Prospective MEPs visit campus

BUCF meet prospective MEPs

Yesterday, BUCF had the pleasure of welcoming to the university; Anthea McIntyre and Daniel Dalton, prospective Conservative candidates for the European Parliament, on the West Midlands list for June 4th. It was a graciously informal gathering at the University of Birmingham’s Guild, in rare but much appreciated sunshine.

Both candidates opened themselves up to questions from any students, of any political persuasion, interested in learning more about the European elections, the Conservative European position, and the personal objectives of both Dan and Anthea, were they to be elected. From the outset, it is hard to deny that their open and direct answers to a pretty intense stream of questioning were convincing, humble and above all, honest.

However what was most impressive was the wide range of knowledge and expertise that the candidates exhibited. Ranging from a perceptive understanding of the troubles facing small businesses and farmers in the region to thoughtful ideas about how to combat youth violence and anti-social behaviour, both candidates were well briefed. It was a brilliant day, with a strong turnout, and BUCF are grateful to both Dan and Anthea for making the time to visit us. Hopefully, both will be elected to the European Parliament on the 4^th of June, and with the reception that they received from all who listened yesterday, it is hard to imagine a different result.

Daniel Cole

D-Day Approaches

No Im not talking about the shambolic D-Day commemorations that will be taking place in France on June 6th, Im talking about Gordon Brown’s D-Day: June 4th. It would be churlish of us to deny that the expenses scandal has been damaging for all political parties. It would also be wrong to claim that the Tories have been whiter than white and that it is ‘all Labours fault’. It isn’t and we, as much as they, need to learn lessons from it. My views on the scandal are well known, I believe this would never have happened had the damn system never been implemented in the first place and MP’s been given the pay hike that was suggested all those years ago.

That said I recognise that the Prime Minister in question, Lady Thatcher, was attempting to be sensitive to public opinion and recognised that the pay hikes suggested by an independent comission would not sit well with the public grappling with economic recession. Today however is a very different story and the implications of the scandal for Labour are far greater than the Tories. David Cameron has shown real leadership over the expenses scandal, even donating his European Party Election Broadcast to discuss the issue and tell people the actions he has taken. Not words. Action. That is what makes a leader. This has been rewarded in the polls which show that 62% believer Brown has been most damaged by the scandal compared to just 5% for Cameron.

A populus poll published by the Times today also suggests that 6 days from now, as Labour assess the bomb damage to the bunker in the wake of the European Elections, Gordon Brown’s government will be on life suport with his party preparing to pull the plug. According to the Populus poll Labour are in 3rd place at 16% behind the Tories 30% and UKIP’s 19%. Brown and New Labour as a whole have become nothing short of a national joke and not a funny one at that. As it stands a new poll published shows that in terms of the General Election Labour look likely to take a beating greater than that of the Tories in 1997.The party face complete wipeout with the Tories on 41% and Labour on 21% a full 20 points behind and Gordon Brown’s leadership will once again be called in to question.

Not in recent memory has a European election been so important or so relevant to national politics. This is the last one before a General Election has to be called, when he can’t contitutionally shake it off any longer. And this is the first electoral test following one of the biggest scandals to grip British politics since the early 1990’s. Most of all however once the damage has been done and Labour have lost their ‘Battle for Britain’ as they surely will, the party itself will have to debate whether they are willing to fight with Brown in the last ditch or whether or not they should lay hands on him and force him out in one last desperate attempt to secure a 4th term. All in all it should be an exciting few weeks in British politics.

A chance to meet two European Parliamentary Candidates

Tomorrow afternoon we are fortunate enough to be joined by two candidates for the European elections to be held next Thursday.

As the first political event of the new committee it will be a great opportunity to come and meet us and give your opinions on how you would like the society to progress.

I would furthermore like to extend an invitation to any non-members of any political leaning to come along and learn more about those taking the Conservative cause to Brussels.

All those interested in coming should come to Joe’s bar for 1.30pm. The end time is purely speculative. I have no doubt that the meeting would be over before then. But I am sure a contingent of us will return to Joes bar afterwards for some drinks.

