The Downing Street Years, 1979-1990

by Margaret Thatcher

  GDP — Gross Domestic Product

  GLC — Greater London Council

  GLCM — Ground-launched Cruise Missile

  GM — General Motors

  GM school — Grant-Maintained school

  GNP — Gross National Product

  GP — General Practitioner

  H — Home Affairs Committee of the Cabinet

  HAT — Housing Action Trust

  HMI — Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (of schools)

  IDU — International Democratic Union

  IEA — Institute of Economic Affairs

  IGC — Inter-Governmental Conference

  ILEA — Inner London Education Authority

  IMF — International Monetary Fund

  INF — Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces

  INLA — Irish National Liberation Army

  IRA — Irish Republican Army

  ISTC — Iron and Steel Trades Confederation

  ITC — Independent Television Commission

  L — Legislation Committee of the Cabinet

  LEA — Local Education Authority

  MCAs — Monetary compensation amounts

  MEZ — Maritime Exclusion Zone

  MIRVs — Multiple independently targettable re-entry vehicles

  MLR — Minimum Lending Rate

  MNF — Multi-National Force

  MoD — Ministry of Defence

  MSC — Manpower Services Commission

  MTFS — Medium Term Financial Strategy

  MO — Monetary base

  £M3 — Sterling M3

  NACODS — National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers

  NADs — National Armaments Directors

  NATO — North Atlantic Treaty Organization

  NCB — National Coal Board (later British Coal)

  NCC — National Curriculum Council

  NDLS — National Dock Labour Scheme

  NEB — National Enterprise Board

  NEDC — National Economic Development Council (‘Neddy’)

  NGA — National Graphical Association

  NHS — National Health Service

  NICs — National Insurance contributions

  NIO — Northern Ireland Office

  NIS — National Insurance Surcharge

  NRC — National Reporting Centre

  NUM — National Union of Mineworkers

  OAS — Organization of American States

  OD — Overseas and Defence Committee of the Cabinet

  OD(SA) — Sub-Committee of OD which ran the Falklands War

  ODA — Overseas Development Administration

  OECD — Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

  OECS — Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

  OPEC — Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

  OUP — Official Unionist Party

  PLO — Palestine Liberation Organization

  PPS — Parliamentary Private Secretary

  PSBR — Public Sector Borrowing Requirement

  PSDR — Public Sector Debt Repayment

  QL — Queen’s Speeches and Future Legislation Committee of the Cabinet

  QUANGO — Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization

  RHA — Regional Health Authority

  RPI — Retail Price Index

  RUC — Royal Ulster Constabulary

  SALT — Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

  SAS — Special Air Service

  SDLP — Social Democratic and Labour Party

  SDP — Social Democratic Party

  SDI — Strategic Defence Initiative

  SLCM — Sea-launched Cruise Missile

  SNF — Short-range Nuclear Forces

  SSA — Standard Spending Assessment

  START — Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

  SWAPO — South West Africa People’s Organization

  TASM — Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile

  TEZ — Total Exclusion Zone

  TGWU — Transport and General Workers’ Union

  TSRB — Top Salaries Review Board

  TUC — Trades Union Congress

  UAE — United Arab Emirates

  UDM — Union of Democratic Miners

  UDR — Ulster Defence Regiment

  UNSCR — United Nations Security Council Resolution

  VAT — Value Added Tax

  WEU — Western European Union

  Index

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

  NOTE: Government Departments and Ministries are grouped together under the heading Departments and Ministries

  Abdul Rahman, Tunku, 502–3

  ABM treaty (1972), 465, 467, 471, 473

  Abrahamson, General James, 476

  Abu Dhabi, MT’s visit (1981), 163

  Abu Nidal, 442

  Acland, Sir Antony (Permanent Under Secretary of State FCO 1981-86, British Ambassador to Washington 1986–91), 192, 214, 817

  ‘Action for Jobs’ programme, 421

  Adams, Gerry, 408

  Adefope, Major-General H.E.O., 76

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), 113, 367–8

  Aerospatiale, 428

  Afghanistan: Soviet invasion, 65, 69, 87–8, 91, 160, 478; refugees, 167–8; Soviet withdrawal, 772, 773, 774

  Africa, MT’s visits, 523, 524–9

  African National Congress (ANC), 519, 520, 531–2, 533–4

  Agriculture Council, see EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

  Agriculture Policy Group, 565

  Agusta, 428, 429

  Ahtisaari, Martti, 528, 529

  Albakin, Leonid, 802

  Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment, 716

  Alexandra, Princess, 331

  Alison, Michael, 380, 382

  Alliance: opinion polls (1981–2), 264, 265; policies, 265; ‘Falklands factor’, 265–6; by-election gains (1982–3), 266; election campaign (1983) 287, 291, 303–4; gains (1985), 416; leadership, 573; policies, 573; assault on (1987), 574, 577; manifesto (1987), 576; election campaign (1987), 578, 581

