Margaret Thatcher: Power and Personality
Page 96
vulnerability 5, 183–4, 187–8, 196, 350, 688
warmth 4, 207
willingness to learn from mistakes 659
work ethic 26, 42, 195, 208, 263–4, 279
see also man-management shortcomings of MT
death (8 April 2013) 689
downfall and resignation 108, 504
Community Charge (Poll Tax) 154, 400, 537, 591, 602–4
complacency of Peter Morrison 625–8
coup against MT, staging of 624, 630, 632, 649, 667
election of new leader 645–9
exit of Howe 608–14
exit of MT 633–52
farewell performance 642–4
Heseltine, part played in 7, 590, 621–3
leaving No. 10 646, 653
period following 653–67
personality as contributing factor 7, 516–19, 538, 554, 587, 591, 596, 650
see also character, and personal characteristics above; man-management shortcomings of MT
as public execution 7, 618–21
reactions of MT to 653–6
resignation speech of Howe (November 1990) 7, 394–5, 617–21
Weatherill Speakership misjudgement 394–5
Westland crisis in relation to see Westland crisis (1986)
early adulthood and career
bar, being called to 76
boyfriends 40, 44–7, 61–3
Canterbury rejection 73–4, 77
as Dartford Parliamentary Candidate 3–4, 57–61, 65, 111
employment 54, 61, 67
engagement and marriage to Denis (1951) 57, 68–74
Finchley nomination see Finchley, London
General Election of 1950 63–5
as junior minister 98–101
legal studies 51, 72, 74–5
Maidstone rejection 77–9
mentoring by Alfred Bossom 55–8, 66, 71, 78, 97
political frustration 65, 67, 77–8, 108
respect for MT in Conservative Party 65–6
tax barrister 76–7
vote of thanks to Winston Churchill, seconding (1950) 66–7
as Young Conservative 4, 54–5
early parliamentary career 13, 51, 85, 89, 97
constituency duties 101–3
Criminal Justice Bill (1960) 95–6
family problems 103–8, 123
lucky events 87–94
maiden speeches 88, 91–2, 94
at Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance 99–100, 155
Private Members’ Bills 87–9, 93, 97
support in House 94–9
U-turns 89–91
Education Secretary and Cabinet Minister (1970–74)
appointment (1970) 109
discussions with Edward Heath (1972) 134–7
first actions 126–30
grammar schools, preservation 126–9
and issues other than education 137–40
nursery education, expansion 136–7
relations with officials and ministers 98
school leaving age 128–9
school milk 19, 130–4, 153
school reorganisation schemes 128–9
U-turns 134, 138
family life
culinary abilities of MT 75, 187, 261
engagement to Denis 68–70
Highlands holiday 675–8
marriage to Denis 57, 68–74, 189–90
maternal tactility and intimacy, lack of 17, 75, 190
motherhood 17, 74–7, 104
see also Thatcher, Carol
Thatcher, (Sir) Mark
nannies 75, 106
nervous breakdown of Denis 106
suffering at expense of political career 75, 86, 103–8, 123, 133, 190
theatre visits 230–1
wedding and honeymoon 71–2
foreign policy see foreign policy
funeral (17 April 2013) 1, 112, 690–1
health problems
in final years 684–8
during finals at Oxford 43
memory loss 531, 685–8
pneumonia 107–8
varicose veins surgery 374
as Leader of the Opposition (1975–79)
BBC debates (1978) 217–18
difficult start 178–86
evaluation of years in 192–3, 209–10
exchanges with James Callaghan 5, 198, 211–12
exchanges with Dennis Healey 201, 212
Finance Bills, MT’s speeches on 77
‘laughing boys,’ support from 211, 213–14, 216, 222
leadership contest (1975) 156–78
new policies and philosophies 201–9