Your event officer,
Adam Jenner

The Iron Lady meets the Holy Father in the Eternal City

Baroness Thatcher proves she still packs a political punch after the BBC reports that The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI  met with her following his weekly audience. The Vatican stated that the event was not an official private audience but rather a mark of the Pope’s personal respect for Baroness Thatcher. The visit was arranged by Thatcher former Foreign Policy chief, Charles Powell, who she is staying with in Italy on her summer break. Usually the pontiff only grants such meetings to serving politicians and heads of state but despite the fact Baroness Thatcher has retired from public life the Pope still made time for a private conversation. Before her meeting with the Pope, Lady Thatcher paid a private visit to the Vatican crypt where her ideological soulmate Pope John Paul II is buried. She left a wreath of white roses on his tomb with a message that read: “To a man of faith and courage”.

A Right Royal Farce!

Word has reached my ears that the Queen has been snubbed by the French. It seems that President Sarkozy in his impish infinite wisdom has omitted to invite Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh to next week’s D-Day commemorations. “Sacre bleu!” I hear you yell. I can assure you my response was the same. How on earth can it be justified not to invite the Head of State of nations that lost so many lives to liberate France? (I say nations – as one must remember the Queen is also head of state of nations such as Canada and Australia) Indeed the Queen and the Duke are the only serving leaders in the world who have any real recollection of the war and, particularly in Philips case, the only ones who saw active service! It is beyond a travesty that the Queen has not been invited and as usual the response from Downing Street has been flat and spineless, claiming they cannot determine who is on the guest list.

To add insult to injury the official line from Downing Street adds that the Prime Minister is delighted to be invited and hopes to attend. If I were the Prime Minister, I would snub the invitation in the same way they snubbed the Queen. You can’t choose who’s on the guest list – but you can choose to decline your invitation! This situation in my eyes has arisen due to Brown and Sarko’s sycophantic desire to be seen with ‘the Chosen One’, a.k.a. Barack Obama. They know that if the Queen and Obama are together nobody will give a frig about Brown, Sarkozy or any other world leader. At a time when both Brown and Sarkozy are taking a beating in the polls, snubbing a much loved and respected old lady will not do them any favours as much as their twisted logic might think it will.

Poles taking our jobs?

As per usual, the British National Party has shown their incompetence and hypocrisy. In an attempt to highlight their “patriotic” beliefs, the BNP used a picture of a Supermarine Spitfire, as the back-drop to many of their 2009 anti-immigration posters. How utterly useless they are not to have researched the topic somewhat: had they done so, the British Nationalist’s would have worked out that the Spitfire (pictured)was part of a Polish squadron, made up of exiled Poles from a Nazi occupied homeland. So much for their hate inducing slogan: “Britain for the British.” Moreover, the squadron in question, the RAF 303 Kosciuszko Polish Squadron, and other Polish aircraft, accounted for over 12% of Luftwaffe losses during the WW2. Many died defending Britain against a fascist onslaught: what hypocrisy on the part of the new fascists then who argue tooth and nail against European immigration to Britain, but use Polish bravery to support the argument?

Daniel Cole

Rubbish litter

I thought it about time to raise an issue that some seem happy to leave by the wayside, (forgive the pun) that of the litter problem. This, I’m sure is a cross party issue, and one that, although often forgotten is close to many other citizens’ hearts.

Walking around Selly Oak, Greater Birmingham, London and even great swathes of the British countryside, you cannot help to glance upon the ugly sight of rubbish; strewn or blown all over the nation. What a shame it is, that the parks and roads of our cities, parts of which are beautifully designed are covered in this debris. For those of us who live in Selly Oak, this problem seems to be ever increasing.

Straight away, can I say that the council have and are trying to clean up. A number of times I’ve spotted road cleaners marching up and down with brooms; picking, sweeping and scrapping away the gaudy rubbish but every time it reappears.

As part of a social experiment, and as part of an attempt to make a very small difference, I turned to our friend Facebook, and set up an event; just one day, where the slogan read “On the 1st of May, let’s aim to pick up just 3 pieces of litter and bin them! If you want to do more, fab.” How surprised I was when of the more than 1000 invitees first invited, more than two thirds turned it down.  I’m very pleased to know that a minority of us are happy to make a small difference, but where have the ideas of individual and social responsibility disappeared to for the majority?

Environment minister Lord Rooker described the amount of litter dropped on roads and around towns as “a disgrace.” Why are people so adverse to the idea of binning the odd piece of litter or to not dropping litter in the first place? I know that this is starting to sound more and more like a rant but I truly think that if we were to change our attitudes to litter, our Nation could be that little bit more beautiful.

I’ll conclude, with one last point; if we were to take just a little pride in our environment, the difference could be enormous. With small changes to our surroundings, maybe people will develop an attitude to take more care and pride in their neighbourhoods.