  Alliance Party (Northern Ireland), 387

  Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW), 116, 117

  American Economist, 715

  Amersham International, 678

  Amin, Hafizullah, 87

  Anaya, Admiral Jorge, 176

  Ancram, Michael, 647

  Andreotti, Giulio (Italian Prime Minister 1972–73, 1976–79, 1989–92), 70, 549–51, 762, 765, 766

  Andrew, Prince, 181

  Andrew, Sir Robert, 399

  Andropov, Yuri (Soviet President 1082–84), 321, 450, 453, 455–6, 458, 469

  Anglo-Irish Agreement, 385, 402–6, 410, 413, 415, 421

  Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council, 393

  Anguilla, ‘invasion’, 8

  Annenberg, Walter, 36

  Antall, Jozsef (Prime Minister of Hungary 1990–), 809

  Antelope, HMS, 226

  Anti-Ballistic Missiles (ABM), 464–5

  anti-satellite (ASAT) capability, 462

  Antrim, HMS, 205, 330

  Arab-Israeli dispute, 322, 487, 507–12, 526, 827

  Arab League, 816

  Archer, Jeffrey, 422

  Ardent, HMS, 225

  Argentina: Falklands policy, 174–6; Falklands invasion, 177, 187; US relations, 176–7, 179–80, 188, 323; embargo, 190–1, 223; Haig negotiations, 193–200, 202–4, 206–8, 210–11, 217, 222, 224, 229–30; Belgrano sinking, 214–16, 217; Falklands engagement, 225–35; Falklands surrender, 235

  Argonaut, HMS, 225

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body, 32

  Armenia, MT’s visit (1990), 807

  Armilla Patrol, 91, 164, 506, 816

  arms sales, 163

  Armstrong, Sir Robert (Cabinet Secretary 1979–87 and Head Home Civil Service 1981–87), 395, 396, 398

  arts, 632–4r />
  Arts Council, 633

  Ascension Island, 187, 200, 201, 202, 208, 213

  Aspen, Colorado: MT’s speech (1990), 800, 819–20; MT-Bush Kuwait talks, 816–20

  Assisted Places Scheme, 39

  Associated British Ports, 678

  Astiz, Captain, 208

  A-Team, see Strategy Group

  Atkins, Humphrey (Northern Ireland Secretary 1979–81, Lord Privy Seal 1981–82), 151, 179, 186, 387, 394

  Atlantic Conveyor, 227–8

  Attali, Jacques, 734, 759

  Attlee, Clement (Labour Prime Minister 1945–51), 5

  Audit Commission, 616, 643n

  Austin, General Hudson, 328

  Austin Rover, 438, 439, 440

  Australia: MT’s visit (1988), 410- 11, 504, 505–6; role, 501–2

  Autocue, 258, 286, 382, 468, 568

  Autumn Statement (1982), 271

  Aviation Weekly, 464

  Babangida, General Ibrahim (President Nigeria 1985-), 524, 525, 526

  Bagehot, Walter, 446–7

  Baker, James (US Secretary of State 1989–92) MT’s meeting (1988), 782; European policies, 783, 795; NATO, 785, 788, 811; Gulf War build-up, 820–1, 826, 828

  Baker, Kenneth (Education Secretary 1986–89, Conservative Party Chairman 1989–90): Industry, 131; IT, 271; Environment, 420; local authority propaganda battle, 562; community charge, 563, 647, 650–1, 652, 656, 657, 658; Education, 563, 589, 651; ‘opted-out’ schools, 578; election campaign (1987), 578, 580; national curriculum, 593–7; teacher training, 598; Party Chairman, 656, 714, 756, 758, 836; suitability as successor to MT, 755; Gorbachev meeting, 773; Howe’s resignation, 835; by-election results discussion, 838; leadership election campaign (1990), 841, 846–7, 849, 851, 853–4; MT’s resignation, 856, 857

  balance of payments deficit (1988–9), 706

  Balfour, Arthur (Conservative Prime Minister 1902–5), 5

  Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD), 464–5, 467

  ballots, trade union, 99, 274, 276, 284, 572, 669

  Ballygawley bomb (1988), 411

  Baltic States, 767, 801

  Bancroft, Sir Ian (Permanent Secretary Civil Service Department and Head Home Civil Service 1978–81), 47–8

