The Real Iron Lady

by Gillian Shephard

  The benefits which law is intended to promote can only be actually achieved by the effort of individuals. A government may provide incentives for industrial development, but it is the brains and hands of men and women which must translate that into action and industrial health – and success.

  A government may provide a framework of social services, a safety net through which none may fall. But the many deeds of mercy, the myriad acts of human kindness which give life its dignity and meaning, these are the work of individuals. And no state can ever play the part of a good neighbour. The loving care which should generate and inform such activities is a feature not of legislation but of the human spirit. It cannot be manufactured or decreed by politicians.

  ‘What’s the government going to do about it?’ is a common phrase. I hear it often! I shall hear it when I get back to Number 10 tonight! But surely the better approach was that expressed by President Kennedy in his Innaugural Address: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.’

  Recently, Madame Chairman, this summer, we have seen that philosophy abundantly fulfilled by our people when called up to defend freedom and justice, many thousands of miles away.

  The achievements for which we honour Dame Margery today, although great in themselves, have been a comparatively small part of the enormous changes which have transformed our lives over the years.

  Changes in transport, in communications, automation, fuel and energy, science and medicine, in the environment and in our cities. Above all, changes in the standard of prosperity so that the luxuries of the few have become the necessities of the many. It is not therefore possible to isolate the effect of the changing status of women in our society. Nevertheless if we are to shape our future, we must take a dispassionate look at what has happened to the structure of society across the century.

  Throughout history, great emphasis has been laid upon the importance of the family. But in family matters today there are some very disquieting features. For example, in 1882 there were 43,000 illegitimate births in England and Wales. Some eighty years later, in 1960, there were approximately the same number and proportion. In 1980 the numbers had risen from 43,000 to 77,000. Worse still, the number of girls who conceived children under the age of sixteen, had risen from 6,600 in 1970 to 8,100 in 1979. Further, the number of juvenile offenders has doubled in less than twenty years, rising from 100,000 in 1965 to nearly 200,000 in 1979. Moreover, today, one in ten marriages is expected to break down after five years and one in three after thirty years.

  It is, of course, difficult to make valid comparisons with a century ago. But the figures do tell us what has happened in the last twenty years and we can’t fail to be worried by them. Indeed, I wonder whether the family has been sufficiently highly regarded in recent years. Much emphasis has been placed on individual rights, less on our duties to each other.

  Children have been encouraged to grow up faster and to see themselves as independent of parents. Parents have been told by self-appointed experts that their duties to each other and to their children should be balanced by more emphasis on self fulfilment. In other words, we have seen the birth of the permissive society. Has that benefited women? Far from it.

  Women know that society is founded on dignity, reticence and discipline. We know instinctively that the disintegration of society begins with the death of idealism and convention.

  We know that our society as a whole, and especially for the children, much depends upon the family unit remaining secure and respected. It is significant that so many women who have reached the top have families of their own, like Dame Margery and, as I can personally testify, they are our greatest joy and our strength.

  It is of course true that women of our generation are often still comparatively young by the time our children are grown up and therefore we have an opportunity further to develop our own talents, an opportunity which in Dame Margery’s day, was rarely available. For many, that experience can enhance their lives and enlarge their interests. But I remain totally convinced that when children are young, however busy we may be with practical duties inside or outside the home, the most important thing of all is to devote enough time and care to the children’s needs and problems. There are some things for which only a parent will do. I’ll never forget the comment of a headmaster of a school I visited when I was Secretary of State for Education. He said to me that as many problem children came from rich as poor homes. Some were from homes where the children had everything they could wish for except, perhaps, enough of their parents’ attention. Madame President, material goods can never be a substitute for loving care. Too much money can create problems as well as solve them.

  The battle for women’s rights has been largely won. The days when they were demanded and discussed in strident tones should be gone forever. And I hope they are. I hated those strident tones that you still hear from some Women’s Libbers.

  The battle is largely won, but we must now see women’s rights in perspective and turn our attention to how we could use human rights to build the kind of world we wish our children to grow up in.

  It’s no use looking through rose-tinted spectacles or pretending that human imperfections and evil will disappear if we get the economy right. They won’t. They are as old as humanity itself and we have to fight them constantly. Fight them by making and enforcing laws to protect the weak; by upholding conventions and customs which serve the larger purpose and which limit the selfish purpose.

  In international affairs the only protection for civilised values against the tyrant is a sure defence. Dame Margery’s generation learned that so vividly and at so great a price. It is a tragedy that since the last World War there have been, I’m going to tell you how many conflicts since the last World War. You will be amazed when I say the number, as I was amazed when I did the research. Since the last World War, there have been over one hundred and forty conflicts in various parts of the world and they continue even as we meet here today.

  The danger for democracy is that too many people will say, what can one person do among 55 million? Dame Margery never took that view. Nor does your society of Guilds. Politicians will know that Burke put it so well, so long ago: ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing.’

  But our generation has reason to be thankful that those noble and brave acts which brought fame and renown to Britain’s name are matched by deeds of courage and valour in our time. And we saw that over the Falklands story.

