Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography, Volume 2

by Charles Moore

  * Helmut Kohl (1930–), educated Heidelberg University; Minister-President, Rhineland Palatinate, 1969–76; Leader, CDU/CSU, 1976–98; Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany, 1982–90; of reunified Germany, 1990–98.

  * William Whitelaw (1918–99), educated Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border, 1955–83; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 1972–3; for Employment, 1973–4; Home Secretary 1979–83; created Viscount Whitelaw, 1983; Leader of the House of Lords and Deputy Prime Minister, 1983–8.

  † Robert Armstrong (1927–), educated Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1970–75; Permanent Under-Secretary, Home Office, 1977–9; Cabinet Secretary,1979–87; Knighted, 1978; created Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, 1988.

  ‡ Geoffrey Howe (1926–), educated Winchester and Trinity Hall, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Bebington, 1964–6; for Reigate then Surrey East, 1970–92; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1979–83; Foreign Secretary, 1983–9; Deputy Prime Minister, 1989–90; knighted, 1970; created Lord Howe of Aberavon, 1992; retired from House of Lords, 2015.

  § Francis Pym (1922–2008), educated Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Cambridgeshire, 1961–83; for Cambridgeshire South East, 1983–7; Government Chief Whip, 1970–73; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 1973–4; for Defence, 1979–81; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leader of the House of Commons, 1981–2; Foreign Secretary, 1982–3; created Lord Pym, 1987.

  * The ‘Wets’ was the name given to Mrs Thatcher’s centrist critics at the top of the party in her first administration, such as Jim Prior, Ian Gilmour and Pym.

  * Laurens van der Post (1906–96), Afrikaner; writer, farmer, soldier, explorer, conservationist; friend of Prince Charles; knighted, 1981.

  * When Woodrow Wyatt raised the Cavalier or Roundhead question with Mrs Thatcher in private, however, at lunch at Chequers in 1986, she said she ‘must be a bit of a Puritan, particularly as she doesn’t draw her full salary as Prime Minister but now they’ve bought [their house in] Dulwich she rather wishes she had … “I’m a Cavalier,” says Denis.’ (Woodrow Wyatt, The Journals of Woodrow Wyatt, vol. i, Macmillan, 1998, 19 January 1986, p. 62.)

  * Brian Walden (1932–), educated West Bromwich Grammar School, the Queen’s College and Nuffield College, Oxford; Labour MP for Birmingham, All Saints, 1964–74; for Birmingham, Ladywood, 1974–7; television and radio presenter and journalist.

  * In a letter to John Evans, MP, dated 5 May 1983, Mrs Thatcher explained that when she spoke of Victorian values ‘I mean respect for the individual, thrift, initiative, a sense of personal responsibility, respect for others and their property, and all the other values that characterised the best of the Victorian era.’

  † Deng Xiaoping (1904–97), leader of People’s Republic of China, 1978–92. He never held formal offices that reflected his power, but was in complete control.

  * ‘Hong Kong people’ was the phrase for the colony’s inhabitants preferred both officially and unofficially to ‘Hong Kong citizens’ because it avoided the question of whether their status was British, Chinese or something in between. Since the British Nationality Act of 1981, they had lacked right of abode in the UK.

  * Christopher Patten (1944–), educated St Benedict’s School, Ealing and Balliol College, Oxford; director, Conservative Research Department, 1974–9; Conservative MP for Bath, 1979–92; Secretary of State for the Environment, 1989–90; Chairman, Conservative Party, 1990–92; Governor, Hong Kong, 1992–7; European Commissioner, 1999–2004; Chancellor of Oxford University, 2003–; chairman, BBC Trust, 2011–14; created Lord Patten of Barnes, 2005.

  † Percy Cradock (1923–2010), educated Alderman Wraith Grammar School, Spennymoor and St John’s College, Cambridge; Ambassador to People’s Republic of China, 1978–83; leader of UK team in negotiations over Hong Kong, 1982–3; Deputy Under-Secretary of State, FCO, supervising Hong Kong negotiations, 1984; Prime Minister’s foreign policy adviser, 1984–92; knighted, 1980.

  ‡ At this time, the Chinese capital was always referred to in government in its Europeanized ‘Wade–Giles’ version – Peking. Gradually, from the 1980s, people in the West started to use the ‘Pinyin’ rendering – Beijing.

