The Downing Street Years

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The Downing Street Years Page 121

by Margaret Thatcher


  Parliamentary pay, 315

  Parsons, Sir Anthony (UK Permanent Representative to UN 1979–82 and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister 1982–83): Afghanistan invasion, 88; Falklands diplomacy, 182, 193, 202–3, 211, 218, 219–22; Belgrano sinking, 216; Security Council Resolution 505, 225; Security Council veto, 231–2

  Patten, Chris (Environment Secretary 1989–90): Environment, 602, 756, 758; homelessness problem, 603; housing policy, 604, 605–6; community charge, 656–8, 664, 666; European elections (1989), 749; suitability as successor to MT, 755; leadership election (1990), 853

  pay: bargaining, 32–3, 97; settlements (1979), 111; TSRB, 417; see also incomes policy

  Peacock Committee, 636

  Pearce, Sir Austin, 434

  Peel, Sir Robert, 281

  pensions, retirement, 49, 127, 315, 675

  Peres, Shimon (Israeli Prime Minister 1977, 1984–86), 510–12

  perestroika, 475

  Perez de Cuellar, Javier (UN Secretary-General 1982–91), 210, 218, 220, 223–4, 229, 231

  Perle, Richard, 449

  Pershing missiles, see under cruise

  Personal Equity Plans (PEPs), 673

  Peter the Great, Tsar, 477

  picketing, 99–100, 107–8, 345–6, 348, 351–3

  Pienaar, Louis Alexander, 528

  Plaza Agreement (1985), 694, 783

  Pöhl, Karl Otto (President of the Bundesbank 1980–91), 708, 740–1

  Poland: crisis (1981) 251–6; MT’s visit (1988), 777–82; elections (1989), 789; border with Germany, 797, 799

  Polaris, 244, 517

  police: pay, 32; dealing with picketing, 100, 345–6; riots, 144–5, 147; equipment, 145; miners’ strike (1984–5), 345–6, 347–9, 352–3; increased numbers, 626; Trafalgar Square riot (1990), 661

  Police Act (1964), 347

  Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, 290

  Policy Unit, see under Downing Street

  polls, see opinion polls

  poll tax, see community charge

  pollution: issue, 563; atmospheric, 639

  Pol Pot, 506

  Ponsonby, Amanda, 715

  Popieluszko, Father Jerzy, 780

  Popov, Gavriil, 804–5

  Portillo, Michael, 855, 856

  Port Talbot Steel Works, 351

  Portugal, EC membership, 545–6

  Post Office, 680

  poverty, 627, 646

  Poverty Trap Policy Group, 282

  Powell, Sir Charles (Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1984–91): Gorbachev visit, 461; nuclear strategy discussions, 473; Kohl conversations, 557, 748; Deidesheim visit, 747–8; Gulf crisis, 816–17, 820; leadership election, 843–4; MT’s resignation, 856

  Powell, General Colin, 827

  Powell, Enoch, 184, 386, 437

  Prem Chand, General, 528, 529

  prescription charges, 50

  Press Association, 103

  Prevention of Terrorism Act, 415

  Price, Charles (US Ambassador to UK 1983–89), 380

  Price Commission, 33, 39

  Primakov, Yevgeny, 826–7

  Prime Minister’s Question Time, 41, 560, 704, 716, 833, 858

  Prior, James (Employment Secretary 1979–81, Northern Ireland Secretary 1981–84): Employment, 28, 40; trade union relations, 28, 40; public spending cuts, 54; pay talks suggestion, 94; trade union reform plans, 98–100, 104–5, 107–8, 150, 273; steel strike, 111; criticisms, 111, 130; coal dispute, 142; Northern Ireland Secretary, 151, 394, 396; Anglo-Irish proposals, 394; resignation, 399; GEC chairman, 431

  prisons, increase in places, 626

  Private Eye, 22

  Private Office, see under Downing Street

  privatization, 676–80; Conservative policy, 7, 672; receipts, 49; programme, 305–6, 563, 672; utilities, 680–5; future plans, 685–7