  Madame Chairman, it’s a rare honour to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It is a supreme privilege to occupy that high office when great human causes have to be defended. It has been an inspiration to witness the young generation of today set the most glorious standards for the young of tomorrow.

  I’m very much aware of how much I owe to Dame Margery. I honour and thank her for her sense of purpose, for her selfless service and for that tireless spirit which sustained her until her works were well and truly accomplished.

  That was where I had finished writing this Lecture and as I looked up, on my desk, at Chequers, I opened the top of the ink stand. There is there, a saying in Latin, which fortunately is translated into English, which I thought was so appropriate, both for Dame Margery and for those principles by which I try to guide my stewardship, and I finish with it:

  To stand on the ancient ways

  To see which is the right and good way,

  And in that way to walk.

  CONTRIBUTORS

  Some of the writers have themselves provided the career details they wish to be included. For the others, I have given relevant details drawn from Who’s Who and Dod’s Parliamentary Companion.

  ALSTON John, CBE, DL

  Leader, Norfolk County Council 1981–1987 and 1989–1993. Chairman, Norfolk Health Authority 1996–2002. Chairman, Norfolk Strategic Partnership 2002–2007. High Sheriff of Norfolk 2004–2005.

  ARMSTRONG Robert, The Lord Armstrong of Ilminster
, GCB, CVO

  Secretary of the Cabinet 1979–1987.

  BEESLEY Ian, FRSA

  Official Historian, Cabinet Office 2007–present. Deputy Head of Efficiency Unit 1981–1983. Under-Secretary and Official Head of Unit 1983–1986.

  BOOTH Hartley, OBE

  Chairman of Uzbek–British Trade and Industry Council since 1999. Special Adviser at 10 Downing Street 1984–1988. CEO British Urban Development 1988–1990. MP for Finchley 1992–1997.

  BOTTOMLEY Virginia, The Rt. Hon. the Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, DL

  MP for Surrey South West 1984–2005. Secretary of State for Health 1992–1995. Secretary of State for National Heritage 1995–1997.

  BRUNSON Michael, OBE

  Writer and broadcaster. Political Editor of ITN 1986–2000. ITN Washington Correspondent 1972–1977.

  BYFORD Hazel, The Baroness Byford of Rothley, DBE, DL

  Conservative activist and member of Conservative Women’s National Committee. Chairman of same 1990–1993. President of Conservative National Union 1996–1997. Opposition spokesman, House of Lords, on Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs 1998–2007.

  CHALKER Lynda, The Rt. Hon. the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

  MP for Wallasey 1974–1992. Opposition spokesman, DHSS 1976–1979. Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DHSS 1979–1982, Department of Transport 1982–1983. Minister of State, Department of Transport 1983–1986, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1986–1997. Minister for Overseas Development, 1989–1992.

  CORMACK Patrick, The Lord Cormack of Enville, DL, FSA

  Patrick Cormack was a South Staffordshire Member of Parliament from 1970 until 2010. He was a member of the team which, under the late Airey Neave, worked for the election of Margaret Thatcher as Leader of the Conservative Party in 1975. In 1978, he edited Right Turn, a collection of essays by former Labour supporters, including the late Reg Prentice, who had decided to back the Thatcher Conservative Party in the 1979 election.

  COTTRELL Elizabeth

  Director of Research, Centre for Policy Studies 1980–1984. Special Adviser to Richard Luce, Minister for the Arts and the Civil Service 1987–1990. Special Adviser to Gillian Shephard at Departments of Employment, Agriculture, Education, and Education and Employment 1992–1997.

  FIELD Frank, The Rt. Hon.

  MP for Birkenhead 1979 to present. Director, Child Poverty Action Group 1969–1979, Low Pay Unit, 1974–1978. Chairman of DSS Select Committee 1987–1990. Minister of State DSS 1997–1998.

  FOOKES Janet, The Baroness Fookes of Plymouth, DBE

  MP for Merton and Morden 1970–1974. MP for Plymouth Drake 1974–1997. A Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons 1992–1997. A Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords, 2002 to the present.

  GARNER, Sir Anthony

  Director of Organisation at Conservative Central Office 1976–1988, following a distinguished career in the Grenadier Guards and in the Conservative Party organisation.

  HOWE Geoffrey, The Rt. Hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon, CH, QC

  MP for Bebington 1964–1966. MP for Reigate 1970–1974. MP for Surrey East 1974–1992. Chancellor of the Exchequer 1979–1983. Foreign Secretary 1983–1989. Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Prime Minister 1989–1990.

  HURD Douglas, The Rt. Hon. the Lord Hurd of Westwell, CH, CBE

  MP for Mid Oxfordshire 1974–1983. MP for Witney 1983–1997. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 1984–1985. Home Secretary 1985–1989. Foreign Secretary 1989–1995.

  JOINER Sarah

  PA for the Leader’s Tours, Conservative Central Office, February to August 1979.

