* In talking of friendship ‘out here in the colonies’ Reagan was echoing the jocular language of his very first letter to Mrs Thatcher, in April 1975, when he had told her much the same thing, albeit under very different circumstances (Reagan to Thatcher, 30 April 1975, Thatcher MSS (http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/110357)).
* John Patten (1945–), educated Wimbledon College and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for City of Oxford, 1979–83; for Oxford West and Abingdon, 1983–97; Minister of State, Home Office, 1987–92; Secretary of State for Education, 1992–4; created Lord Patten, 1997.
* Brian Hayes (1929–), educated Norwich School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; Permanent Secretary, DTI, 1985–9; knighted, 1980.
† Her anxiety can be seen in her repetition of this phrase (or variants of it) to David Norgrove in her study just before she went over to the House and to Robert Armstrong as she got into the car to leave Downing Street (Interviews with David Norgrove and Lord Armstrong of Ilminster).
* Powell’s observation was shared by colleagues. As Percy Cradock later wrote, sometimes it was ‘difficult to establish where Mrs Thatcher ended and Charles Powell began’ (Percy Cradock, In Pursuit of British Interests: Reflections on Foreign Policy under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, John Murray, 1997, p. 14).
† In Powell’s case, the master–servant relationship occasionally teetered on the edge of inverting itself. Returning from their gruelling trip to sign the Hong Kong Declaration (and see Reagan at Camp David) just before Christmas in 1984, Robin Butler arranged an informal drinks gathering for Mrs Thatcher. During the party, the phone on Charles Powell’s desk rang. Mrs Thatcher picked it up without hesitation saying, ‘I’m sorry, he’s busy. Can I take a message?’ (Correspondence with David Willetts.)
* This was despite numerous media provocations. One, from the Sun, was the headline ‘DTI mole was nude model’. The paper felt able to write this because Colette Bowe, when a student, had taken part in a life-class for a friend at the Slade School of Art.
* John Mogg (1943–), educated Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham University; PPS to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, 1985–6; knighted, 2003; created Lord Mogg, 2008.
† The car-phone, attached to an apparatus fed by the car engine, was distinct from mobile phones which, at that time, were rare, and extremely bulky.
* Ingham’s recollection, which supports Bowe’s, was that he said, ‘I have to keep the PM above that sort of thing’ (Correspondence with Sir Bernard Ingham).
* So angry was Colette Bowe at the threat of the Official Secrets Act that she even protested about being offered immunity under it, arguing that she had not committed any breach. She was eventually persuaded by Brian Hayes that she must accept this offer of protection.
* The name of the Libyan leader admits of many English spellings. This text uses ‘Gaddafi’ unless quoting directly from a written source.
* Militarily, the US could have launched the raids using navy assets alone. The decision to use the air force, and thus involve Mrs Thatcher so closely, was a consequence of internal politics (and rivalries) between the services. (Interviews with John Lehman and John Poindexter.)
† The Libya episode put further strain on Mrs Thatcher’s relationship with her Foreign Secretary: ‘It was the measure of Geoffrey Howe … It was George Younger who was very strong’ (Thatcher Memoirs Materials, CAC: THCR 4/3).
‡ One problem that the British did not reveal to the Americans was that they were far from sure whether the 1952 agreement on US use of British bases required British permission for such flights. Officials thought that the worst outcome would be for Britain to refuse the request, ‘but for the United States Government to go ahead all the same’. (Powell to Galsworthy, 9 April 1986, Prime Minister’s Papers, Libya, Relations, Internal Political Situation, Part 4A (document consulted in the Cabinet Office).) To avoid such an outcome, was the implication, it would be better for Britain to agree.
* Mrs Thatcher later conceded her parallel was unsound. ‘The difference is that Libya was directly state-sponsored terrorism. The Republic of Ireland is not, they are trying to stop the terrorists.’ (Thatcher Memoirs Materials, CAC: THCR 4/3.)
* Contrary to what has sometimes been written (e.g. Smith, Reagan and Thatcher, p. 193), Reagan and Mrs Thatcher did not discuss any of the Libyan question by telephone until after the US attacks had taken place.