  § Antony Acland (1930–), educated Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; head of Arabian Department, FCO, 1970–72; Ambassador to Spain, 1977–9; Permanent Under-Secretary and head of Diplomatic Service, 1982–6; Ambassador to the United States, 1986–91; Provost of Eton, 1991–2000; Knight of the Garter, 2001.

  ¶ John Coles (1937–), educated Magdalen College School, Brackley and Magdalen College, Oxford; private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1981–4; Ambassador to Jordan, 1984–8; High Commissioner to Australia, 1988–91; Deputy Under-Secretary, FCO, 1991–4; Permanent Under-Secretary and head of Diplomatic Service, 1994–7; knighted, 1989.

  * Edward Youde (1924–86), educated School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1969–70; Ambassador to People’s Republic of China, 1974–8; Governor of Hong Kong, 1982–6; knighted, 1977.

  † Robin Butler (1938–), educated Harrow and University College, Oxford; principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1982–5; Second Permanent Secretary, Public Expenditure, Treasury, 1985–7; Cabinet Secretary, 1988–98; created Lord Butler of Brockwell, 1998.

  * Zhao Ziyang (1919–2005), Premier of China, 1980–87; General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, 1987–9.

  * It showed how the Chinese government wished to make life uncomfortable for Mrs Thatcher that, as she gave the ‘return’ banquet to her hosts in the Great Hall of the People that evening, most of the leadership did not attend, but caroused with the North Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, in another part of the building (see Percy Cradock, Experiences of China, John Murray, 1994, p. 181). The British team were also ill treated by being given inferior accommodation. Only Denis Thatcher overcame this indignity by complaining so loudly (in the apparent privacy of his own room) that he did not have a gin and tonic that the eavesdroppers arranged for some to be supplied. (Interview with Lord Butler of Brockwell.)

  * Henry Kissinger (1923–), born in Germany; educated George Washington High School, New York City and Harvard University; US Secretary of State, 1973–7 (National Security Advisor, 1969–75); member, President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, 1984–90; Hon. KCMG, 1995.

  * John Gerson (1945–), educated Bradfield and King’s College, Cambridge; diplomat; First Secretary and Consul, Peking, 1974–7; First Secretary, later Counsellor, FCO, 1979–87; Counsellor, Hong Kong, 1987–92; Counsellor, FCO, 1992–9.

  * John (‘Jock’) Taylor (1924–2002), educated schools in Prague and Vienna and Imperial Services College, Windsor, Cornell University and Trinity College, Cambridge; Ambassador to Venezuela, 1975–9; to the Netherlands, 1979–81; to Federal Republic of Germany, 1981–4; knighted, 1979.

  * Although this is, in fact, what happened.

  † Michael Foot (1913–2010), educated Leighton Park School, Reading and Wadham College, Oxford; Labour MP for Plymouth Devonport, 1945–55; for Ebbw Vale, 1960–83; for Blaenau Gwent, 1983–92; Secretary of State for Employment, 1974–6; Leader of the House of Commons, 1976–9; Leader of the Opposition, 1980–83.

  ‡ It was noted, in Cabinet committee, that in the highly unlikely event that the President failed to make good on this commitment, British personnel could ‘take action which would make it virtually impossible for the Americans to launch their weapons’ (MISC 7(83) 1st Meeting Minutes, 27 Jan. 1983, CAB 130/1224 (http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/128288)).

  * Robin Renwick, at the British Embassy, was told by his NSC contacts that ‘Reagan had responded that he would mortgage the Washington Monument, if necessary, to help get Margaret Thatcher re-elected’ (Robin Renwick, A Journey with Margaret Thatcher, Biteback, 2013, p. 140).

  † President Reagan seemed blissfully unaware of this nuance
. On 26 May, in the heat of the 1983 British general election campaign, he was asked whether he or Mrs Thatcher would be in charge of launching the INF missiles. ‘I don’t think either one of us will do anything independent of the other,’ he replied. ‘This constitutes a sort of veto power, doesn’t it?’ (Reagan, Interview with Foreign Television Journalists, 26 May 1983 (http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1983/52683b.htm).)

