
Forty thousand pages of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 personal and political papers from 1989 are being opened to the public at the Churchill Archives Centre and online at the website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
Forty thousand pages of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 personal and political papers from 1989 are being opened to the public at the Churchill Archives Centre and online at the website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
Whatever our politics we have to recognise Margaret Thatcher as a major historical figure
Allen Packwood
Forty thousand pages of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 personal and political papers from 1989 are being opened to the public at the Churchill Archives Centre and online at the website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
In 1989, the arrival of Alan Walters had an incendiary effect. Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson's fundamental disagreements with the views and actions of Walters, Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 economics adviser, led to the watershed resignation of both men on 26 October 1989.
Lawson鈥檚 decision to resign after over six years as a key figure in Thatcher鈥檚 government was a pivotal moment in the events which would lead to the downfall of the Prime Minister.
For the first time, Thatcher鈥檚 extraordinary handwritten letter to Walters 鈥 written in the aftermath of both their resignations 鈥 gives profound insight and confirms Thatcher鈥檚 true sentiment and affiliation to Walters over Lawson as her Chancellor, a split that divided the Conservative party.
Across four pages Thatcher underlines her words and states she was "truly appalled" at Lawson鈥檚 request to sack Walters for undermining his authority and regarded it as "totally unjust and shocking". Her gratitude to Walters is evident saying 鈥渢he work you did during our first administration was the foundation of our later success鈥 adding 鈥淚 fervently believe you鈥檙e right鈥.听听
Thatcher bemoans the legacy of her longstanding Chancellor in a way she could not do in public. 鈥淎s you know he has left us with high inflation, a very high trade deficit, not to mention the very high interest rate鈥.听
Contained in an off the record interview with Kelvin McKenzie Editor of the Sun, released for the first time, her emotional reaction to events is powerfully present. She recalls her children鈥檚 consoling phone calls on the evening of the Lawson resignation 鈥 鈥淢um are you alright? don鈥檛 worry, you know we love you鈥. She describes their support as 鈥渕eaning more than anything in the world鈥.听
This event, combined with the highlights of the previously unseen material, opened the door to the end of Thatcherism before another year was out. Documents released for the first time include:
- Startling confidential reports on the effects of the poll tax 鈥 some only sent to the Prime Minister 鈥 forewarning her of its unfairness and adverse impact on Tory marginal seats, including Thatcher鈥檚 own Finchley constituency. Thatcher was clearly warned from numerous sources about the ratio of losers to winners amongst Conservative voters and the consequent likely political damage, yet despite all this, pressed ahead. This flagship Thatcherite policy, would not be possible to abolish while Thatcher was still Prime Minister;
- Thatcher鈥檚 private notes on the 'Madrid ambush',听 the ultimatum from Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe that she issue a date to join the ERM goes to the very heart of the story of the Thatcher government in its last years 鈥 both men had once been among her closes political allies;
- Mrs Thatcher鈥檚 personal fondness for health cures in the form of her correspondence with the novelist Barbara Cartland offering her 鈥済olden acorns鈥, perhaps nutrimental supplements she might have taken in combination with living off black coffee and describing eggs and bacon as 鈥渜uite the best thing, British peoples culinary gift to the world鈥;
- 探花直播first use of the 鈥榬oyal we' in Thatcher's statement to the press on the birth of her first grandchild, Mark Thatcher's son Michael caused huge negative public reaction. 探花直播term had previously been restricted to royalty. Its use by a mere prime minister alongside Thatcher's imperious personal manner were the source of considerable disdain at the time. Thatcher's apparent conceit led to her being described as 鈥渁 legend in her own imagination鈥.
Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, said: 鈥淲hatever our politics we have to recognise Margaret Thatcher as a major historical figure. 探花直播material released today will further inform our understanding of these historic events during 1989. There is huge research interest in her as a political figure and in the events of her life and premiership, the material will inform further study, discussion and debate.鈥
探花直播Churchill Archives Centre is open to researchers five days a week for about fifty weeks each year. 探花直播Centre provides free access for all potential visitors, subject only to prior booking of a space in its reading room.
探花直播archive can be viewed at the and will be made available to view at the from Monday 11 March.听
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