  Privy Council, 29n

  productivity, 92–3, 272, 668

  Property Services Agency, 55

  Prout, Sir Christopher, 749

  Public Expenditure White Paper (1980–1), 52

  public sector: uncontrolled, 6, 32; workforce size, 45–6; insatiable, 124

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR), 31, 42, 50, 95, 126–8, 673–4; arguments about, 52–5, 124, 132–6; errors in predicting, 315–16, 699, 700

  public spending, 49–56; Cabinet arguments, 123–9, 147–50; cuts or savings (1983), 315–16; Scottish, 619–20; levels, 676

  Pugo, Boris, 802

  Pym, Francis (Defence Secretary 1979–81, Leader HC 1981–82, Foreign Secretary 1982–83): Chequers lunch, 37; Defence, 123; Leader of House, 131; government information, 131, 149; economic forecast, 149–50; Foreign Secretary, 186–7; War Cabinet, 188; Haig negotiations, 192, 196, 199, 200, 204, 205–8, 210–11; Falklands, 193, 214; US/Peruvian peace plan, 217, 220; Falklands final proposals, 222, 224; Trident, 246; NATO, 249; election campaign (1983), 293, 294; return to backbenches, 306–7; Centre Forward, 416

  Qaboos bin Said, Sultan, 163

  Qatar, MT’s visit (1981), 164

  QE2, 215, 228

  Quayle, Dan (US Vice-President 1981–93), 782, 820

  Question Time, 294

  Rabin, Yitzhak (Israeli Prime Minister 1974–77, 1992-), 511

  Rajk, Laszlo, 454

  Rakowski, Mieczyslaw, 779

  Ramphal, Sir Sonny (Commonwealth Secretary-General 1975–90), 76, 517

  Rand Afrikaans University speech (1991), 599n

  Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), 162

  Rapier Air Defence Systems, 246

  Rashid bin Said al-Maktum, Sheik, 163

  rate-capping, 284, 644

  rates, 644–5, 650–1

  Rate Support Grant, 646

  Ravenscraig steel works, 361–2, 622

  Rayner, Sir Derek (Prime Minister’s Adviser on Efficiency in Government 1979–83), 30–1

  Reagan, Nancy, 160, 470, 770

  Reagan, Ronald (US President 1981–89): informality, 69, 164; election, 88, 156–7; MT’s relationship, 157–60, 165–6, 232, 324–5, 332–3, 435, 469, 587, 774, 820; G7, 164–5, 171, 299–301, 738;

  Falklands, 179–80, 201–2, 211–12, 217, 220–1, 230–2; London visit (1982), 233, 258; Trident, 246–8; SDI, 247, 450, 462, 463–9, 470–1, 776, 782, 818; defence policies, 249, 768; European attitudes to, 251–2; Polish crisis, 253–5; G7 Versailles summit, 257–8; ‘Reagan Doctrine’ speech, 258; Autocue, 258; ‘dual key’ question, 268; INF negotiations, 26g-70, 470; supporters, 298; MT’s visit (1983), 322–5; Reaganomics, 322, 739; Grenada invasion, 330–1, 332; Westland affair, 435; British public opinion, 437; bombing of Libya, 443–9; letter to Brezhnev, 455, 462; Geneva meeting with Gorbachev, 470; Reykjavik, 470–2; attitude to Japan, 498; IDU, 500; South Africa sanctions, 515, 520; exchange rates, 694; MT’s visit (1987), 770–1; Irangate, 770; INF treaty (1987), 771, 774; Washington summit with Gorbachev (1987), 774; NATO Brussels summit (1988), 775; Moscow visit (1988), 776; London visit (1988), 776–7; achievements, 813

