Margaret Thatcher: The Autobiography

by Margaret Thatcher

7 December MT held talks with Mr Gorbachev at Brize Norton.

  8 December INF Treaty signed in Washington.

  1988

  4–8 January MT toured Africa.

  10 January Lord Whitelaw resigned due to ill-health.

  7 March Sterling ‘uncapped’.

  15 March 1988 budget. Standard rate of income tax cut to 25 per cent, top rate to 40 per cent.

  March NATO summit in Brussels.

  6–8 April MT visited Turkey.

  18 April Michael Mates’s amendment to band community charge defeated.

  21 May MT spoke to General Assembly of Church of Scotland.

  2 June Interest rates increased from low of 7.5 per cent to 8 per cent.

  19–21 June Toronto G7 summit.

  17 July Alan Walters’s return as economic adviser to MT announced.

  25 July Reshuffle. DHSS split between Kenneth Clarke and John Moore.

  30 July MT began eleven-day tour of the Far East and Australia.

  20 August IRA bomb at Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone. MT cut short Cornish holiday.

  20 September Bruges speech.

  2 November MT began three-day visit to Poland.

  8 November USA: George Bush elected President.

  17 November MT visited Washington: farewell to President Reagan and talks with President Bush.

  21 December Lockerbie bombing.

  1989

  31 January Publication of NHS White Paper.

  27 March MT began six-day visit to Africa.

  1 April MT visited Namibia.

  5 April Mr Gorbachev began a three-day visit to UK.

  29–30 May NATO fortieth anniversary summit in Brussels.

  3 June China: Tiananmen Square massacre.

  26 June Madrid European Council.

  14–16 July French Revolution Bicentennial and Paris G7 summit.

  24 July Reshuffle: John Moore, Paul Channon, Lord Young and George Younger left the Government. Geoffrey Howe from FCO to Lord President and Leader HC. John Major succeeded him at FCO.

  19–22 September MT visited Japan.

  18–24 October Kuala Lumpur CHOGM.

  26 October Nigel Lawson resigned. John Major replaced him as Chancellor and Douglas Hurd became Foreign Secretary.

  9 November East Germany announced opening of its border with West Germany. Demolition of Berlin Wall began 10 November.

  5 December MT defeated Sir Anthony Meyer in leadership election 314:33. Twenty-seven abstained.

  10 December Czechoslovakia: end of communist rule.

  22 December Romania: Ceauşescu overthrown.

  1990

  2 February South Africa: President de Klerk announced unbanning of ANC. Nelson Mandela released 11 February.

  31 March Trafalgar Square riot.

  24–25 April MT visited Turkey on seventy-fifth anniversary of Gallipoli landings.

  6 July NATO summit in London.

  9 July Houston G7 summit.

  14 July Nick Ridley resigned.

  30 July IRA murdered Ian Gow.

  2 August Gulf: Iraq invaded Kuwait. MT held talks in Aspen, Colorado with President Bush.

  17–19 September MT visited Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

  3 October German reunification.

  27–28 October Rome European Council.

  1 November Geoffrey Howe resigned.

  19–21 November CSCE summit in Paris.

  20 November Conservative leadership first ballot: MT 204, Heseltine 152, 16 abstentions.

  22 November MT announced decision not to contest second ballot. Final speech to the Commons as Prime Minister.

  28 November MT resigned as Prime Minister.

  LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

  ABM Anti-Ballistic Missile

  ACAS Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

  ANC African National Congress

  AUEW Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers

  BL British Leyland (later Rover Group)

  BMD Ballistic Missile Defence

  BR British Rail

  BSC British Steel Corporation

  CAP Common Agricultural Policy

  CBI Confederation of British Industry

  CEGB Central Electricity Generating Board

  CFCs Chlorofluorocarbons

  CFE Conventional Forces in Europe

  CHOGM Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

  CND Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

  CPRS Central Policy Review Staff

  CPS Centre for Policy Studies

  CSCE Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe

  DES Department of Education and Science

  DHA District Health Authority

  DHSS Department of Health and Social Security (divided from 1988)

  DoE Department of the Environment

  DTI Department of Trade and Industry

  DUP Democratic Unionist Party

  E Economic Committee of the Cabinet

  EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

  EC European Community

  ECJ European Court of Justice

  ECST European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism

  Ecu European Currency Unit

  EFL External Financing Limit

  EFTA European Free Trade Association

  EMS European Monetary System

  EMU Economic and Monetary Union

  EPG Eminent Persons Group (sent to South Africa)

  ERM Exchange Rate Mechanism (of the EMS)

  FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  FSBR Financial Statement and Budget Report (‘the Red Book’)

  G7 Group of Seven

  GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

  GDP Gross Domestic Product

  GLC Greater London Council

  GM General Motors

  GM school Grant-Maintained school

  GNP Gross National Product

  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

  LEA Local Education Authority

  MCAs Monetary compensation amounts

  MEZ Maritime Exclusion Zone

  MIRVs Multiple Independently Targetable 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)

  NDLS National Dock Labour Scheme

  NEB National Enterprise Board

  NEDC National Economic Development Council (‘Neddy’)

  NGA National Graphical Association

  NHS National Health Service

  NIO Northern Ireland Office

  NUM National Union of Mineworkers

  OAS Organization of American States

  OD Overseas and Defence Committee of the Cabinet

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

  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 Bo
rrowing Requirement

  PSDR Public Sector Debt Repayment

  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

  TASM Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile

  TEZ Total Exclusion Zone

  TGWU Transport and General Workers’ Union

  TUC Trades Union Congress

  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.

