(1943– )
a British Conservative politician. He became a Member of Parliament in 1979 and was Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before replacing Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1990. Major was admired by some people for his aim to achieve a ‘classless society’, but others criticized him for being boring and ‘grey’ (= dull and ordinary). His period in power was marked by economic problems, and his party was divided over the issue of European union. In spite of this he won the general election of 1992. In 1995 he also won a leadership contest against John Redwood , but the Conservatives were heavily defeated by the Labour Party in the 1997 general election, and Major was replaced as Conservative leader by William Hague .