The Downing Street Years (160 page)
Read The Downing Street Years Online
Authors: Margaret Thatcher
teacher training, 597–8,
see also
education
Tebbit, Margaret, 383, 422, 587, 755, 835
Tebbit, Norman
(Employment Secretary 1981–83, Trade and Industry Secretary 1983–85, Party Chairman 1985–87):
junior minister, 29; BL, 120, 437, 440; Industry, 131; Employment, 151, 152; trade union reform, 272–4; Family Policy Group, 279; manifesto (1983), 283; election campaign (1983), 288, 293; DTI, 312; miners’ strike (1984–5), 346; dock strike (1984), 361; Party Conference (1984), 379; Brighton bomb (1984), 381, 383; abilities, 418; Conservative Party Chairman, 421–2; Westland, 425–6, 428; press criticism, 564; Strategy Group, 565; Bournemouth Party Conference, 567; election
Tebbit, Norman–
cont.
campaign (1987), 569–70, 572, 574–5, 581, 584, 585, 587; opinion of Alliance, 573–4; departure plans, 587; leaves Cabinet, 589; quoted, 670; suitability as successor to MT, 755; views on single currency, 833; refuses Cabinet position, 835; leadership election campaign (1990), 840, 846, 847, 849–50, 855; MT’s resignation, 856
technology: impact on employment, 257; information (IT), 271
Telecommunications Bill, 290
television, handling, 286–7;
see also
BBC, broadcasting, Channel 4, ITV
Territorial Army, 250
Thailand, MT’s visit (1985), 506
Thatcher, Carol, 24, 37, 71, 285, 414, 841
Thatcher, Denis: Commons confidence debate (1979), 3, 4; election victory (1979), 17, 18–19; Downing Street, 21; character sketch, 22–3; birthday (1979), 34; Chequers lunch (1979), 37; oil industry expertise, 65; US visit (1981), 160; Parkinson plaque, 311; Brighton bomb (1984), 380, 381; Harrods bomb (1983), 397; Gorbachev visit (1984), 461; Edinburgh Commonwealth Games visit, 520–1; African visits, 524–6, 528; election campaign (1987), 583, 588; golf with Bush, 810; Lord’s Taverners, 835; leadership election campaign (1990), 841, 845, 846; MT’s resignation, 856, 858, 860–2
Thatcher, Mark, 37, 700, 841, 861
Thatcherism, 13, 561, 572, 579, 599, 618–24; ‘Social Thatcherism’, 147
Think-Tank,
see
Central Policy Review Staff Thomas, George, 34
Thomas, Harvey, 285–6, 468, 580
Thomas, Vera, 36
Thompson, Brigadier Julian, 189
Thorn, Gaston
(Luxemburg Prime Minister 1974–79, President European Commission 1981–85)
, 538, 542
Thorneycroft, Peter, Lord
(Party Chairman 1979–81)
, 37, 104, 149–50, 152
Thyssen Collection, 633–4
Tiananmen Square massacre (1989), 494
Tickell, Sir Crispin, 170, 640
Tilney, Sir John and Lady, 37
Time
, 159
Times, The
, 82, 105, 138, 152, 186, 277, 282, 311, 778, 841
Tito, Marshal, 88, 161
Tocqueville, Alexis de, 485
Today
programme, 586
Top Salary Review Board (TSRB), 417
top-slicing,
see
health Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ), 209, 212
Townend, John, 855
Toxteth riots (1981), 144, 145–6
Trade Disputes Act (1906), 102
Trade Union and Labour Relations Act (1974), 273
trade unions: legislation, 8, 97–108, 272–3, 279, 669; Prior’s relationship, 28; reform programme, 39, 40, 97–108, 150, 272–6, 284, 306, 572, 669; political levy, 274, 275–6; hard Left, 306, 339
Trades Union Congress (TUC): Heath government proposals, 7; trade union reform attitude, 99–100; political levy question, 276; miners’ strike (1984–5), 363, 372–3, 375–6; Delors address, 742
Trafford, Tony, 383
training: importance, 5; MSC, 31; teacher, 597–8; vouchers, 670, 831
Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs), 670
Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), 108–9, 355–7, 361–2
transport (urban) policy group, 282
Trident, 244–8, 267, 471, 472–3
Trollope, Anthony, 37
Trudeau, Pierre
(Canadian Prime Minister 1968–79, 1980–84)
, 164, 169, 170, 300, 320–2, 453
Truman Doctrine, 481
Tsukuba Science City, 497
Turkey, Gulf crisis, 819, 823
Turnbull, Andrew
(Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1988–92)
, 717, 856
Ukraine: status, 801–2; MT’s visit (1990), 806–7
Ulster, use of term, 385,
see also
Northern Ireland
Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), 57, 401