  Banda, Dr Hastings (President of Malawi 1966-), 527–8

  Bank of England: ‘corset’, 125; Polish crisis, 254; Westland, 426; Hong Kong currency, 489–90; ERM question, 691, 695; exchange rate intervention, 702; Lawson’s proposals, 706–7

  bankruptcies, 52

  Barnett, Joel, Lord, 637

  Basnett, David, 372

  BBC: pay levels, 102; Falklands reporting, 181, 214; unilateralism, 267; Milltown Cemetery film, 408; election results forecast (1987), 588; licence fee, 634–7; advertising question, 636; independent producers, 636, 638

  Begin, Menachem (Israeli Prime Minister 1977–83), 510n

  Begun, Iosif, 484

  Beirut bombings (1983), 327–8

  Belgium, cruise missiles, 241, 243

  Belgrano, see General Belgrano

  Belize, British presence, 248

  Bell, Tim: election campaign (1983), 287–8; miners’ strike (1984–5), 354; election campaign (1987), 570, 585; community charge discussions, 658; leadership election campaign (1990), 841

  Belstead, Lord, 851

  benefits, see social security benefits

  Berlin disco bomb (1986), 443

  Berlin Wall, 263, 759, 789, 793

  Berrill, Sir Kenneth, 30

  Berry, Sir Anthony, 381

  Beswick, Lord, 108

  Biffen, John (Chief Secretary 1979–81, Trade Secretary 1981–82, Leader HC 1982–87): Chief Secretary to Treasury, 26; public spending cuts, 50; BL, 117; MTFS attitude, 130; Trade, 131; Leader of House, 187; relationship with Howe, 420; quoted, 422, 440, 589; BL, 440; leaves Cabinet, 589

  ‘Big Bang’, 311

  bill mountain, 695, 696

  Birmingham Six, 409

  Birt, John, 637

  Bishop, Maurice (Prime Minister of Grenada 1979–83), 166, 328–9

  Bismarck, Otto von, 791

  Blackhawk helicopters, 428

  Black Monday, 700, 710

  Bluff Cove, 226, 233

  Boomibol, King of Thailand, 506

  Botha, P.W. (South African Prime Minister 1978–84, State President 1084–89), 514–15, 520, 522, 529

  Botha, R.F. (‘Pik’) (South African Foreign Minister 1977-), 514, 529, 532

  Boundary Commission, 286

  Brandt Commission, 169

  Bretton Woods system, 703

  Brezhnev, Leonid (Soviet General Secretary 1964–82): invasion of Afghanistan, 88; arms control proposals (1981), 159, (1979), 241–2; SALT II Agreement, 245; ‘Brezhnev Doctrine’, 258, 790; cartoon, 324; rise of Gorbachev, 453; Reagan correspondence, 455, 462; era, 458

  Brighton Grand Hotel bomb (1984), 368, 371, 379–83, 399, 414

  Brilliant, HMS, 225

  Bristow, Alan, 425–6

  British Aerospace (BAe), 428, 433, 678, 679–80

  British Airways, 283, 678, 679

  British Antarctic Survey, 180, 640

  British Association of Colliery Managers (BACM), 366

  British Gas, 284, 681–2

  British Leyland (BL): steel supplies, 101, 112; Edwardes Chairmanship, 114; Corporate Plan, 115–17, 118–19, 120–1; industrial relations, 117–18, 119–20; Wakeham involvement, 311; privatization, 284, 419, 437–41, 678; Varley-Marshall assurances, 438, 679; Rover Group, 679–80

  British Medical Association (BMA), 616–17

  British Museum, 632

  British Nationality Bill, 161, 260

  British Petroleum (BP), 50, 316

  British Rail (BR), 347, 353, 686–7

  British Rail Hotels, 678

  British Shipbuilders, 284, 678

  British Steel Corporation (BSC): coal supplies, 101; strike (1980), 103, 108–14; costs, 127; privatization programme, 283–4, 678, 679; Ravenscraig steel works, 361–2, 622; miners’ strike (1984–5), 342, 347, 353; dock strikes (1984), 355, 361

  British Telecom (BT), 283, 306, 678, 680–1

  Britoil, 678

  Brittan, Leon (Chief Secretary 1981–83, Home Secretary 1983–85, Trade and Industry Secretary 1985–86, Vice-President EC Commission 1989-): Chief Secretary, 131, 309; Home Secretary, 307–8, 418; ‘end-year flexibility’ suggestion, 317; miners’ strike (1984–5), 345–6; Party Conference (1984), 368; Brighton bomb (1984), 381; DTI, 419, 426; Westland affair, 426–36; BL, 438–9; broadcasting, 646; attitude to ERM, 693, 710