BUCF Attend Dinner With Lord Trimble

Last night the great and the good of Conservative Birmingham and beyond gathered at the exquisite Botanical Gardens for the Edgbaston Gala Dinner with Lord David Trimble. The event marked the official committee handover from Dan O’Doherty to Sahar Rezazadeh and despite the exam period we were able to get a full table of BUCF’ers to mark the occasion. Lord Trimble spoke passionately about his experience of the troubles in Northern Ireland and how they were overcome. His words had special meaning given the current situation in regard to international terrorism. Following the speeches BUCF was able to pose for a photo with Lord Trimble and some of the main political leaders of Birmingham: (from left to right:) Cllr Dierdre Alden (PPC Edgbaston) Alex Yaffe (Blog Editor) Sophie Shrubsole (BUCF member) Helen Smyth (BUCF member) Vice President Dan Cole, Former President Dan O’Doherty, David Fazakerley (Former Chair of Edgbaston Assosciation) The Rt Hon Lord David Trimble, Joel Faulkner (BUCF member) President Sahar Rezazadeh, Max Genoni (BUCF member) Joseph Hollywood (Guild Liason Officer) Daniel Joplin (BUCF member) Cllr Mike Whitby (Leader of Birmingham City Council) Malcolm Harbour MEP.

President Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher has recieved the extraordinary honour of being made President of the exclusive Carlton Club. Mrs Thatcher already made history as its first woman member in 1975, as all leaders of the Conservative Party are entitled to membership, however the membership was honorary as women could not then hold full membership of the exclusive club. Today however she was elected unopposed as its President a position not held since Tory legend Lord Stockton, Harold Macmillan, who held the position until his death in 1986. Mrs Thatcher wasn’t there in person to recieve the honour as she is in fragile health, however she will be attending a dinner at the club with David Cameron next month further showing the growing comfort between Tory high command and Lady T. Even in her 80’s it seems Mrs Thatcher is still a record breaker and if nothing else her lifetime and achievements should serve as an example for women that no barrier is to great to be broken. BUCF congratulates her on this extraordinary honour.

Random Video

One of my friends currently serving in Afghanistan directed my attention to videos showing the damage that can be inflicted by a roadside bomb. We hear about them all the time but to see the damage that they can do is truly fascinating and a real eye opener. So here are some random videos for you showing the dangers our troops face daily in warzones like Iraq and Afghansitan and the reasons why we should show them more respect…

Are young people disengaged from politics?

If there was an election tomorrow morning who would you vote for? A question I would love to ask many students at this University and many more across this country. I have always held that everyone should have some form of opinion when it comes to politics, whether you are involved in something like the BUCF, BULS or Lib Dems, a party activist or just the ‘Joe Bloggs’ student/young person. The quote of ‘I don’t really care, politics bores and doesn’t affect me’ I feel is the most immature and narrow minded response someone can say.
Let’s think about it, the computer you are looking at this on now will have been subject to UK and EU laws regarding health and safety, the money you paid for it, taxes will have been taken, those lovely clothes your wearing are imports which can be subject to tariffs. The University you attend and the debt you’re in, all of above are affected by Politics. So are young people disengaged from Politics? On a national level I fear yes, however I feel that a change is coming. We will soon get into general election fever where the young population actually will be able to make a difference.

The recent outrage of MP expenses, the economy, Student Top-up fees has sparked debate across all departments of study among young people which in my eyes will mean that young people will get an opinion and with the right tools and information will create a mood for those people to go out there, vote and make a real difference. The challenge now is to give these people the tools. Obviously I am Conservative and would never join another movement, however I feel that come election time all political parties and young people movements such as the BUCF and BULS will need to put aside any past problems and have a combined strategy in order to give all parties a platform in which to reach young people. I hope that come election time my job as Campaigns and Representation officer I will be able to work with all parties across this great university in order to create a real buzz about campus, get people informed, get people to get an opinion and go to the polling station and vote, only then will I feel that my job has been fulfilled. Why did I randomly write this blog, you tell me? It is a campaign I want to start now, get in there early, get the questions flying, after all equality of opportunity is a main Conservative trait isn’t it? Quite rightly so!

Go Fourth!

In the shock poll above Labour are level with UKIP. To add insult to injury most polls are now showing that Labour will be beaten in to 4th place…Somehow I don’t think this is what John Prescott had in mind when he said ‘Go Fourth!’

