on South Africa. Britain was the only country against them, believing they would hurt poor South Africans. The meeting ended with disagreements.

Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–1990)

Chancellorship of John Major

26 October 1989 – 28 November 1990
Party	Conservative
Appointer	Elizabeth II
Nominator	Margaret Thatcher
Seat	11 Downing Street
← Nigel Lawson • Norman Lamont →

After only three months as Foreign Secretary, Major became Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26 October 1989. This happened after Nigel Lawson resigned. Major had quickly moved from a junior Cabinet role to one of the most important positions. He made fighting inflation a top priority. He said that strong actions were needed to reduce it.

As Chancellor, Major presented one Budget on 20 March 1990. It was the first to be shown live on television. He called it a 'budget for savers' and introduced the Tax-exempt special savings account (TESSA). He also removed some taxes and increased taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and petrol. Extra money was given to Scotland to help with the new Community Charge.

The European Community wanted a single European currency. In June 1990, Major suggested a 'hard ECU' instead. This would be a currency that national currencies could compete against. If successful, it could lead to a single currency. This idea was not popular with France and Germany and was later dropped. However, Major successfully got the new European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) located in London.

By early 1990, Major believed that joining the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) would help control inflation. He and Douglas Hurd worked to convince a hesitant Margaret Thatcher to join. Many people supported this move. With fears of a recession, Thatcher finally agreed on 4 October. Britain joined the ERM the next day.

Conservative Party Leadership Contest

There had been growing opposition to Margaret Thatcher within the Conservative Party. People were unhappy with her style and the unpopular poll tax. In December 1989, she survived a leadership challenge, but many MPs had not supported her. By 1990, opposition to the Poll Tax grew, leading to protests and riots. The Conservatives lost important elections, making many MPs worried about the next general election. Thatcher's strong anti-European views also upset some Conservatives. On 1 November, Geoffrey Howe resigned and strongly criticized Thatcher in Parliament.

The day after Howe's speech, Michael Heseltine challenged Thatcher for the party leadership. John Major and Douglas Hurd supported Thatcher in the first round. Thatcher won, but not by enough votes, so a second round was needed. After talking with her cabinet, Thatcher decided to resign as Prime Minister. On 22 November, Major announced he would run in the second ballot, with Thatcher's support. Major promised a moderate approach to Europe, a review of the poll tax, and a "classless society."

In the second ballot on 27 November, a candidate needed a simple majority. Major received 185 votes, just two short of an overall majority. However, he was far enough ahead of Hurd and Heseltine that they withdrew. John Major was formally named Leader of the Conservative Party that evening. He became Prime Minister the next day. At 47, he was the youngest Prime Minister in 95 years.

Prime Minister (1990–1997)

First Major Ministry (1990–1992)

John Major became Prime Minister on 28 November 1990. He took over from Margaret Thatcher, who had been Prime Minister for 11 years. The Conservative Party's popularity was low at the time. However, by 1991, their popularity had improved.

Major's first government faced an early 1990s recession. This was caused by high interest rates and falling house prices. High interest rates meant people saved more and spent less. Falling house prices slowed down construction. The economy did not start growing again until early 1993. By December 1991, unemployment reached 2.5 million. Inflation was also very high, and interest rates were at 15%. Despite these economic challenges, public support for Major's government remained steady.

Second Major Ministry (1992–1997)

Prime Minister John Major and President Bill Clinton deliver press statements in 1995

On 9 April 1992, Major called an election. To many people's surprise, the Conservatives won with 336 seats. They received 41.9% of the vote, and over 14 million votes in total. This is still a record for any UK general election. It was the Conservatives' fourth election victory in a row. John Smith replaced Neil Kinnock as Labour leader in 1992.

On 16 September 1992, the pound sterling left the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. This happened after the Chancellor, Norman Lamont, tried hard to keep it there. This event became known as Black Wednesday. Even though the recession ended in 1993, the Conservatives' popularity did not improve. Major's second government also faced disagreements within the Conservative Party about Europe.