no confidence debate (March 1979) 224–9
parliamentary speeches 50
party conferences and foreign visits 194–8
privatisation policies 380
televised debates, invitation to participate in 217–18
‘winter of discontent’ (1978–79) 5, 201, 208–9, 211–22, 282
in Opposition (1964–70) 120, 124
entering opposition 109–13
Environment, MT as Shadow Minister for 144, 154–5
Fuel and Power, MT as Shadow Minister for 116–18
as junior minister 4, 109–11, 113–18
Iain Macleod, working with 113–15
preparation for government 120–5
Shadow Cabinet 109–10, 112, 116–18, 155
Treasury and Economic Affairs spokeswoman (number two Opposition), MT as 113–15, 156
US visits (1967 and 1968) 119–20
political beliefs
accuracy of, as factor in downfall 597
anti-communism/anti-socialism 60, 120, 197, 202, 207, 389
capital punishment 396–7
civil service see civil service
defence cuts 324
economy and taxation see under economic issues
European policy 7, 138–9, 555–68
freedom/free-trade 118–19, 161, 194–5, 208, 322
grammar schools, preservation 121–2, 126–7, 251
immigration 117, 200–1
mortgage policy 144, 147, 251
National Health Service (NHS) 378–80, 402, 523, 535–6
privatisation 117–18, 380–2, 403–4, 501
public expenditure, controlling/reducing 265–6, 301, 378–9, 388, 402
‘Right to Buy’ policy 144, 250–1, 382
self-help philosophy 6, 195
trade unions see trade unions
see also economic issues
as Prime Minister
cabinet see cabinet
civil service see civil service
economy see economic issues
Exchange Rate Mechanism clashes 540–2, 550–2
first actions 248
first term (1979–83) see first term in office (1979–83)
foreign affairs see foreign policy
leadership style 252–5, 259, 265, 370, 502
see also man-management shortcomings of MT
No. 10, inside 261–6
prediction of becoming 114, 118–19, 120, 243
second term (1983–87) see second term in office (1983–87)
third term (1987–90) see third term of office (1987–1990)
‘voices’ 266, 269–72
in retirement
Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, becoming 665, 668
final months as Member of House of Commons 660–3
health problems 684–8
Kuwaiti export order car crisis 672–5
Major, attacks on 663–8
period following downfall 7, 653–67
seventieth birthday 678–9
strategic ideas and personal conversations 668–72
travel and speech-making 656–9
vacation activities 675–8
writing 16, 24–5, 50, 659–60
speeches 77, 82, 116, 196, 199, 329, 413, 515, 555, 640
Bruges (1988) 560, 565–73, 592
conference 213–14
first at Grantham (1945) 48–9
as Leader of the Opposition (1975–79) 50
Lord Mayor’s Banquet, sporting analogy (November 1990) 617, 619
maiden, in House of Commons 88, 91–2, 94
Queen’s Speech 250–1, 395, 397, 531
in retirement 656–9
skills 18, 32, 50, 74, 92, 114, 180
Soviet Union (USSR) 201–3
Westland crisis (1986) 515
writing 659–60
memoirs 16, 24–5, 50, 84, 352, 426, 655, 659
Thatcher, (Sir) Denis (1st Baronet) 58, 74, 81, 106–7, 196, 321, 341, 386, 432–3, 438, 529, 545, 633, 639, 670, 684
character 60, 62, 69, 187, 245
courtship of MT 62, 68
death from pancreatic cancer (2003) 681–2
dependence of MT upon 242, 346
on Falklands War 350, 361
first impressions of MT 60–1
first marriage to Margot Kempson, break-up 68–9
marriage to MT 57, 68–74, 189–90
affected by MT’s career 104–5
proposal and engagement 68–70
wedding and honeymoon 71–2
Northern Ireland and Brighton bomb 408–11, 414