  Abby (nanny), 70

  Aberfan disaster (1967), 91

  ABM Treaty (1972), 515, 517; see also Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) defence

  abortion, 97–8

  Abse, Leo, 96

  Abu Nidal group, 499

  Abyssinian war (1935), 21

  Acland, Sir Antony: supports MT in Falklands War, 352, 368; and Iraqi attack on Kuwait, 698

  ‘Action for Jobs’ programme, 484

  Action not Words (1966 manifesto), 89

  Adams, Gerry, 478

  Adamson, Campbell, 146

  Adefope, Major-General H.E.O., 288

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), 309

  Afghanistan: Soviet invasion of, 213, 284, 293–5, 297, 338, 384, 521; gives support to miners’ union, 453; Soviet withdrawal from, 674–5

  Africa: disorder in, 337, 525, 541

  African National Congress (ANC): bases attacked by South Africa, 539; banned in South Africa, 540; ban lifted, 542; talks with de Klerk’s government, 543, 544–5; on case for sanctions against South Africa, 544

  Agar, Herbert: A Time for Greatness, 24

  Aldermaston: Atomic Weapons Establishment, 646

  Alexandra, Princess, 429

  Algiers Settlement (1975), 297

  Alison, Michael, 459

  Allenby, General Edmund Henry Hynman, 1st Viscount, 531

  Alliance (party): in 1983 election campaign, 409, 415; manifesto for 1987 election, 563–4; loses support in 1987 election, 566

  Alliance Party (Northern Ireland), 465

  Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW), 311–12

  Amersham International, 620

  Amin, Hafizullah, 294

  Anaya, Admiral Jorge, 341

  Anderson, Betty Harvie, 84

  Andreotti, Giulio, 285, 552, 666, 668

  Andrew, Sir Herbert, 105

  Andrew, Prince (Duke of York), 345

  Andropov, Yuri, 505–7, 516

  Anglo-Irish Agreement, 463, 467, 472–5, 479–80

  Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council (and Conference), 469, 474–5

  Angola, 209–10

  Annenberg, Walter, 266

  Antall, Jozsef, 693

  Antelope, HMS, 374

  Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) defence, 512–13, 515

  anti-semitism, 66

  Antrim, HMS, 362, 428

  Any Questions (radio programme), 160

  apartheid, 535; see also South Africa

  APEX trade union, 216–17

  Arab-Israeli dispute, 525, 529

  Archer, Jeffrey (later Baron), 485

  Ardent, HMS, 373

  Argentina: claims and invades Falklands, 339–45; fights in Falklands, 347; Britain attempts to withdraw in Falklands, 351; Haig visits, 353–4, 359–60; negotiations over Falklands, 354–8, 360, 365, 369–72; demands sovereignty over Falklands, 357, 361; defeated in Falklands, 380; USA supplies arms to, 423

  Argonaut, HMS, 373

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body, 264

  Armilla Patrol, 297

  arms control, 382–3, 395–6, 414, 423–4, 681

  Armstrong, Sir Robert, 470

  Armstrong, Sir Thomas, 31

  Army Education Corps, 36

  Ascension Island: in Falklands War, 353, 358–9, 367

  Aspen, Colorado, 697–9

  Associated British Ports, 620

  Association of Education Committees, 113

  Athens: European Council meeting (1983), 433–5

  Atkins, Humphrey (later Baron Colnbrook), 174–7, 229, 238, 246, 331, 343, 465

  Atkins, Maggie, 175

  Atlantic Conveyor (container ship), 375

  atom bomb see nuclear weapons

  Atomic Energy for Military Purposes, 41

  Attlee, Clement (later 1st Earl), 37

  Austin Rover motor company, 498

  Australia: MT visits, 285

  Baker, James, 680, 683, 695, 700–1, 705–6

  Baker, Kenneth (later Baron): supports Heath in leadership election, 170; in Department of Industry, 320; opposes Left in local authorities, 558; policy on schools, 564; on education in 1987 election campaign, 566; as Education Secretary, 569, 572–5, 601; on local government financing, 599, 601; as Environment Secretary, 601; on effect of community charge, 604–5; as Party Chairman, 604, 661, 663; as potential Party leader, 660; and Howe’s resignation, 713; MT meets on Monday mornings, 714, 716; warns of poor by-election results, 716; and 1990 Party leadership campaign, 719, 723, 725–6, 730–1; and MT’s resignation, 732–3

  balance of payments, 76, 143

  Balfour of Inchrye, Harold Harington Balfour, 1st Baron, 51

  Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone, 479–80

  Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD), 512, 515

  Baltic States, 24, 668–9, 691

  Bank of England: alarm at intervention, 636; Lawson proposes independence for, 639