  recession, 51, 52, 55, 92, 119, 123, 676, 678

  Red Book, 96

  Redwood, John (Head of Prime Minister’s Policy Unit 1983–85), 438n

  Reece, Gordon, 286–7, 658, 841

  Rees, Peter (Chief Secretary 1983–85), 419–20, 649

  Rees-Mogg, William, Lord, 636

  Regan, Donald, 15g Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), 608n

  regulation, 6, 7

  RENAMO, 527–8

  Renton, Tim (Chief Whip 1989–90), 835, 846, 847–8

  Renwick, Sir Robin (British Ambassador to South Africa 1987–91), 522, 531

  research funding, 639

  reshuffles, see Cabinet

  Resource Allocation Working Party (RAWP), 616

  Retail Price Index (RPI), 43, 134, 654, 658, 659, 724, 831

  Revenue Support Grant, 657

  Reykjavik summit, 465, 470–2, 473, 482

  Rhodesia, 64, 71, 72–8, 91

  Ridley, Adam, 283

  Ridley, Nicholas (Tra
nsport Secretary 1983–85, Environment Secretary 1986–89, Trade and Industry Secretary 1989–90): Foreign Office, 27, 29; Falklands discussions, 175–6; Transport, 312; miners’ strike (1984–5), 346; Environment, 563, 589, 651; speeches, 567; election campaign (1987), 570, 571, 577, 582; housing reforms, 571, 601, 606; painting, 632; Thyssen Collection, 633; housing and the environment, 638; community charge, 651–2, 653, 655–6; water privatization, 682; EMU question, 716, 726; possible Chancellor, 717; ERM approach, 722–3; resignation, 722; suitability as successor to MT, 755; DTI, 756, 758; leadership election (1990), 851

  Rifkind, Malcolm (Scottish Secretary 1986–90): Scottish Secretary, 433, 620–3; Gorbachev visit, 460; Botha visit, 514; South Africa seminar, 515; community charge, 652, 655; leadership election campaign (1990), 852

  Right Approach, The, 14

  Right Approach to the Economy, The, 14, 94

  riots: urban (1981), 143–7; community charge (1990), 661

  Roberts, Alfred (MT’s father), 11, 23, 37

  Robilliard, Joy, 22, 858

  Robinson, Derek, 116, 117

  Rocard, Michel (French Prime Minister 1988–91), 738

  Rogers, General Bernard (Supreme Allied Commander in Europe 1979–87), 240

  Rolls-Royce, 116, 678

  Romania, fall of Ceauşescu, 790

  Romanov, Grigory, 453

  Rome, Treaty of, 546, 547, 549–50, 554

  Rome Airport terrorists, 441–2

  Roosevelt, Franklin D. (US President 1933–45), 236

  Rossi, Hugh, 423

  Rothschild, Victor, Lord, 563, 646–7

  Rover Group, 679–80, see also British Leyland Royal Academy, 633

  Royal Air Force (RAF), 250

  Royal Navy, 250, 251

  Royal Society, 640

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), 57–8, 397, 401, 411

  Russian Orthodox Church, 478–9

  Ryan, Father Patrick, 413–14, 746

  Ryder, Caroline (née Stephens) 25, 297

  Ryder, Richard: Downing St arrival, 24; election campaign (1983), 297; budget seminar (1990), 675; leadership election campaign (1989), 830; leadership election campaign (1990), 850, 854, 860

  Ryder Plan, 115

  Ryzhkov, Nikolai (Soviet Prime Minister), 483, 802, 804, 809

  Saatchi & Saatchi, 295, 570, 585

  Sadat, Anwar, 508

  Sakharov, Andrei, 452, 475, 480

  Saltley Coke Depot picketing (1972), 112, 340, 345

  SALT II, 65, 245

  Salvation Army, 627

  Sanderson, Russell, Lord, 623

  Sands, Bobby, 391

  Santer, Jacques, 552

  satellite broadcasting, 635, 638

  Saudi Arabia: MT’s visit (1981), 162; Gulf crisis (1990), 818, 820–2

  savings ratio (1988–9), 674

  Scargill, Arthur: presidency of NUM, 140, 143, 340, 341; response to 1983 election, 339; Saltley pickets, 340; miners’ strike (1984–5), 349–52, 354–5, 360, 363–6, 373–6; fined for contempt, 368; Libyan connection, 351, 369

