The headline above comes from a leader in tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph. I know where the SunTel is coming from but let's never forget that Maggie was as much a tactical genius as a conviction politician… She wasn't averse to putting politics first: She accepted Callaghan's pay deals with the public sector that delayed fiscal retrenchment […]
"I wanted to write and send my best wishes on this, the 30th anniversary of the great day when you first walked into Downing Street as our prime minister. I still find it awe-inspiring to think of the state of the nation you inherited and the immense achievements of your governments. Getting the country to […]
Inspired by the Christian campaign, What Would Jesus Do? the Republicans in America already have What Would Reagan Do? What Would Maggie Do? is a favourite media template at the moment. The Daily Mail uses the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's election to urge David Cameron to emulate the Iron Lady. Last Saturday Matthew Parris […]
Many superlatives are regularly being used when considering the sheer scale of the economic challenges which an incoming government led by David Cameron is likely to face next year. And this is no surprise, given the speed at which the economy is currently shrinking as unemployment and borrowing are rising. But how will the […]
The Mail on Sunday has the first look at the £100,000 painting of Margaret Thatcher (circa 1982) by Richard Stone (pictured in his studio). It will be hanging in Downing Street from next month. Click here to view.
That’s the argument made by David Cameron in today’s Telegraph. Mr Cameron presented Lady Thatcher with a lifetime achievement award last evening. This is the key paragraph: "Today we know what Thatcherism meant for our country – victory in the Cold War, victory against unbridled trade union power, the sale of council houses, the liberation […]
I know the-end-of-Ming is the big story of the evening but I’ve also heard that David Cameron and Baroness Thatcher met this evening for over an hour. I have no details of what was discussed but I hope to have some photographs later. The Press Association certainly have them already but they’re too expensive for […]
William Hague has just wowed the Conference. Here is my favourite section of a speech that delighted the Tory faithful: "Some of us stood here thirty years ago with Margaret Thatcher. We, Gordon, backed her when she rescued our country in the face of every denunciation and insult from the likes of you. Margaret Thatcher […]
So reports Fraser Nelson over at the Coffee House blog. 10pm, 21/9 update: Since this post, Fraser’s ‘scoop’ has been picked up across the media. He tells the story.
There is widespread coverage in this morning’s newspapers of yesterday’s ConservativeHome article by Robert Wilson MP. Mr Wilson had suggested that Mr Brown could be accused of behaving in a "shallow, self-serving and unscrupulous way" towards the "elderly", "frail" and "lonely" Margaret Thatcher, who "has difficulty with her memory". A spokesman for Baroness Thatcher told […]
After a one-to-one meeting with Gordon Brown, Baroness Thatcher will have a tour of Downing Street before Mrs Brown joins them for tea. Unbelievable. 4pm: This is how the Downing Street website is covering the visit: "Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher returned to Downing Street today for private talks with Gordon Brown. Lady Thatcher was […]
A little question for you… In the recent history of the Conservative Party there are two standout and, I believe, negative events: (1) The 1990 ousting of Margaret Thatcher and (2) The events of Black Wednesday 1992 when Britain was forced out of the ERM. Which of those two events has done more to contribute […]
In an article that will no doubt meet approval with those in Team Cameron that he is close to, Bruce Anderson thanks God for Lady Thatcher being there at the right place and time to defeat defeatism and socialism. After that preface, however, he goes on to attack Thatcher-loving Tories for slowing Cameron’s progress: "The […]
In this week’s Spectator Fraser Nelson offers his readers a funny little insight into ‘Operation Humanise Gordon Brown’: "It is rumoured that his aides have littered little ‘smiley’ stickers throughout his paperwork, and inside his car, reminding him to grin at every occasion." But as, I think, William Hague has said: Brown is learning how […]
Last week Sam Coates and I attended the UK launch of John O’Sullivan’s new book – The President, The Pope and The Prime Minister. Margaret Thatcher was at the reception (as my rather inadequate snap of the great lady and Sam shows). She appeared to be in excellent health and joined guests that included Bruce […]