On 12 May 1994, Leader of the Opposition John Smith died. Tony Blair replaced him and continued to modernize the Labour Party. By late 1994 and early 1995, Labour's popularity was very high. The Conservatives remained divided. To try and unite his party, Major resigned as party leader in 1995. He then comfortably won the leadership election against John Redwood. After losing several by-elections, the Conservatives lost their parliamentary majority by December 1996.

In the 1997 election, Labour won by a huge amount, ending 18 years of Conservative government. This was the worst election result for the Conservatives in the 20th century. Major resigned on 2 May 1997. As Prime Minister, he also served as first lord of the Treasury and minister for the Civil Service. Tony Blair became Prime Minister after him. The Conservatives did not win another election until 2010.

Final Years in Parliament (1997–2001)

After the 1997 election loss, many Conservative MPs wanted Major to resign as leader immediately. However, some wanted him to stay longer to help the party recover. Major refused, saying it would be difficult to lead when others were fighting for the leadership.

Major served as Leader of the Opposition for seven weeks while the party chose a new leader. He formed a temporary Shadow Cabinet. Seven of his Cabinet ministers had lost their seats, so some MPs had to hold multiple roles. Major himself was shadow foreign secretary and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. His resignation as Conservative leader officially happened on 19 June 1997, after William Hague was elected.

Major remained an active MP, regularly taking part in debates. He announced his retirement from Parliament on 10 March 2000. He stood down at the 2001 general election. Jonathan Djanogly took over as MP for Huntingdon, keeping the seat for the Conservatives.

Like some former prime ministers, Major turned down a peerage when he retired in 2001. He wanted a break from politics to focus on writing, business, sports, and charity work.

Post-Parliamentary Life (2001–Present)

Major at The Hist in Dublin, 2007

Since leaving office, Major has generally kept a low profile in the media. He sometimes comments on political events as an experienced figure. In 1999, he published his autobiography, which was well received. He also wrote a book about the history of cricket in 2007 and a book about music hall in 2012.

Major is a big fan of cricket. He was President of Surrey County Cricket Club from 2000 to 2001. In 2005, he was elected to the Committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club, which helps govern the sport.

John Major is also very involved in charity work. He is President of Asthma UK and a Patron of several other charities, including the Prostate Cancer Charity and Sightsavers UK. In 2012, he became chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. This trust supports charitable projects across the Commonwealth, focusing on health and education.

Major (left) with Queen Elizabeth II at Chatham House in 2012

Major has also pursued various business interests. He has held senior advisory roles at companies like Credit Suisse and Global Infrastructure Partners. He was also a director at the bus manufacturers Mayflower Corporation.

After the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Major was appointed a special guardian to Princes William and Harry. This role involved legal and administrative matters. Because of this, he was the only former prime minister invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. Major has also attended the funerals of important political figures, such as Nelson Mandela and US presidents' family members.

Political Engagement

Major delivering a speech at Chatham House in 2010

Major is an active speaker, sharing his views on politics. He is involved with various think tanks, including Chatham House. In 2005, there were reports that Major and Norman Lamont delayed the release of papers about Black Wednesday. Major denied this, saying he only asked to see the papers himself.

In 2006, Major called for an independent inquiry into the decision to invade Iraq. He was considered as a possible Conservative candidate for the Mayor of London elections in 2008 but declined.

Major delivering a speech at The Role of the Nation State in Addressing Global Challenges in 2014

After the 2010 general election, Major supported the Cameron–Clegg coalition. In 2013, he expressed concern about the decline in social mobility in Britain. He noted that powerful positions were mostly held by people from privileged backgrounds.

During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Major strongly supported a "No" vote. He believed independence would harm both Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Major with Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister David Cameron, and former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown

Major was a strong supporter of the Remain campaign in the 2016 referendum on British membership of the European Union. He supported a second referendum on Brexit. He argued that the Leave campaign had presented a "fantasy case." Major feared Brexit would make the UK poorer and endanger peace in Northern Ireland.