  Scarman, Lord, 143, 144

  Schild family, 83

  Schluter, Poul (Danish Prime Minister 1982–93), 731, 740, 751

  Schmidt, Helmut (German Chancellor 1979–82): visit (1979), 34–5; EC, 61–2, 79, 83–4, 552; G7, 67–70, 165, 257; visit (1980), 83; ERM question, 83, 692; Falklands, 191; nuclear policy, 240–2, 245, 246, 249, 258–9, 771; achievements, 813

  Scholey, Bob, 112

  schools, see education, grant-maintained

  Schools Examination and Assessment Council, 594

  science, 639–41

  Scoon, Sir Paul, 330

  Scotland: housing policy, 602, 621, 623; Health Boards, 608n; Thatcherism rebuffed, 618–24; rate revaluations, 645, 647; community charge, 651, 652, 653, 655; electricity industry, 682; Church of, 704

  Scotland Act, 36

  Scottish Conservative Conferences, 35–6, 221, 291, 561–2, 576, 704

  Scowcroft, General Brent, 788, 820

  Seccombe, Dame Joan, 582

  Selsdon Group, 154

  Selsdon Man, 13

  Shackleton, Lord, 175

  Shah, Eddie, 348

  Shakespeare, William, 106

  Shamir, Yitzhak (Israeli Prime Minister 1983–84, 1986–92), 510–12

  Shcherbitsky, Vladimir, 802

  Sheffield, HMS, 216–17

  Shelton, Bill, 830

  Shenfield, Arthur, 6

  Sherbourne, Stephen: election campaign (1983), 291; MT-Tebbit meetings, 564; Strategy Group, 565; MT’s speeches, 567; manifesto (1987), 572–3; election campaign (1987), 579, 586–7, 588

  Sherman, Alfred, 133

  Shevardnadze, Eduard (Soviet Foreign Minister 1985–90), 773

  Shrimsley, Tony, 285, 287

  Shultz, George (US Secretary of State 1982–89), 256, 333, 461, 468, 473, 783

  Sidewinder missiles, 226, 227

  Sihanouk, Prince, 506

  Sikorsky, 426–31, 436

  Silkin, John, 296

  Silkin, Sam, 98

  Singapore, MT’s visit (1985), 504–5

  Single European Act, 555–7, 558, 741

  Sinn Fein, 394–5, 397, 401, 406, 408, 412

  Sir Galahad, 233

  Sirs, Bill, 103, 109, 111–12

  Sir Tristram, 233

  Skinner, Dennis, 859

  SLADE, 98, 102

  Smith, Adam, 291, 618

  Smith, Hector, 111

  Smith, Ian, 72

  Soames, Christopher, Lord (Leader HL 1979–81), 27, 77–8, 79, 151

  Soames, Mary, 78

  Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 387, 391, 394–5, 400, 403–4, 410

  Social Democratic Party (SDP), 153, 264–5, 274, 298, 573–4

  socialism: democratic, 6–7; debilitating effects, 9; appearance and reality, 12; Labour Party, 265, 566; ingrained, 306; failure, 625; reversal of, 687; Poland, 779

  Socialist Workers Party, 293

  social security benefits, 49, 55, 127

  society, ‘no such thing’, 626

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 119

  Soeharto, Thojib N.J., 503

  SOGAT, 113

  Solidarity, 156, 252, 777–82, 789

  Solzhenitzyn, Alexander, 290, 452, 813

  South Africa: political issue, 78, 91, 487, 512–13; British relationship, 160, 512–13; sporting relations, 166; sanctions, 166, 515–16, 517–19, 532, 534; Commonwealth relations, 502–3, 512, 516–19, 520–4, 530–1; Botha’s Chequers visit, 514–15; debt repayment freeze, 515; Chequers seminar, 515–16; ‘Eminent Persons Group’, 518–19; changes, 522, 531–2; Namibia, 528–9; leadership, 529; MT’s visit, 533