Now THIS is a leader…

End the Gutter Politics

Many of you will be aware that former BULS Chair Tom Guise posted a factually inaccurate and unbelievably childish post on the BULS website which contained unjust abuse directed at BUCF and its members. Having discussed with the committee elect and my own former committee we have decided that we will refrain from responding in kind. Thus we will not waste our time picking apart the inaccuracies and highlighting the contradictions within Mr Guises post, we’ll leave you to do that yourself. Our attitude is if Labour want to play politics in the gutter, let them. This is increasingly the difference between Labour and the Conservatives today. We are looking to the future, they are stuck in the past. People are sick and tired of the bitching and backbiting that occurs between the two major parties and its about time we didn’t sink to their level. The public are not fools. They can see quite clearly what Labour have done to this country and its faith in politics. We need to focus on the future and leave them and their dirty politics in the past. So our official response to Chairman Guise’s post is: we respectfully disagree.

Quote of the Day

 

Sky News presenter: Can I ask why a £800 massage chair is so important to you?

Labour MP Shahid Malik: You see, I’d have more respect for you if you were honest about the figures. You know full well it is £730!

US Congress Honours Margaret Thatcher

The US Congress has in the last few minutes passed a motion honouring Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The resolution was passed by Republicans and Democrats alike with only 64 voting against. The resolution stated that the House of Representatives:

(1) acknowledges the 30th anniversary of the election of Margaret Thatcher as the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom;

(2) pays tribute to the remarkable professional achievements of Margaret Thatcher;

(3) recognizes Prime Minister Thatcher’s dedicated work in promoting individual rights and free markets around the world; and

(4) appreciates the strong diplomatic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom fostered by Prime Minister Thatcher.

Im delighted that even a Democratic dominated Congress marked the special anniversary of this special lady.

Labour afraid of debate?

As this is my first official blog as a fully fledged committee member of the BUCF let me take a small amount of time to say what I am about. I have been a Conservative for many years as my mind matured and coming from a family of Labour supporters this was no small step for Mark Harrop! I have worked with Nigel Evans, Ribble Valley and Fulwood MP who is Conservative and the theory itself as well as economic and foreign policies agree with me. (See my biography for all that!) Next to my blogs which I will be doing very often as I like to have my say on matters, first and foremost my blogs mean not to offend anyone from any background, the blogs are through my eyes and not necessarily those of the BUCF. I mean every word I say and will back them till the bitter end and hope to raise questions of what our great nation is and how it can be improved; you’re only as good as your last game!

As of 00:02 on Tuesday 12th of May 2009, one day before my first exam I have been a BUCF committee member for eight days and already I have been riled. For those who do not know, Jacqui Smith MP our fearless and resilient home secretary visited the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students on Friday which would have been a great opportunity for political societies and the student body as a whole to question one of the most influential, and some may argue and others deny, potential leaders of this country. Now I for one believe that professionalism must be upheld in these situations so before I go on, No I would not condemn any throwing of bath plugholes or adult entertainment movies however amusing some reading this would find it. I was first told about the visit by Carnival VPI James Williams who, like myself was very excited about the prospect of meeting Ms Smith and asking burning questions any student keeping up to date with current affairs. I even made my question up on the spot and would have gone like:

“Gordon Brown and your party backed the commitment of the Government of no more boom and bust Britain, Labour oozed confidence and poll leads in the boom times and now shriek and stumble in the bust times leading to a budget that long after your honourable self and colleagues have left parliament , we will still be paying off and handicapping this country and future politicians, what would the honourable lady say is the proper way out and how would she have done differently”

Or something along those lines. However I and neither did anyone else get that chance, apart from those members of the Labour Party Society who were in the end the only people allowed into the Guild Council Chambers to see and ask Ms Smith questions.
I personally was riled at this fact that such as stint on democracy and freedom of speech and expression could have taken place anywhere, let alone the Guild of Students which prides itself on all students being equal in a safe and comfortable environment to express their views and of their peers. The previous BUCF administration have had speakers such as George Osborne , David Cameron, Michael Gove and other influential speakers come to visit and have always left the door open for anyone wishing to attend as that is exactly what politics is about, debate and opinion. However in the Labour societies view it is about hiding what they know could be an embarrassment to them, just like their government has been.