Thatcher, (Sir) Mark (2nd Baronet) 105, 186, 684
alleged plot to organise coup in Equatorial New Guinea 688
Arab deals 432–3, 436–7
on Falklands War 350, 361
on MT’s lack of maternal tactility 17, 190
upbringing 75, 86
The Times 93, 136, 172, 182, 199, 276–7, 313, 509
‘thermonuclear lunch’ (1979) 321–2, 341
third term of office (1987–90)
attempts to stabilise government 582–4
Berlin Wall, collapse (1989) 591, 593
Budget of 1988 as ‘boom or bust’ 546–50
communism, collapse in Eastern Europe 591–2
Community Charge (Poll Tax) 602–4
Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) (1990), 627–31, 634
‘elective dictatorship,’ MT’s leadership style as 370
European policy 7, 555–68
Exchange Rate Mechanism, decision to join 604–8
Kuwait invasion (1990), MT’s contribution to Western reaction 598–601
problems
glitches 531–2
inability to listen 614–15, 623, 650
unpopularity of MT by 1990 602–3
Whitelaw’s resignation (1988), implications 532–6
see also Community Charge (Poll Tax); Howe, Sir Geoffrey; Lawson, Nigel; man-management shortcomings of MT; Thatcher, Margaret Hilda (Baroness); Walters, Sir Alan
Thomas, Hugh (later Baron Thomas of Swynnerton) 205, 270–1, 353, 355, 475, 489, 593
Thorneycroft, Peter (Baron) 50, 83, 204, 315–16, 318
and election campaign of 1979 233–5
three-day week (1974) 138–9, 303
Tornado nuclear issue, Saudi Arabia 432–4
trade unions 204, 233, 441, 457
British Steel Corporation, industrial action at 305, 377–8
‘charge of the Light Brigade approach’ 440–1
closed shop 89, 233, 304, 441
confrontational strategy towards 204
first term in office of MT (1979–83) 377–9
and David Hart 448–52
immunities 304, 377
militancy 138, 209, 220, 389, 439
miners’ strike (1984–85) 439, 443, 445, 447, 483
collapse 5, 454–5
MT’s views on 89–90, 203, 219, 221, 228, 251, 377–8, 439–59
National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS), crisis involving 452–4
picketing, secondary 221, 233, 304–5, 441
printing unions, dispute with 90–1
problem solving 439–42
second term in office of MT (1983–87) 439–59
‘softly softly’ approach (mid-1970s) 219, 233, 303, 305, 440, 446
Stepping Stones (1977) 204, 304, 440–2
see also Scargill, Arthur; ‘winter of discontent’ (1978–79)
Trades Union Congress (TUC) 215, 385, 560
Treasury/Treasury Committee 4, 542, 604
Trevor-Roper, Hugh (later Baron Dacre of Glanton) 145, 205–6
Trident (C4) nuclear weapons system 297, 344, 486, 491–2
Trident II (D5) 383
Turnbull, Andrew (later Baron Turnbull of Enfield) 446–7, 640
dispute with David Hart 449–50
unemployment, 300, 309–10, 312–13, 318, 376–7, 398
‘Labour isn’t working’ (advertising campaign) 215–16
public perception of 376–7
United Kingdom (UK)
entry into EEC 117, 202
Falklands War see Falklands War (1982)
as ‘sick man of Europe’ 209, 300
special relationship with United States 31, 119–20, 197, 201, 283, 296–8
United States of America (US)
Air Force (9th) 31
Anglo-American alliance 119, 201, 296, 555
bridge building between Moscow and Washington 485–8
Camp David 466, 486, 489, 492
Falklands War 336, 339–40
Great Depression 10, 314
Grenada invasion (1983) 465–8
Libya bombing (1986) 470–3
MT’s visits to 119–20, 463, 657
nuclear weapons modernisation 383
special relationship with United Kingdom 31, 119–20, 197, 201, 283, 296–8
see also Kissinger, Henry; Reagan, Ronald