* A further anomaly exposed in the controversy was that Scotland, traditionally more Sabbatarian, did not have laws restricting Sunday trading. This was because Scots had not, until the late twentieth century, imagined that anyone would dare to trade on the Sabbath.
* A list drawn up at the time of the Shops Bill suggests that the majority of the Cabinet were opposed to it, with 10 ‘For’ and 12 ‘Against’. At more junior levels of government opposition was even stronger. The totals were: minister of state 4 For/18 Against, parliamentary under-secretary 9 For/38 Against, whips 6 For/7 Against, parliamentary private secretary 9 For /34 Against. (Handwritten note, CAC: THCR 1/3/21 (The list is undated but the context suggests it likely relates to the Shops Bill).)
* In discussions about the Thatchers’ personal security in the wake of the Libyan bombing, ‘the possibility of the detective carrying a protective mackintosh which could be placed around the Prime Minister’s shoulders was raised’ (Addison to Wicks, 23 April 1986, PM’s Papers; Security: Arrangements for Mark Thatcher’s Overseas Trips and Security (document consulted in the Cabinet Office)). Mrs Thatcher accepted this suggestion. This mackintosh was presumably an improvement on the one tried out on her before the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool the previous year. When Barry Strevens, her detective, helped her on with the bullet-proof garment provided, she collapsed under its weight (Interview with Barry Strevens).
* John Sharkey (1947–), joint managing director, Saatchi & Saatchi UK, 1986–9; created Lord Sharkey, 2010.
† These findings were confirmed in ordinary opinion polls. In April 1986, Mrs Thatcher was viewed positively by only 28 per cent of those questioned. She had not had such low ratings since 1981. (See Campbell, Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady, p. 499.)
* Robin Harris (1952–), educated Canford School and Exeter College, Oxford; director, Conservative Research Department, 1985–9; member, No. 10 Policy Unit, 1989–90; adviser to Baroness Thatcher, 1990–2003; author of Not for Turning: The Life of Margaret Thatcher, Bantam, 2013.
† Tim Bell said that he never actually received any of the money promised (Interview with Lord Bell).
* Mrs Thatcher, though extremely innocent about drugs, did know that all had not been well with Bell during the 1983 campaign. ‘How is Tim now?’ she used to ask from time to time while he was out of action. (Interview with Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury.)
† The ‘Young’ of ‘Young and Rubicam’ was no relation of David Young.
* Patrick McLoughlin (1957–), educated Cardinal Griffin Catholic School, Cannock; mineworker, Littleton Colliery, 1979–85; Conservative MP for West Derbyshire, 1986–2010; for Derbyshire Dales, 2010–; Secretary of State for Transport, 2012–.
† Biffen was the most consistent Eurosceptic in the Cabinet. In the 1984 European election, he spoiled his ballot, writing ‘Stuff Brussels’ on the paper. (John Biffen, Semi-Detached, Biteback, 2013, p. 384.)
‡ Mrs Thatcher seems to have had her suspicions about the women involved as well. During a conversation at Chequers, Geoffrey Tucker, the veteran PR man from the Heath era, and Ronnie Millar, her speech-writer, went through the Cabinet ‘showing how most of it was disloyal and how the wives of some Ministers, namely Biffen and Geoffrey Howe, were talking about the need for her to go. At one point she said “What about Norman?” and they nodded and she said, “I knew it.” She was terribly upset by this. She could not understand how he had done it because she had had his wife out to Chequers and was devoted to them.’ (David Butler Archive, Interview with Geoffrey Tu
cker, 27 July 1987.)
* Biffen considered that his exclusion proved he would not survive the next election. Young was to join at a later stage.
* Bernard Ingham felt strongly at this time that media handling was wrong. After the first A-Team meeting, he wrote to Mrs Thatcher about this. It was bad tactics for ministers to ring up the BBC and complain generally, rather than putting facts right: ‘I am afraid Mr Tebbit has acquired a reputation with some broadcasters as simply a moaner.’ (Ingham to Thatcher, 24 June 1986, CAC: THCR 2/7/5/8.)
* Mrs Thatcher, who was fond of animals, always wanted a dog or cat as a pet, but Denis forbade it.