I have no qualms about saying this as I feel it is an utter shambles that firstly the Guild agreed to this (and why?!) and that the labour society let it proceed. An investigation has been launched into the matter and I will be bringing this point up at Guild Council on Thursday to see what can be found out, however eight days in and my confidence in the labour society to show respect to another party society is severely shaken. The results of my investigation shall be posted on my next blog. However already I see light at the end of the tunnel as apparently the first opening words from Ms Smith were along the lines of:

“I am so glad to see supporters of our party here and would like to extend my invite to all you members to come down to my constituency next May for even a few hours to help flyer post and overall campaign, you will be welcomed with open arms for whatever you can do –hint of desperation in the voice im told- “

400 majority, a failed government, no wonder Ms Smith, No Wonder!

A Response to BULS

BULS recently did a ‘joke blog’ ridiculing libertarianism so we thought they needed a little lesson as to why libertarianism is so important:

The Sassy Vision

BUCF has grown so much in the past year and has become as The Young Conservative described it ‘one of CF’s brightest stars’. This has not least been due to my dashing predecessors hard work and commitment. I can assure you that my engagement with BUCF was, for the most part, thanks to Mr O’Doherty’s ‘outgoing’ policy. What is more, Britain has not needed Conservatism as much as it needs it today! This country is suffering at the hands of a government that has lost touch and knows little about the needs of the individuals that make this nation. So on both of these notes, I feel honoured to be given the role of leading a society that has the potential of making concrete impact at student level, locally and even nationally!

So what do I have planned for BUCF? My vision rests on 3 key objectives:

1) To engage members because you are the most important aspect of the society. Without you, the society will have lost its purpose. 

2) To make a positive impact locally (so by supporting our candidates and the local conservatives), as well as at student level (to promote conservative principles on campus). Again, membership engagement is crucial to this objective. 

3) Ultimately, all of this will raise the profile of BUCF further.

I would like to give my thanks to all those who have been supportive, enthusiastic and eager about my leading this society. I look forward to working with all of you and I can assure you that the committee, and I, will do our utmost to fulfill our aims!

...and the plotting begins!

On the Expenses…

Alot of people have emailed me asking when I will be commenting on the expenses debarcle and the truth is the reason why you haven’t heard much from me is because 1) Im retired now (lol) 2) Its the exam period and 3) Im pretty neutral on the issue. Don’t get me wrong I think some of the things that have been claimed back are just bare cheek, e.g porn videos and plug holes, having said this I am loathed to admit I actually sympathise with the MP’s as a whole. Now I’m not condoning the behaviour of some. MP’s from all parties have indeed abused the system, however the system as it stands is unfair. Currently MP’s recieve £64,000 a year and I believe Lord Foulkes who was interviewed yesterday on the BBC hit the nail on the head. When berated, in typcial ‘holier than thou’ BBC fashion, for the expenses debarcle he point blank asked his interviewer “How much are you paid?!” To which she, to my suprise, replied £92,000. A relatively minor broadcaster is paid £92,000 for coming in to an office, sitting on a cushy chair, interviewing fascinating and important individuals and reading from a script. (Needless to say I’m thinking of a career change!)

MP’s by contrast get paid pittance and have to run both a constituency and a Westminster office as well as two homes. They do incurr huge expense in doing so and I believe that they have used the expenses system as a way to get as much as they can because quite simply they deserve it. MP’s as far as I am concerned have one of the toughest jobs in the country. Some are held unfairly with as much contempt as paedophiles or rapists by the public, they have to work lengthy hours and often have to criss cross the country to make official visits or complete constituency work. Anyone who has spoken publicly before will know what a daunting and draining experience it can be so as far as I am concerned to be an MP youve got to be a tough kind of person! But I think perhaps the worst part of an MP’s job is the lack of security. An MP can get in at one election and through no fault of their own be booted out at the next. You have no security as an MP and thus your earnings during that period will be realtively modest.

Naturally such a demanding and unstable job incurrs much cost not just financial but physical and mental. I think in light of recent events the public have a right to be angry and indeed some claims from some individuals are ludacris. But as far as I am concerned this situation is a reminder if we needed it of how flawed this system is. The system is a shambles and we can see just how easily it can be ‘exploited’. To get to the root of this problem you need to scrap it. I believe the solution to this is to raise MP’s salaries to £100,000 or a figure close to that amount, which is still modest compared to equally demanding professions. This, as far as I am concerned, negates the need for an expenses system. Of course you’ll have the public and the press up in arms in doing so, because theres nothing they love more than a good lynching session, but as a certain Tory once said ‘Dare to be unpopular’. In the short term this will create a furore (can it really get any worse?) but in the long term it will calm down and ensure we never have to deal with such issues in the future. Either way Lord Foulkes? Legend.