underclass, 627, 661
unemployment: (1950s), 7; (1979), 52; cost, 123; (1981), 148, 153; (1982), 272; policy group, 282; election campaign (1983), 292; (1983), 315; (1986), 567; election campaign (1987), 583; Scottish, 618; (1987), 618–19; council estate culture, 671; (1988), 706
Union of Democratic Miners (UDM), 686
Unipart, 438, 439, 440
United Arab Emirates (UAE), 163
United Nations (UN): Iran hostages, 87; self-determination principle, 174, 195; Falklands issue, 182–3, 211, 216, 821; Security Council Resolution 502, 182, 193, 203, 209, 210, 213, 226; Security Council Resolution 505, 225–6; Falklands
cease-fire Resolution veto, 231–2; disarmament session, 236, 267; Grenada, 329; Security Council Resolution 242, 509; Namibia, 528; Gulf crisis, 818, 821, 827–8; Security Council Resolution 661, 821; Security Council Resolution 665, 823; UN Children’s Summit, 826
United States of America: economy, 7, 322, 693, 739, 782; Suez, 8, 437; Vietnam, 9; Irish-Americans, 58, 166, 384, 415; Iran hostages, 69, 86–8, 156, 825; MT’s visit (1979), 86–7; MT’s visit (1981), 158–60; interest rates, 165, 693; Argentina relations, 176–7, 179–80, 188, 323; Falklands crisis, 180, 187–8, 212; Falklands war, 226, 227, 229; NATO, 237–42, 810–12; Trident, 244–8, 267; Polish crisis, 253–6; ‘dual key’ question, 268, 332; MT’s visit (1983), 320, 322–5; Soviet arms talks, 323–4, 453, 461,
see also
SALT; Lebanon MNF, 326–8, 334; Grenada invasion, 328–32, 334–5; Lebanon retaliation, 333–4; Westland affair, 436–7; Libya sanctions, 442; raid on Libya, 443–9, 498, 510; National Security Council, 461; MT’s visit (1984), 466–8; MT’s visit (1985), 468–9; MT’s visit (1986), 472–3; Arab-Israeli dispute, 507–8; South Africa sanctions, 515, 520; European policies, 768, 783–4, 789, 794–5, 798–9; MT’s visit (1987), 770–2; INF treaty (1987), 771, 773, 774, 784; SNF negotiations, 788; MT’s visit (1989), 794; Gulf crisis, 816–28;
see also
Bush, Reagan
universities, 598–9, 639,
see also
education
Uno, Sousuke
(Japanese Prime Minister 1989)
, 499
U-turn, 122
van Agt, Andries
(Dutch Prime Minister 1977–82)
, 81, 241, 242–3
Van Den Broek, Hans, 319, 736
Van der Post, Laurens, 186, 521
Varley-Marshall assurances, 438, 679
VAT: increase (1979), 42–3; EC discussions, 313, 538, 544, 557, 728; increase (1991), 667
Vickers, 825
Victoria Dam Power Station, Sri Lanka, 75, 503, 506
Victorian values, 627
Vienna Airport terrorists, 441–2
Vietnam: War, 9; boat people, 64, 66
Viljoen, Gerrit, 531
Villiers, Sir Charles
(Chairman BSC 1976–80)
, no, 112, 113–14
Volkswagen, 679
voluntary organizations, 603, 627
Vulcan bombers, 239
Waddington, David
(Chief Whip 1987–89, Home Secretary 1989-go)
, 757, 854–5
Wakeham, Alison
(née
Ward), 25, 285
Wakeham, John
(Chief Whip 1982–87, Leader HC 1987–89, Energy Secretary 1989–90):
junior minister, 29; Chief Whip, 310–11; Brighton bomb (1984), 382, 383; Cabinet reshuffle (1985), 418, 419; Westland, 430; Strategy Group, 565; election campaign (1987), 583; electricity privatization, 683; nuclear power policy, 685; coal industry, 686; Gulf crisis, 822; Howe’s resignation (1990), 835; leadership election campaign (1990), 841, 846, 847, 850, 851, 853–5; MT’s resignation, 856
Wakeham, Roberta, 381
Waldegrave, William
(Health Secretary 1990–92):
community charge, 563, 646, 647, 649; Gulf crisis, 822; Health, 835; MT leadership question, 853
Waiden, Brian, 54, 105, 125, 293, 832
Waldheim, Kurt
(UN Secretary General 1972–81, Austrian President 1986–92)
, 160
Wales, housing policy, 602
Walesa, Lech
(Chairman Solidarity 1980–90, then President of Poland 1990-)
, 778, 780–1
Walker, Peter
(Agriculture Secretary 1979–83, Energy Secretary 1983–87, Welsh Secretary 1987–90):
Agriculture Minister, 28, 341; Energy, 341–2; miners’ strike (1984–5), 345, 346–7, 353–4, 357–8, 362, 364, 366, 370, 372–3, 376; Party Conference (1984), 368; Cabinet position, 418; BL, 440; housing schemes, 602–3; gas privatization, 681; electricity privatization, 683, 684
Wall Street Journal
, 449