* In 1982, for example, Mrs Thatcher was asked whether senior civil servants should take part in a BBC Panorama programme about information and propaganda during the Falklands War. ‘Neither Ministers nor officials should appear on this programme,’ she wrote. ‘It is not being put on to reach the truth – but to try to justify the BBC.’ (Armstrong to Thatcher, 6 August 1982, TNA: PREM 19/663 (http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/134887).)
* Ian McIntyre (1931–2014), educated Prescot Grammar School, St John’s College, Cambridge and College of Europe, Bruges; controller, BBC Radio 4, 1976–8; controller, BBC Radio 3, 1978–87; associate editor, The Times, 1989–90.
† John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006), economist; Professor of Economics, Harvard University, 1949–75; US Ambassador to India, 1961–3; author of many books including The Great Crash, 1929 (1954) and The Affluent Society (1958); lobbyist for liberal political causes.
‡ Ralf Dahrendorf (1929–2009), German sociologist, academic and political activist; EEC Commissioner, 1970–74; director, London School of Economics, 1974–84; author of many books including Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society (1959); Warden, St Antony’s College, Oxford, 1987–97; knighted, 1982; created Lord Dahrendorf, 1993.
* A private office covering note to Robin Butler warned him that Mrs Thatcher had squirrelled away McIntyre’s paper: ‘If you agree this should go to the Home Secy we shall need to recover it from the handbag’ (Ingham to Butler, 14 December 1984, Prime Minister’s Papers, Broadcasting, Television Licence Fees, Part 1 (document consulted in the Cabinet Office)).
† Alan Peacock (1922–2014), educated Grove Academy, Dundee High School and St Andrews University; Professor of Economic Science, University of Edinburgh, 1957–62; Professor of Economics, University of York, 1962–78; Professor of Economics, University College at Buckingham, 1978–80; Principal, 1980–83; Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham, 1983–4; knighted, 1987.
‡ It is a mark of the institutionalized power of the BBC which Mrs Thatcher failed to break that, although the Policy Unit’s technological prophecy was proved correct within ten years, the Corporation still, at the time of writing (2015), collects the great bulk of its income from the licence fee.
* A minor recommendation of Peacock was that the BBC should auction off the late-night hours of broadcasting which it owned but did not use to much effect. At a ministerial meeting, Mrs Thatcher asked what was actually broadcast at these times. No one knew. Her private secretary was sent out to get a copy of the Evening Standard and Mrs Thatcher and colleagues then pored over its TV listings. ‘Oh, look,’ exclaimed Mrs Thatcher, lighting on the schedule for 3 a.m. ‘There’s one of Ronnie Reagan’s films! I wonder if Denis knows.’ (Interview with Lord Sterling of Plaistow.)
† The rule was that the government appointed the chairman of the BBC. The chairman and governors then appointed the director-general.
‡ Harvey Proctor (1947–), educated High School for Boys, Scarborough and University of York; Conservative MP for Basildon, 1979–83; for Billericay, 1983–7. Shortly after resigning as an MP, he was convicted on charges of gross indecency.
* Alasdair Milne (1930–2013), educated Winchester and New College, Oxford; controller, BBC Scotland, 1968–72; director of programmes, 1973–7; managing director, BBC TV, 1977–82; director-general, BBC, 1982–7.
† Joel Barnett (1923–2014), educated Derby Street Jewish School and Manchester Central High School; Labour MP for Heywood and Royton Division, Lancashire, 1964–83; Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 1974–9, during which time he devised the Barnett Formula which allocates public spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; vice-chairman, Board of Governors, BBC, 1986–93; created Lord Barnett, 1983.
‡ For a fuller account of this case, see Jean Seaton’s ‘Pinkoes and Traitors’: The BBC and the Nation 1974–1987, Profile Books, 2015, pp. 309–13. In this official history, Seaton makes the strange claim that Mrs Thatcher was on the ‘[Jimmy] Savile shows’ so often that the BBC tried to ‘ration her appearances’ (Seaton, ‘Pinkoes and Traitors’, p. 10). Savile, subsequently unmasked in the twenty-first century as a serial child-sex offender, presented many programmes on the BBC, but he was not normally an interviewer and did not have shows suitable for frequent appearances by Mrs Thatcher. Seaton seems to be confusing Jimmy Savile with Jimmy Young, on whose Radio 2 show she liked to appear. She appeared on Savile’s show Jim’ll Fix It three times in her career, and on the Jimmy Young Show eighteen times.