  Barbados: and Grenada coup, 427–8

  Barbara (nanny), 57, 70

  Barber, Anthony (later Baron), 111, 123–4, 126, 137, 143, 150

  Barnet, Hertfordshire, 109

  Basnett, David, 245

  Begin, Menachem, 532n

  Beirut, 426–8, 431

  Belgrano see General Belgrano

  Bell, Tim (later Baron): and Conservative advertising, 225–6; in 1979 election campaign, 252; in 1983 election campaign, 407; unavailable for 1987 election campaign, 560; and 1990 leadership campaign, 719

  Bellairs, Charles, 154

  Belstead, John Julian Ganzoni, 2nd Baron, 105, 728

  Belvoir Hunt, 16

  Benn, Tony: at Oxford, 35, 40; moves to Industry Department, 202

  Berlin Wall: built, 77; falls (1989), 663, 683, 686; see also West Berlin

  Bermuda: MT meets Bush in (1990), 694

  Bernal, J.D., 32

  Better Tomorrow, A (Conservative manifesto), 102

  Beveridge, Sir William (later Baron): Report and social reforms, 37, 79–80

  Bevin, Ernest, 40

  Bibby’s Annual, 3–4

  Biffen, John (later Baron): and industrial development, 137; promoted, 140; in Economic Dining Group, 164; declines Shadow Cabinet appointment, 179; joins Shadow Cabinet as Energy spokesman, 191; replaces Heseltine as Industry Secretary, 195; as Chief Secretary to Treasury, 261; and British Leyland finances, 312; criticizes MTFS, 319; moved to Trade Department, 319; as Leader of Commons, 348; leaves Cabinet (1987), 569

  bill mountain, 631 & n

  Birch, Nigel (Baron Rhyl), 36, 62, 77

  Birkett, Norman, 1st Baron, 18

  Birmingham: educational policy, 109

  ‘Birmingham Six’: appeal, 478

  Bishop, Maurice, 427

  Black Monday (19 October 1987), 634, 641

  Black Papers (on education), 106

  Blatch, Bertie, 65–7, 69

  Bluff Cove, Falkland
Islands, 374, 378

  Boaden, Roger, 253

  Bolton East (constituency), 252

  Boothby, Robert (later Baron), 40

  Bossom, Sir Alfred, 53–4

  Botha, P.W., 535, 539, 541

  Botha, R.F. (‘Pik’), 535, 543

  Boyd of Merton, Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount, 286

  Boyd-Carpenter, John (later Baron), 66, 78, 80–1, 89

  Boyle, Edward (later Baron): at Oxford with MT, 35; friendship with MT, 45, 92; resigns over Suez, 60; appointed in 1962 reshuffle, 82; and race relations, 93; leaves politics for academe, 99; educational policy, 108; opposes Open University, 110; opposes MT’s policy on financing student unions, 115

  Brandt, Willy, 204; Commission, 336

  Brezhnev, Leonid: and MT’s speech on Helsinki Summit, 205–6; and SALT II agreement, 384; and arms race, 425; and Gorbachev, 506

  Brighton: IRA bomb at 1984 Conservative Conference, 458–62, 472

  Brilliant, HMS, 373

  Bristow, Alan, 487

  British Aerospace: and Westland affair, 490, 494

  British Airways, 405, 620–1

  British Antarctic Survey, 593

  British Association of Colliery Managers (BACM), 452

  British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): proposes TV election debates, 244

  British Empire, 19, 37

  British Gas, 405, 622

  British Leyland (BL): industrial disputes, 310–13; Corporate Plan, 311, 313–14; weak productivity, 313; government funding, 314; privatization, 396–7, 405, 557, 621

  British Medical Association, 585

  British Nationality Act (proposed), 224n

  British Rail Hotels, 620

  British Shipbuilders, 405, 620

  British Steel Corporation (BSC): and 1980 strike, 304, 308; and trade union reform, 304, 307; closures and job cuts, 307–9; low productivity, 309; government funding, 318; privatization, 405, 420–1; and coal strike (1984–5), 443, 449; and dockers’ strike, 446

  British Telecom: privatization, 405, 417, 620–2

  Britoil, 620

  Brittan, Leon (later Baron): as Chief Secretary to Treasury, 320; as Home Secretary, 419; in committee on miners’ strike, 442; and Brighton bomb, 459; moved to Trade and Industry, 484; and Westland affair, 487–8, 490–5; resigns, 493, 496; and British Leyland, 497–8

  Brittan, Samuel, 187

  Britto, Keith, 253

  Brixton: riots (1981), 325–7

  Brooke, Henry (later Baron), 74

  Brooke, Peter: as Northern Ireland Secretary, 481, 661; supports MT in 1990 leadership election, 729

  Brown, George (later Baron), 90

  Brown, Harold, 385

  Brownlow, Edward John Peregrine Cust, 7th Baron, 259