Walpole, Sir Robert, 24
Walters, Sir Alan: monetary policy, 97n, 126, 133–6, 696, 707, 713–14; advice to Lawson, 317; Hong Kong currency crisis, 489–90; nuclear power stations advice, 685; ERM question, 692, 693, 694, 695, 700, 709, 722; Lawson’s attitude, 715–17, 718; currency proposals, 725
Walters, General Vernon, 192, 445–6
Warry, Peter, 438n
Warsaw Pact, 237–8, 252, 454, 472, 800, 809, 810
Wass, Sir Douglas
(Permanent Secretary Treasury 1974–83, Joint Head of Home Civil Service 1981–83)
, 136
water: pollution, 638–9; privatization, 682
Weekend World
, 54, 105, 131, 293
Weinberger, Caspar (
US Defence Secretary 1981–87)
, 188, 226, 227, 247–8, 449, 473
welfare benefits, effects, 8
Wellington, 1st Duke, 24
Welsh Nationalists, 289
Welt, Die
, 84
Western European Union (WEU), 745, 809
Westland affair, 419, 423–37, 440, 560, 564
West Siberian Gas Pipeline, 253–6
wets, 50–1, 52, 54, 104, 123–4, 126, 128, 129, 149, 153–5; definition of term, 51n
Whitehall, 6, 619
Whitelaw, William
(Home Secretary 1979–83, Leader HL 1983–88):
relationship with MT 4, 25, 27; Home Secretary, 27; QL, 33; Iranian embassy siege, 89–90; trade union reform, 107; coal dispute, 143; urban riots, 143–5; public spending debate, 149; Cabinet reshuffle, 151; Falklands, 185, 207; War Cabinet, 188, 214; Family Policy Group, 279; election campaign (1983), 288; Leader of Lords, 307; Parkinson affair, 311; Grenada, 330; miners’ strike (1984–5), 346, 376; MT holiday communications, 362; Brighton bomb (1984), 381; Cabinet reshuffle (1985), 418, 419; Westland, 428; BL, 440; Gorbachev visit, 460; Strategy Group, 565; election campaign (1987), 572; opposition to Forsyth, 623; BBC policy, 636; illness and resignation, 757; leadership election campaign (1990), 848
Whitmore, Clive, 48, 192, 205
Whittingdale, John, 285, 586, 792, 841, 843
Wicks, Sir Nigel
(Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary 1985–88, Second Permanent Secretary, Treasury 1989-)
, 433, 525
Wilkie, David, 371
Williams, Shirley, 153, 298
Williamson, David, 729
Willis, Norman, 372, 376
Wilson, Gordon, 406
Wilson, Harold
(Labour Prime Minister 1964–70, 1974–76)
, 8, 13n, 30n, 162
Wilson, Marie, 406
Wimpey, 457
Windsor, Roger, 36g Winston Churchill Foundation speech, 325
Winston Churchill Memorial Lecture, 79
winter of discontent, 4, 8, 19
Woerner, Manfred, 810
Wolfson, David: Downing St arrival, 24; Chequers lunch, 37; civil service dinner, 48; PSBR discussions, 135; Cabinet reshuffle (September 1981), 152; election campaign (1983), 288, 293; Brighton bomb (1984), 380; election campaign (1987), 584; health policy, 617
Wolfson Foundation, 633
Woodhouse School, Finchley, 225
Woodward, Rear Admiral John ‘Sandy’, 189, 214
World Bank, 169, 170, 526–7
World Climate Conference, Geneva (1990), 836
World War, First, 5
World War, Second, 5, 11, 461
Wyatt, Woodrow, Lord, 370
Yakovlev, Alexander, 460, 772–3
Yazov, Marshal Dmitri, 805–6
Yeltsin, Boris
(President of Russia 1991-)
, 773, 803–4
York
, HMS, 816
York, MT’s visit (1984), 365
Young, David, Lord
(Minister without portfolio 1984–85, Employment Secretary 1985–87, Trade and Industry Secretary 1987–89):
Employment, 28, 420–1; DTI, 28, 505; speeches, 567; advice, 569; manifesto (1987), 572–3; election campaign (1987), 583, 584–5; broadcasting policies, 636; BAe Rover deal, 680; leaves Cabinet, 756
Young, Janet, Lady
(Leader HL 1981–83)151–2
, 279, 307
Younger, George
(Scottish Secretary 1979–86, Defence Secretary 1986–89):
Scottish Secretary, 347, 433, 620; miners’ strike (1984–5), 347; IRA report, 405; Nimrod cancellation, 424; Defence, 433; US bombing of Libya, 443, 445; election campaign (1987), 578; opposition to Forsyth, 623; rate revaluation, 647; departure, 756; leadership election campaign (1989), 830, 837; leadership election campaign (1990), 840, 841
young people: policy group, 565–6; homelessness, 603, 627; juvenile delinquency, 626–7; teenage pregnancy, 627
Youth Opportunities Programme, 55n, 128
Youth Training Scheme, 279
Zaid bin Sultan al Nahayyan, Sheik, 163
