Member of Parliament
Elected to Parliament in a byelection as member for Richmond, North Yorkshire
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1989 in Great Britain — Page 5
Explore 200 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1989.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1989
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 200 unique records.
200Unique records
5 of 5Page
36Named events on this page
35Named people on this page
9Places on this page
Other events (month unknown)
Norwich High League Finish
Robert Fleck contributed to Norwich City's attack during the 1988-89 season, when the Canaries finished fourth in England's First Division.
OBE
Awarded the OBE
OBE
Trueman is awarded the OBE for charity work
Official Secrets Act
Official Secrets Act 1989 replaces parts of earlier secrecy law with specific disclosure offences
One Night of Sin Album
Releases the studio album One Night of Sin.
Passion
Gabriel released "Passion", the soundtrack for Martin Scorseses movie "The Last Temptation of Christ", for this work Gabriel receives his first Grammy Award, in the category of Best New Age Performance
Paul Ince Voted Hammer of the Year
Paul Ince is chosen as West Ham’s outstanding player of the season before his departure to Manchester United later that year.
Player of the Year
Liverpool defender Nicol earns the football writers prize for his versatility, disciplined positioning and important contribution in multiple roles.
Primitive Cool
Mick Jagger releases a solo album, "Primitive Cool"
Privatization
The privatisation programme pursued during Lawson's chancellorship is followed by the flotation of the ten regional water companies in November 1989, shortly after he leaves the Treasury.
Privatization
It is decided to keep Magnox power stations under Government control
Privatization
The Regional Water Companies are sold for 5,110 million pounds
Publication of Enoch Powell on 1992
Publishes Enoch Powell on 1992, returning to the constitutional implications of deeper European integration.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Releases his first solo release, Violent Opposition, on which members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform
Reform of Government
A White Paper proposes an internal market of self-governing NHS trusts
Resignation of Nigel Lawson
Lawson resigns as Chancellor after prolonged disagreement over economic policy and the role of Margaret Thatcher's adviser Alan Walters, and John Major succeeds him.
Retirement
Retires from the Government, allegedly over choice of advertising agencies
Rule of Hong Kong
John Major meets Qian Qichen to discuss the handover of Hong Kong to China
Secretary of State for Agriculture
Appointed Minister of Agriculture & Food
Secretary of State for the Environment
Appointed Secretary of the Environment
Shadow Minister
Appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Health & Social Security
Shadow Trade and Industry Appointment
Brown becomes Labour's Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary.
Street Fighting Years
Simple Minds release "Street Fighting Years", UK no 1 Album
Street Fighting Years
Simple Minds release "Street Fighting Years", UK no 1 Album
Style Council
Weller disbands The Style Council and disappears from the public eye for a couple of years
The Chymical Wedding
Publication of "The Chymical Wedding"
The Last Temptation of Christ
Gabriel released "Passion", the soundtrack for Martin Scorseses movie "The Last Temptation of Christ", for this work Gabriel receives his first Grammy Award, in the category of Best New Age Performance
The Tall Guy
Appears in The Tall Guy
The Time of my Life
Healey publishes "The Time of my Life".
Third Division Promotion Title
Secures a second straight league championship with Wolves by winning the 1988–89 Third Division.
Tin Machine
Founder Member of Tin Machine
Tommy Anniversary Tour
Reunite for a Tommy anniversary tour.
Transfer
Joins Sheffield Wednesday
Trident Programme
Tom King assumes ministerial responsibility for defence as the Trident submarine programme advances
United Promotion to Second Tier
Bassett took Sheffield United up from the Third Division, the first step in a remarkable sequence of back-to-back promotions.
Valmont
Plays the title character in Milos Forman's period drama Valmont.
Vice President
Appointed Vice President of the EC
Water Act
Water Act 1989 restructures the water industry and enables water privatisation
Water Industry Privatisation
Ridley was Secretary of State for the Environment during preparations for the privatisation of regional water authorities.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.