* Patricia Hodgson (1947–), educated Brentwood High School and Newnham College, Cambridge; deputy secretary, BBC, 1983–5; secretary, 1985–7; chair, Ofcom, 2014–; created dame, 2004.
* Marmaduke (‘Dukie’) Hussey (1923–2006), educated Rugby and Trinity College, Oxford; served in Grenadier Guards in the Second World War; chairman, Board of Governors, BBC, 1986–96; created Lord Hussey of North Bradley, 1996.
† It is possible that it was Waldegrave who first suggested Hussey to Mrs Thatcher.
‡ John Birt (1944–), educated St Mary’s College, Liverpool and St Catherine’s College, Oxford; deputy director-general, BBC, 1987–92; director-general, BBC, 1992–2000; knighted, 1998; created Lord Birt, 2000.
§ On 4 November, Bernard Ingham reported to Mrs Thatcher the results of an NOP survey for the Independent, which suggested that ‘Mr Tebbit has misjudged the mood of the country: three quarters of those polled think the BBC is neutral’ (‘Press Digest’, Ingham to Thatcher, 4 November 1986, THCR 3/5/62).
* Michael Checkland (1936–), educated King Edward’s Grammar School, Five Ways, Birmingham and Wadham College, Oxford; director-general, BBC, 1987–92; knighted, 1992.
† Hussey was severely wounded in the spine at the battle of Anzio and was captured by the Germans and eventually lost a leg. He was reputed to remove his tin one occasionally and bang it on the table to alarm people.
* Peter Cropper (1927–), educated Hitchin Grammar School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; special adviser to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 1979–82; to Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1984–8; director, Conservative Research Department, 1982–4.
* Peter Mandelson (1953–), educated Hendon County Grammar School and St Catherine’s College, Oxford; director of campaigns and communications, Labour Party, 1985–90; Labour MP for Hartlepool, 1992–September 2004; Minister without Portfolio, Cabinet Office, 1997–8; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, 1998; for Northern Ireland, 1999–2001; for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (later Business, Innovation and Skills), 2008–10; European Commissioner for Trade, 2004–8; created Lord Mandelson, 2008.
* He hated speaking at the despatch box of the House of Commons because it made him feel ‘giddy’ (Interview with Robin Harris).
* The two were often confused in those days, partly because of general prejudice against homosexuals, but also because the age of consent for homosexual acts was twenty-one, whereas it was sixteen for heterosexual ones. Men had relationships with what people then called ‘boys’ who would now, in law, be considered adults. This was distinct from what is normally meant by paedophile acts.
* Later that year, in November 1986, Duff told Armstrong about new rumours, coming from two separate sources, that Morrison ‘has a penchant for small boys’. Morrison had been confronted about the rumours and had denied them. Duff concluded that ‘the
risks of political embarrassment to the government is [sic] rather greater than the security danger,’ and the matter was not taken any further. (Duff to Armstrong, 4 November 1986, Cabinet Office Papers (document consulted in the Cabinet Office).) There is no evidence to suggest that Mrs Thatcher was made aware of these additional rumours. Duff’s letter to Armstrong was contained in a Cabinet Office file which was revealed in 2015 following an Independent Review carried out by Peter Wanless and Richard Whittam QC (The Times, 23 July 2015).
† Parkinson returned to the Cabinet as energy secretary in June 1987.
* Archibald (‘Archie’) Hamilton (1941–), educated Eton; Conservative MP for Epsom and Ewell, April 1978–2001; PPS to Prime Minister, 1987–8; Minister of State, MOD, 1988–93; knighted, 1994; created Lord Hamilton of Epsom, 2005.
* Peter Willem (P. W.) Botha (1916–2006), Prime Minister of South Africa and Minister of National Intelligence Service, 1978–84; State President, 1984–9.
† In August 1986, Mrs Thatcher was informed that, of 7,000 recent letters to her on this subject, 5,000 supported her position. This represented a dramatic change since May, when there had been ‘virtual unanimity against the Government’. (Flesher to Thatcher, 13 August 1986, CAC: THCR 1/3/21.)
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