  * Leon Brittan (1939–2015), educated Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Trinity College, Cambridge and Yale University; Conservative MP for Cleveland and Whitby, February 1974–83; for Richmond, Yorkshire, 1983–8; Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 1981–3; Home Secretary, 1983–5; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, 1985–6; knighted, 1989; created Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, 2000.

  † For all their common purpose in East–West relations, Mrs Thatcher and President Reagan did not share the same economic outlook. He was the sunny Californian optimist who cut taxes first and hoped that higher growth would address the resulting deficit, while she was the stern Methodist who insisted on balancing the books before contemplating tax cuts.

  * James Prior (1927–), educated Charterhouse and Pembroke College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Lowestoft, 1959–83; for Waveney, 1983–7; Minister of Agriculture, 1970–72; Lord President of the Council and Leader of the Commons, 1972–4; Shadow Employment Secretary, 1974–9; Secretary of State for Employment, 1979–81; for Northern Ireland, 1981–4; created Lord Prior, 1987.

  † Michael Heseltine (1933–), educated Shrewsbury School and Pembroke College, Oxford; Conservative MP for Tavistock, 1966–74; for Henley, February 1974–2001; Secretary of State for the Environment, 1979–83 and 1990–92; for Defence, 1983–6; President, Board of Trade, 1992–5; First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister, 1995–7; created Lord Heseltine, 2001.

  ‡ John Sparrow (1933–), educated Stationers’ Company’s School and LSE; head of Central Policy Review Staff, 1982–3; chairman, Horserace Betting Levy Board, 1991–8; knighted, 1984.

  * Peter Walker (1932–2010), educated Latymer Upper School; Conservative MP for Worcester, 1961–92; Secretary of State for the Environment, 1970–72; for Trade and Industry, 1972–4; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1979–83; Secretary of State for Energy, 1983–7; for Wales, 1987–90; created Lord Walker of Worcester, 1992.

  † John Redwood (1951–), educated Kent College, Canterbury and Magdalen College and St Antony’s College, Oxford; Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, 1972–87, 2003–5, 2007–; head of No. 10 Policy Unit, 1983–5; Conservative MP for Wokingham, 1987–; Minister of State, DTI, 1990–92; Environment, 1992–3; Secretary of State for Wales, 1993–5.

  * Ferdinand Mount (1939–), educated Eton and Christ Church, Oxford; journalist and author; political columnist, Spectator, 1977–82, 1985–7; head of No. 10 Policy Unit, 1982–3; editor, Times Literary Supplement, 1991–2002.

  † Timothy Flesher (1949–), educated Hertford College, Oxford; private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1982–6; Home Office: head of After Entry and Refugee Division, 1986–9; Personnel Division, 1989–91; Probation Service Division, 1991–2; Director of Administration, OFSTED, 1992–4; Deputy Director General (Ops), Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office and Chief Inspector, Immigration Service, 1994–8; Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics, MOD, 2003–7; Chief of Corporate Services, Defence, Equipment and Support Organisation, MOD, 2007–10.

  * Anthony Parsons (1922–96), educated King’s School, Canterbury and Balliol College, Oxford; Ambassador to Iran, 1974–9; UK Permanent Representative to UN, 1979–82; special adviser to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs, 1982–3; knighted, 1975.

  † Alan Walters (1926–2009), educated Alderman Newton’s School, Leicester, University College, Leicester and Nuffield College, Oxford; Professor of Economics, LSE, 1967–76; chief economic adviser to the Prime Minister, 1981–4 and 1989; knighted, 1983.

  * Keith Joseph (1918–94), 2nd baronet; educated Harrow and Magdalen College, Oxford; Conservative MP for Leeds North East, 1956–87; Secretary of State for Social Services, 1970–74; for Industry, 1979–81; for Education and Science, 1981–6; created Lord Joseph, 1987.

  * Oliver Letwin (1956–), educated Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge; member, No. 10 Policy Unit, 1983–6; Conservative MP for West Dorset, 1997–; Minister for Government Policy, Cabinet Office, 2010–15; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 2014–; Cabinet minister in overall charge of government policy, 2015–.

  † Nigel Lawson (1932–), educated Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford; Editor of the Spectator, 1966–70; Conservative MP for Blaby, February 1974–92; Financial Secretary to the Treasury, 1979–81; Secretary of State for Energy, 1981–3; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1983–9; created Lord Lawson of Blaby, 1992.