Zamyatin, Leonid, 460
Zhao Ziyang, 260–1, 488, 489, 490, 492, 493
Zhelev, Zhelyu
(President of Bulgaria 1990-)
, 843
Zia Ul-Haq, Mohammed, 167
Zimbabwe: independence, 73, 78, 523; MT’s visit (1989), 526–7
25 de mayo
, 212, 214, 228
Many people assisted me in one way or another with the preparation of this book. Some I cannot name for they are still members of the civil service; others I can and do mention in what follows. But there is one person to whom I owe special thanks.
Government officials who prepare the ground for summit meetings are known in the trade as ‘sherpas’ after the Himalayan guides who assist people to climb Everest. My indispensable sherpa in the enterprise of writing this book has been Robin Harris. Robin has descended into the ravines of research for official papers to confirm or challenge my memory; he was a sure-footed guide through blizzards of fact and interpretation; and he ensured that the expedition reached its destination by the most direct route, in good order, and even attired with some elegance. Without his advice and help at every stage, I doubt that we could have reached the summit.
We were not alone on the journey. John O’Sullivan came skiing in occasionally, tuned up the arguments, pared the prose and pushed forward the narrative. Without him this book would have taken longer to write and it would take longer to read.
Another vital member of the team was Chris Collins, our researcher. He was meticulous, assiduous and totally committed; and to these qualities he added the valuable objectivity of the academic historian. Debbie Fletcher typed — and then retyped and typed again — the constantly evolving manuscript with impressive efficiency and unfailing cheerfulness. Tessa Gaisman brought her own special blend of good taste and common sense to the selection of the photographs. Carolyn Selman helped us sort press releases and press cuttings into manageable order. I am immensely grateful to all members of my memoirs team. Our work together has been — to borrow a phrase which appears later in this volume — ‘fraught but fun’.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of memoir writing is the reliving of old times with good friends. I was able to draw on the recollections and reflections of many of those who, in different ways, were involved with the story I have told. I would like to express my special thanks
to Cynthia Crawford, Sir Charles Powell, Sir Alan Walters and John Whittingdale MP, all of whose assistance was invaluable. I also had the benefit of advice on particular topics from Professor Tim Congdon, Andrew Dunlop, Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach, George Guise, Rt. Hon. the Hon. Archie Hamilton MP, Sir John Hoskyns, Sir Bernard Ingham, Dr Sheila Lawlor, John Mills, Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Morrison, Ferdinand Mount, Lord Parkinson of Carnforth, Caroline Ryder, Stephen Sherbourne, Sir Kenneth Stowe, Lady Wakeham and Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale.
Leafing through the official papers, I found them fascinating but limited: indeed, their very dryness confirmed in my mind the value of writing this book. Some stories you have to live in order to tell. But, that said, I, who never kept a diary, would have been lost without them. I am, therefore, very obliged to Sir Robin Butler and the staff of the Cabinet Office for the kind and efficient way in which they made the records of my administration available to me.
My publishers, HarperCollins, acted as publishers should — allowing the author to do her stuff but keeping her up to the mark and within the deadline. Eddie Bell was a reassuring and shrewd source of practical guidance. Stuart Proffitt worked tenaciously to ensure that jargon was removed and obscurity illumined. I am grateful to them both.
Finally, I would like to thank Julian Seymour who runs my office: without him and the members of my staff this story could not have been told.
MARGARET THATCHER
June 1993