In 2019, Major announced he would join a court case against the suspension of Parliament by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the 2019 general election, Major urged voters to vote against candidates who supported a hard Brexit. He called Brexit "the worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime." In early 2020, after the UK left the EU, Major worried about a "flimsy" future trading deal.

In February 2022, Major criticized Boris Johnson over the Partygate scandal. He suggested Johnson should resign. In July 2022, after Johnson announced his resignation, Major called for his immediate replacement for the country's well-being. In February 2023, Major stated that Brexit was "a colossal mistake."

Assessment and Legacy

Bust of Major by Shenda Amery in Huntingdon Library

John Major's calm style was different from Margaret Thatcher's. This made him seem like a good leader to unite his party. However, there were many disagreements within the Conservative Party, especially about Britain's role in the European Union. Major struggled to bring together the "Euro-rebels" in his party. These disagreements caused problems for his government. Some Conservatives were also angry about how Margaret Thatcher had been removed from power.

Major's government also faced issues with scandals involving some Conservative MPs. This reduced public support for the party. His task became even harder after Tony Blair became Labour leader in 1994. Blair was very good with the media and moved Labour to the political center, making it more appealing to voters. While many agreed Major was an honest and decent person who tried to improve Britain, he was sometimes seen as weak. His approval ratings were low, especially after "Black Wednesday" in 1992, which damaged the Conservatives' reputation for managing the economy.

Major defended his time as Prime Minister in his memoirs. He highlighted how the British economy recovered from the recession of 1990–1993 under his leadership. He noted that interest rates fell, unemployment decreased, and government borrowing improved. Some people, like his Chancellor Ken Clarke, believe Major's reputation has improved over time. Paddy Ashdown, who led the Liberal Democrats during Major's time, called him "one of the most honest, brave and sincere men to ever be Prime Minister."

Some journalists were critical of Major at the time, especially after Black Wednesday. However, some have since said they regret their negative reporting. They now praise his achievements, such as his role in the Northern Ireland peace process, boosting the economy, and keeping Britain out of the Eurozone.

In academic circles, Major's legacy is generally seen more positively. Historians praise him for starting the Northern Ireland peace process, peacefully handing Hong Kong back to China, creating the National Lottery, and leaving a stable economy. They note that he did well despite the deep divisions in his party, especially over Europe. His unexpected 1992 election victory helped confirm Thatcher-era reforms and pushed the Labour Party to become more moderate. Historians also point out that Major faced difficult circumstances. Many major reforms had already happened under Thatcher. He also had to deal with the Gulf War and a big recession soon after becoming Prime Minister. His small majority after 1992 made him vulnerable to internal rebellions. Overall, many historians believe Major's time as Prime Minister was important, even if it was challenging.

Representation in the Media

Major at Chatham House in 2011

During his time as Conservative Party leader, John Major was often shown as honest but unable to control his divided party. His polite and easy-going manner was initially well-received. Caricatures often exaggerated his grey appearance and large glasses. For example, in the puppet show Spitting Image, Major's puppet was a grey man who quietly ate dinner. By the end of his time as Prime Minister, his puppet would often just say "oh dear" when things went wrong.

The media also made fun of the Cones Hotline, a way for the public to report unnecessary traffic cones. This was part of Major's Citizen's Charter project. The magazine Private Eye ran a regular column called The Secret Diary of John Major, age 47¾. This column portrayed Major as naive and childish.

The comedian Rory Bremner often impersonated John Major. His impersonation was so good that he once tricked an MP into thinking he was talking to Major on the phone.

Major was often mocked for talking about a nostalgic, idealized Britain from the 1950s. For example, he famously spoke about "long shadows on county grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers and pools fillers." Major later said that these words were misunderstood. He wrote in his memoirs that life was "never as simple as that." Major was often sensitive to media criticism. After leaving office, he admitted he might have been "too sensitive" but said that politicians who are completely unaffected by criticism are "very rare."