  * They were the Chancellor (Howe), Chief Secretary (Biffen) and Financial Secretary (Lawson). The committee also included the secretaries of state for Industry, Agriculture, Environment, Trade and Energy.

  * Cecil Parkinson (1931–), educated Royal Lancaster Grammar School, Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Enfield West, then Hertfordshire South, then Hertsmere, 1970–92; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, June–October 1983; for Energy, 1987–9; for Transport, 1989–90; Chairman, Conservative Party, 1981–3 and 1997–8; created Lord Parkinson, 1992.

  † David Norgrove (1948–), educated Christ’s Hospital, Exeter College, Oxford, Emmanuel College, Cambridge and LSE; Treasury, 1972–8 and 1980–85; private secretary to the Prime Minister, 1985–8.

  * Ian MacGregor (1912–98), educated George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, Hillhead High School, Glasgow and Glasgow University; chairman and chief executive, British Steel Corporation, 1980–83; chairman, National Coal Board, 1983–6; knighted, 1986.

  † David Young (1932–), educated Christ’s College, Finchley and University College London; director, Centre for Policy Studies, 1979–82; Secretary of State for Employment, 1985–7; for Trade and Industry, 1987–9; Deputy Chairman, Conservative Party, 1989–90; created Lord Young of Graffham, 1984.

  * George Jefferson (1921–2012), educated Dartford Grammar School, Kent; chairman, British Telecommunications plc, 1981–7, and chief executive, 1981–6; knighted, 1981.

  † Around this time Jefferson visited Mrs Thatcher in Downing Street and she showed him the new BT phones in her flat: ‘To my horror, when she picked up the telephone, the base also lifted off the table and dangled on the end of it. I have to admit that, after profuse apologies, I left.’ He told his area managers to go and put weights in the new phones. (Remarks at BT privatization seminar, Churchill Archive Centre, 6 December 2006.)

  ‡ Kenneth Baker (1934–), educated St Paul’s and Magdalen College, Oxford; Conservative MP for Acton, then St Marylebone, then Mole Valley, 1968–97; Secretary of State for the Environment, 1985–6; for Education and Science, 1986–9; Chairman, Conservative Party, 1989–90; Home Secretary, 1990–92; created Lord Baker of Dorking, 1997.

  * Patrick Jenkin (1926–), educated Dragon School, Oxford, Clifton College and Jesus College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Wanstead and Woodford, 1964–87; Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 1972–4; Minister for Energy, 1974; Secretary of State for Social Services, 1979–81; for Industry, 1981–3; for the Environment, 1983–5; created Lord Jenkin of Roding, 1987; retired from House of Lords, 2015.

  * Tom King (1933–), educated Rugby and Emmanuel College, Cambridge; Conservative MP for Bridgwater, March 1970–2001. Secretary of State for the Environment, January–June 1983; for Transport, June–October 1983; for Employment, 1983–5; for Northern Ireland, 1985–9; for Defence, 1989–92; created Lord King of Bridgwater, 2001.

  * This was altered when the Conservative–Liberal Democrat Coalition passed the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act in 2011. It fixed each Parliament for five years, preventing an early dissolution in all normal circumstances.

  * Mrs Thatcher always wanted to keep open the option to go early, however. In September 198
2, she wrote to President Reagan, who was at that time proposing to hold the G7 economic summit in Williamsburg on 11 June 1983. She told him that the date was difficult for her, without explaining why. The first draft, not sent, even pretended that she could not come to the United States because of the Sovereign’s Parade (‘Trooping the Colour’) ceremony in London. (Perhaps Mrs Thatcher rejected that draft because its stated reason was bogus.) The President, always anxious to help her electorally, took the hint, and replied that, because of her anxiety, ‘we left the timing vague.’ (Draft message from Thatcher to Reagan, 30 September 1982, TNA: PREM 19/1007; Reagan to Thatcher, 1 October 1982, CAC: THCR 3/1/25 (http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/123491).)

  † One reason for this secrecy was that Mrs Thatcher feared that Argentina might try to intercept her aircraft. The Cabinet Secretary, Robert Armstrong, was authorized to turn her plane round should news of her visit break. She was recognized during her stopover on Ascension Island, and Armstrong endured a sleepless night waiting for the dreaded leak, but the news held until she arrived. (Interview with Lord Armstrong of Ilminster.)