  JOPLING Michael, The Rt. Hon. the Lord Jopling of Ainderby Quernhow, DL

  MP for Westmorland 1964–1983. MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale 1983–1997. Government Chief Whip 1979–1983. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1983–1987.

  KING Tom, The Rt. Hon. the Lord King of Bridgwater, CH

  MP for Bridgwater 1970–2001. Cabinet member under Margaret Thatcher 1983–1992 at Environment, Transport, Employment, Northern Ireland and Defence.

  KNIGHT Jill, The Baroness Knight of Collingtree, DBE

  MP for Edgbaston 1966–1997. Vice-Chairman, 1922 Committee 1988–1997. Member, Council of Europe 1977–1988, Chair 1999–2010. Fellow, Industry and Parliament Trust.

  LOUSSOUARN Sophie

  Lecturer at the Sorbonne and at the University of Amiens, visiting professor at the University of Alicante. Commentator on British politics and economy on French radio and television.

  LUCAS Jean, MBE

  Organiser for the Young Conservatives and for forty-five years a Conservative Party agent, retiring in 2002. Chairman of the Conservative Agents 1980.

  MACGREGOR John, The Rt. Hon. the Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, OBE

  MP for South Norfolk 1974–2001. Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1985–1987. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1987–1989. Secretary of State, Education and Science 1989–1990. Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons 1990–1992. Secretary of State for Transport 1992–1994. Chairman of the Association of Conservative Peers 2010 to present.

  MAJOR John, The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major, KG, CH

  MP for Huntingdonshire 1979–1983. MP for Huntingdon 1983–2001. Foreign Secretary 1989. Chancellor of the Exchequer 1989–1990. Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury 1990–1997.

  MILLER Doreen, The Baroness Miller of Hendon, MBE

  Conservative activist since 1970. Candidate in 1984 Euro election and in 1986 ILEA election. Served for many years on Conservative Women’s National Committee. Frontbench spokesman in House of Lords on Trade and Industry 1993–2007.

  MONKS John, The Lord John Monks

  General Secretary of the TUC, 1993–2003.

  PARSONS Richard, Sir Richard Parsons, KCMG

  A member of the British Foreign Service 1951–1988. Posts held include Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary, service in Washington, Laos, Argentina, Turkey and Nigeria. Ambassador to Hungary, Spain and Sweden.

  PLUMB Henry, The Lord Plumb of Coleshill, DL

  Prominent agriculturalist and NFU activist. MEP for Cotswolds 1979–1999. Chair, Agriculture Committee 1979–1982. Chair, European Democratic Group 1982–1987. President of the European Parliament 1987–1999.

  RICHARDS Janice

  Worked in Prime Minister’s office 1971–1999. Head of Garden Rooms and No. 10 Correspondence Section from 1985.

  RIDDELL Peter, The Rt. Hon. Peter Riddell

  Director of the Institute for Government. During the Thatcher years, he was Political Editor of the Financial Times (1981–1988), having been that paper’s economics correspondent beforehand and its US editor afterwards. From 1991 until 2012, he was chief political commentator of The Times.

  SECCOMBE Joan, The Baroness Seccombe, DBE

  Chairman of the Conservative Women’s National Committee 1981–1984. Chairman of the Party Conference 1987. Party Vice-Chairman for Women 1987–1997.

  SIMPSON David, CBE

  His 42-year career with the Conservative Party includes Deputy Central Office Agent, Greater London 1980–1989, and South East Regional Director 1989–1998. Head of European Organisation in CCO 1998–2001 and Head of Compliance 2001–2010.

  SIMPSON Keith

  MP for Mid Norfolk 1997–2010. MP for Broadland 2010 to present. Shadow Minister for Defence 2002–2005 and for Foreign Affairs 2005–2010. PPS to The Rt. Hon. William Hague, Foreign Affairs 2010 to present.

  TAYLOR John, The Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE

  Member, Executive Committee, East Midlands Area Conservative Council 1966–1998. Member, Conservative Board of Finance 1985–1989. President and Chairman of Conservative Party Conference 1997–1998. Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office 2012.

  THOMAS Harvey, CBE, FRSA, FCIPR, FCIJ

  A PR consultant from 1976. PR consultant to the Conservative Party from 1979. Director of Press/Communication/Presentation at Cons
ervative Central Office 1984–1991.

  VÉDRINE Hubert

  Diplomatic adviser to Franҫois Mitterand 1981–1988. Chief of Staff at the Élysée Palace 1991–1995. Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Jospin government 1997–2002.

  WAKEHAM John, The Rt. Hon. the Lord Wakeham, DL

  MP for Maldon 1974–1983. MP for South Colchester and Maldon 1983–1992. Government Chief Whip 1983–1987. Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons 1987–1988. Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons 1988–1989. Secretary of State for Energy 1989–1992. Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords 1992–1994.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  Attali, Jacques, Verbatim (Robert Laffont, 1993)

  Brunson, Michael, A Ringside Seat (Coronet Books, 2000)

  Byron, Alan, The Iron Lady (A2B Media Ltd Production, 2012)