United Technologies (UTC)–Fiat investment in Westland 507–9, 511–12
vacation activities 16, 280–1, 374, 438, 675–8
in retirement 675–8
Tusmore 438
Value Added Tax (VAT) 251–2, 403
Wade-Gery, Robert 417
Wakeham, John (later Baron Wakeham of Maldon) 413, 513, 515, 521, 525, 530, 540, 627, 638–9
and leadership contest of 1990 633, 636
Waldegrave, William (later Baron Waldegrave of North Hill) 328, 400, 503–4, 613, 636–7
Walden, Brian 587, 608, 610
Walker, Peter (later Baron Walker of Worcester) 110, 138, 144–5, 179, 249–50, 305, 314, 378, 443, 452
and leadership contest of 1975 164, 166
as Wet 311, 446
Walters, (Sir) Alan 271, 316, 541
and Budget of 1981 309–11
special relationship with MT 549, 584–7
war cabinet (ODSA), Falklands War 344–5, 355, 369–70
Watergate scandal (1972) 240, 474, 655
Weatherill, Bernard ‘Jack’ (later Baron Weatherill) 6, 225, 392–4
Weinberger, Caspar, Falklands War 336, 339–40
Wells, John 78–9, 85
Westland crisis (1986) 307, 470, 509–16, 613
background 507–8
effects 516–17
indecision of MT 509, 512
leaking of Solicitor General’s letter 509–11
complicity in 513–16
‘material inaccuracy’ in correspondence by Heseltine, making public 509–11, 514
MT’s management of cabinet discussions 511–12
reputation of MT, harm to 509, 511–12, 514–17, 520
United Technologies (UTC)–Fiat investment 507–9, 511–12
Wets (senior members of government outside inner circle) 301–2, 314, 317, 378, 583
origination of label 306
Whitelaw, William (later 1st Viscount Whitelaw) 164, 179, 194, 200, 203, 241–2, 248, 300, 305, 321, 385, 396, 515, 540, 563
cabinet deliberations, skills with 252, 274, 314, 533
character 533–4
coping without 252, 532–6
Falklands War 321, 331–2, 338, 344, 348, 359–60
and general election of 1987 521, 529
and leadership contest of
1975 150, 162, 168, 172, 174, 177
MT, relationship with and opinions of each about the other 5, 112, 178, 182, 242, 255, 376, 391, 502–3, 506, 534
policies 200–1, 204
resignation from cabinet (1988) 532–3
Whitmore, (Sir) Clive 262–3, 353
Wilson, Sir David (later Baron Wilson of Tillyorn) 423–4
Wilson, Harold (later Baron Wilson of Rievaulx) 128, 135, 147, 181, 193, 198, 231
and 1966 general election 110, 112
‘winter of discontent’ (1978–79) 5, 201, 208–9, 211–22, 282, 303, 440
significance for MT 218, 228, 247, 302
see also trade unions
Wolfson, David (later Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale) 103, 262, 315–16, 385, 411, 526
Wright, Peter 273–5
Wyatt, Woodrow (later Baron Wyatt of Weeford) 183, 270, 277, 645
Young, David (Baron Young of Graffham) 103, 399, 448, 454, 503
argument with Tebbit 525, 527, 537
election campaign of 1987 524–7
Young, Janet (later Baroness Young) 234, 318, 396
Younger, George (4th Viscount Younger of Leckie) 249–50, 512, 590, 615, 625
First published in Great Britain 2013
Copyright © Jonathan Aitken, 2013
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The Roberts family on the day Margaret’s father became Mayor of Grantham, November 1945. From left to right: Muriel, Alfred, Beatrice and Margaret.
All smiles at a Kent Conservative dance from three candidates in the 1950 election: Margaret Roberts (left) Ted Heath (centre) and Pat Hornsby-Smith (right), 1950.
Margaret Roberts, Conservative Candidate for Dartford canvasses a voter during the 1951 General Election in Attlee Drive.