  Brittan, Samuel, 138

  Britto, Keith, 266

  Brixton riots (1981), 143–4

  broadcasting, 634–8

  Broadcasting Act (1989), 636

  Broadcasting Standards Council, 636–7

  Brogan, Colm, 12

  Brooke, Peter (Conservative Party Chairman 1987–89, Northern Ireland Secretary ’989–92), 414, 749, 756, 852

  Brown, Harold, 246

  Brownlow, Lord, 23

  Bruges speech (1988), 742–6, 749, 755, 833

  Buckton, Ray, 372

  budgets: (1979), 41–5, 50; (1980), 55, 95–6; (1981), 132–9; (1982), 270–1; (1983), 271; (1984), 673, 694; (1985), 673; (1986), 673; (1987), 673; (1988), 673–4; (1989), 674–5; (1990). 622, 675

  Bukovsky, Vladimir, 452, 480, 813

  Bundesbank, 690, 696, 720, 740, 763, 814

  Burke, Edmund, 26, 753, 859

  Burnet, Sir Alastair, 291

  Burnham, Forbes (Prime Minister then President of Guyana 1964–85), 167

  Bush, Barbara, 845

  Bush, George (US Vice-President 1981–89, President 1989–93): Hungarian visit, 455; nuclear talks, 473; G7, 754, 763–4; relationship with MT, 754, 782–3, 793, 794, 820; Presidential election (1988), 768; administration, 782–4; German reunification, 793, 794, 795, 798–9; attitude to Yeltsin, 804; MT Bermuda meeting (1990), 810; NATO discussions, 810–11; achievements, 813; Kuwait invasion response, 816–21; Gulf War bui
ld-up, 823–4, 826; CSCE Conference (1990), 842, 845; MT’s resignation, 857

  Buthelezi, Chief Gatsha, 532, 533

  Butler, Sir Michael, 720n Butler, R.A., 6n, 12, 43

  Butler, Robin (Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary 1982–85, Cabinet Secretary and Head Home Civil Service 1988-), 289, 379, 380, 458, 633

  Butskellism, 6

  by-elections: Crosby (1981), 153; ‘Falklands factor’, 265; Glasgow Hillhead (1982), 266; Beaconsfield (1982), 266; Mitcham and Morden (1982), 266; Peckham (1982), 266; Birmingham (Northfield) (1982), 266; Bermondsey, 266 (1983); Darlington, 266 (1983); MT’s role, 266–7; Cardiff possibility (1983), 289; Brecon and Radnor (1985), 416–17; Mid-Staffordshire (1990), 658; Eastbourne (1990), 832; Bootle (1990), 838; Bradford North (1990), 838

  Byelorussia, 801–2

  Cabinet, 25–9; confidentiality, 33; public spending arguments, 123–8; reshuffle (January 1981), 130–1; further dissent, 147–50; reshuffle (September 1981), 150–3; reshuffle (1985), 418–23; reshuffle (1986), 562–3; reshuffle (1989), 754–8; changes after Howe’s resignation (1990), 835; leadership election (1990), 850–5

  Cable and Wireless, 678

  cable television, 635

  Cairns Group, 739

  Callaghan, James (Labour Prime Minister 1976–79): government defeat, 3–4; election campaign (1979), 10, 288; election defeat, 17–18; Policy Unit, 30n; relationship with Schmidt, 35; leadership resignation, 41; Falklands, 190; election campaign (1983), 296; civil service pay, 417

  Camden, London Borough of, 646

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), 267, 293, 424

  Campaign Guide, 286

  Camp David, MT’s visit (1984), 466–8; MT’s visit (1986), 472–3

  Canada: MT’s visit (1983), 320–2; Constitution, 320; South African sanctions issue, 523

  Canberra, 189, 225

  Cancún, ‘North-South’ summit, 167, 168–70, 754

  capital punishment, 307, 308, 315

  CARICOM, 328

  Carlisle, Mark (Education Secretary 1979–81), 151

  Carlton Club bomb (1990), 414

  Carlton Lecture (1984), 370

  Carrington, Peter, Lord (Foreign Secretary 1979–82): Foreign Secretary, 27; Rhodesia, 73, 74, 76–7; EC budget, 85–6; Iran-Iraq war, 91; Cabinet reshuffle, 151; US visit (1981), 158; Falklands, 178–9, 185; resignation, 185–6; Defence Review, 249, 250; Polish crisis, 252, 253; attitude to EMS, 692; MT retirement suggestion, 832

  Carter, Amy, 68

  Carter, Jimmy (US President 1977–81): G7, 68, 71; MT’s assessment, 68–9; Rhodesia, 73; Iran hostage crisis, 86, 88, 156, 825; MT’s visit, 86–7; Afghanistan, 87–8; US economy, 123, 693; neutron bomb, 241; NATO, 242; Trident, 245–6, 248