John Major has been played by various actors in films and TV shows. These include Michael Maloney in Margaret (2009) and Robin Kermode in The Iron Lady (2011). Most recently, he was played by Jonny Lee Miller in the fifth season of The Crown in 2022. Major called the series "a barrel-load of nonsense" for a fictional storyline where Prince Charles tried to remove Queen Elizabeth II from power. Netflix defended the series as a "fictional dramatisation."

Personal Life

Major at a 2008 cricket match

Major married Norma Johnson (now Dame Norma Major) on 3 October 1970. She was a teacher and a member of the Young Conservatives. They met on an election day and got engaged after only ten days. They have two children: a daughter, Elizabeth (born 1971), and a son, James (born 1975). They still live at their home in Great Stukeley, Huntingdonshire. They also own a flat in London and a holiday home in Weybourne.

Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Luke Salter in 2000. Salter died in 2002 from cancer. Their son, James, married gameshow hostess Emma Noble in 1999. They had a son, Harrison, who was diagnosed with autism. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2003. James later remarried.

Major's elder brother, Terry, became a minor media personality during John Major's time as Prime Minister. He wrote an autobiography and appeared on TV shows. John's sister, Patricia Dessoy, kept a lower profile.

Research has shown that John Major and Margaret Thatcher were distant cousins. They both descended from the Crust family in Lincolnshire.

Major has loved sports since he was young, especially cricket. He also supports Chelsea F.C. and is a Patron of British Gymnastics. He enjoys gardening, listening to music, and reading. He is a Christian, but he prefers to keep his faith private.

Honours

Major receiving the insignia of a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, 1999

In 1999, Major was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his work on the Northern Ireland peace process.

On 23 April 2005, Queen Elizabeth II made Major a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. This is a special knighthood and a personal gift from the Monarch, often given to former prime ministers. He was officially installed on 13 June.

On 20 June 2008, Major was given the Freedom of the City of Cork in Ireland. He also received the Outstanding Contribution to Ireland award in Dublin in 2014.

On 8 May 2012, the Emperor of Japan personally honored Major with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. This was for his important contributions to relations between Japan and the UK. As Prime Minister, Major had worked to boost trade between the two countries. He also received an Honorary Degree from Queen's University Belfast in 2023.

Awards

In 2008, Major won the British Sports Book Awards (Best Cricket Book) for his book More Than a Game.

Public Commemoration

Plaque on St Helier Hospital, Sutton

Plaque in Archbishop's Park, Lambeth

Two plaques commemorating John Major in South London.

An oil painting of Major, painted in 1996, is part of the Parliamentary collection. There is also a bronze bust of him in the Members' Lobby. Another bust is in the Norman Shaw Building North.

A large bust of John Major by Shenda Amery is in Huntingdon Library. A painting of him by Diccon Swan is displayed at the Carlton Club. The National Portrait Gallery holds two paintings of Major.

There is a large John Major Suite at The Oval, a famous cricket ground. There are also plaques commemorating John Major at his birthplace, St Helier Hospital, and in Archbishop's Park in London. Various other plaques mark facilities he opened, such as the Brampton Memorial Centre and Hamerton Zoo Park.

In 2013, a street in the Spanish town of Candeleda was named after John Major. A street near where he grew up in London is also named Major Close.

Arms

Coat of arms of Sir John Major
	Adopted 2005 Crest A Demi-stag Gules attired and unguled Or langued Azure holding between its forelegs a double-warded Key Or wards 'M' upwards and ribboned Gules Azure and Argent Escutcheon Chequy Vert and Azure over all a Portcullis Or in chief three Torteaux Gules Motto Adeste comites (Rally round, comrades) Other elements Garter circlet and appended Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour insignia Banner The banner of John Major's arms used as Knight Companion of the Garter at St George's Chapel.

Images for kids

John Major's signature

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1997 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
Electoral history of John Major
First Major ministry
Second Major ministry

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