  Southall riots (1981), 143–4

  Southern Thule, 176

  South Georgia, 174, 177, 179, 196, 201, 204–5, 208–9, 219

  South Sandwich Islands, 174, 176

  South-West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), 529

  Sovietologists, 451, 474

  Soviet Union: growing threat, 9; Iron Lady title, 65; Kosygin discussions, 65–6; Afghanistan invasion, 65, 69, 87–8; military spending, 238; nuclear capability, 239; Brezhnev’s arms reduction proposals, 242; West Siberian Gas Pipeline, 253–6; South Korean Airliner, 321, 322, 324, 450; US arms talks, 323–4, 453, 461, see also SALT; NUM support, 369; East-West relations, 450–3, 769; refuseniks, 460, 476, 484, 510; GALOSH, 465; Gorbachev leadership, 469–70, 768; Reykjavik, 470–2; perestroika, 475, 773, 803–4; MT’s visit (1987), 478–85; Baltic States, 767, 801; reforms, 768–9, 790, 800–1; INF treaty (1987), 771, 773, 774, 784; Reagan’s visit (1988), 776; German reunification, 790, 792, 798; MT’s visit (1989), 792; political situation (1989–90), 800–4; MT’s visit (1990), 804–7; Gulf crisis, 819, 826–7; see also Brezhnev, Gorbachev

  Spain: US bombing of Libya, 446; EC membership, 545–6; economy, 668; Gibraltar discussions, 746

  Special Air Service (SAS), 90, 205, 222

  Special Boat Service, 222r />
  Speed, Keith, 190, 250

  Spicer, Michael, 285, 604, 605

  Sri Lanka, MT’s visit (1985), 503–4

  Stalin, Joseph, 459, 475, 483, 801

  Stalker-Sampson Report, 409

  START Agreement, 773, 774–5, 776

  statism, 6–7

  Steel, David (Leader Liberal Party 1976–88), 222, 573–4, 578

  steel strike (1980), 108–14

  Stepping Stones group, 42

  sterling, see MONETARY POLICY

  Stevas, Norman St John (Leader HC 1979–81), 130, 446–7

  Stewart, Ian, 515

  Stock Exchange, 311

  Stock Market collapse (1987), 700, 710

  Stormont, 386

  Stowe, Sir Kenneth (Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1975–9, Permanent Secretary NIO 1979–81, then DHSS 1981–87), 18, 25

  Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, see SALT

  Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), 247, 450, 462, 463–71, 776, 782, 818

  Strategy Group, 565–6

  Streator, Ed, 192

  strikes: effects on PSBR, 53; steel, 54, 104–7; supplementary benefit, 55; problem, 92; engineering industry (1979), 98, 101; steel (1980), 108–14; civil service, 139; public sector, 274–5; NHS (1982), 275; water (1982), 275; miners (1984–5), 306, 344–78; coal (1926–7), 340; miners (1973–4), 340; dock (1984), 355–7, 361–2; reduction, 669

  student loans, 598

  Suez (1956), 8, 173, 437

  Sukarno, Achmad, 8

  Sunday Telegraph, 596, 840

  Sunday Times, 132, 368, 840

  Sununu, John (US Chief of Staff 1989–91), 820

  supplementary benefit, 55

  ‘supply side’ reforms, 669, 672

  Suzuki, Zenko (Japanese Prime Minister 1980–82), 232

  Syria: Lebanon policy, 326–7, 334; El Al Heathrow bomb, 510; Gulf crisis, 823–4

  Takeshita, Noboru (Japanese Prime Minister 1987–89), 499

  Tamworth manifesto, 281

  Taraki, Nur Muhammed, 87

  Tax and Price Index (TPI), 43n

  taxation: government approaches, 6, 7; Conservative policies, 7; VAT increases (1979), 42–3, (1991), 667; income tax cuts (1979), 43, (1986), 673, (1988), 673; tax allowances, 43; income tax policy, 136, 271, 570; husband and wife, 279, 570; Labour’s manifesto (1987), 579; mortgage tax relief, 600, 671, 672, 674; hypothecated (NHS), 610; private health insurance tax relief proposals, 610, 612–13; child care tax relief proposals, 630–1; local government finance proposals, 648–9; reform, 672; Lawson’s reforms, 672–5; see also VAT

 

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