Poll Update

> The Tories are on 45% which would give us over 220 seats, 200 of them Labour

> This is the lowest score for any major political party

> Labour are only 5 points ahead of the liberals

> Michael Foot even managed 23.5% !

;)

BUCF Elections Generate ‘Blog Buzz’

The BUCF elections have recieved particular prominence on the blogsphere this week with interviews being conducted with both the Former President Dan O’Doherty and the newly elected President Sahar Rezazadeh. All this intrigue further highlights the strength of the society today which is something we should all take pride in…

Former President Dan O’Doherty final interview

President Sahar Rezazadeh – Pre election interview

Keep Right Online focus on AGM

The Young Conservative congratulates President-elect

The President’s Final Word

Last night we held our Annual General Meeting and elected a new committee to serve in the next academic year. I was hugely impressed by the record turnout, well over 40, and extremely grateful for the incredibly kind words that were directed to me personally by so many. As I said in my speech, there is a different feeling to the society today. We’re more respected, more united and more confident than we have been at any time in our recent history. That is a record of which any President can be proud. In that light I want to wish my successor, Sahar, the very best of luck. She is an exceptional young woman and it was fitting that on the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power BUCF elected its own ‘Iron Lady’ President. I wish her and her fantastic team all the very best. They are much more than my successors, they are firm friends and I shall eagerly watch from the sidelines as they take BUCF to even greater heights. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President, it has been a great challenge but at the same time a great honour.

                                                                                                                   The ‘Royal’ Family of BUCF

****************4th May 2009***************

At long last we’ve come to the end of a remarkable year for the society under President Dan O’Doherty. Today at the prestigious Hotel Du Vin in central Birmingham, BUCF members and supporters will elect a new committee to serve the academic year 2009/10. We’re expecting a record turnout which is a testament to a record year. All BUCF members and supporters are welcome to come and join us at the Hotel Du Vin and for those that wish to come the itinerary is as follows:

5pm – 5.30pm > Drinks in the Hotel Bar

5.30pm – 7pm > AGM

7pm – late> Margaret Thatcher 30th Anniversary Drinks

The Margaret Thatcher 30th Anniversary Drinks which will follow the AGM will be held in the Cellar Bar of the Hotel Du Vin. So if you can’t make it along to the AGM do come along to that. Hope to see you there!

The Heath ‘Failure’ and Thatcherism

Edward Heath was once asked if it was true that on Margaret Thatcher’s resignation he shouted “rejoice, rejoice!” Heath responded, “No, of course not. I said it three times, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.” Mrs Thatcher was equally dismissive of Edward Heath. But there was more to this difficult working relationship than a clash of personalities. 

To Thatcher and her acolytes the Heath Government was a complete failure. The Thatcherite interpretation of the Heath years goes something like this: They started out with good ‘proto-Thatcherite’ intentions. However in 1971 economic growth faltered and unemployment exceeded One Million. The Heath Government ‘panicked’ and began spending money. However the ‘Dash for Growth’ resulted in inflation which soared from 6.4% in 1970 to over 25% in 1975. Shortly after growth plummeted and unemployment rose sharply. Meanwhile the Government’s huge Industrial Relations Act provoked hostility from the trade unions thereby scuppering both the Act as well as attempts to hold inflation by negotiating with the unions over wages. Industrial conflict ensued and Heath lost the February 1974 General Election.

At the time Thatcher confided that she’d “had no end of a lesson.” Indeed to an extent Thatcherism can be viewed as a reaction to this particular version of events. It is a version often repeated by Thatcherites in their memoirs and recollections of the 1970s. There is much to suggest that they perceived the 1980s as a re-run of the early 1970s – what Heath should have done. 

In 1981 against a backdrop of recession of rising unemployment Thatcher famously told her audience, “The Lady’s Not for Turning”. It was a direct message to those in her cabinet who wanted her to spend money to reflate the economy. At a pivital Cabinet meeting Geoffrey Howe, Chancellor of the Exhcequer, announced even tigher spending plans to reduce inflation. The Cabinet threw their hands in the air with one shouting ‘No More!”. Thatcher with ice-cold dertermination purged her cabinet of ‘Wets’ and refused point-blank to reflate the economy. Inflation was the undoing of Heath and history was not about to repeat itself. 

Working on a number of fronts Thatcher’s approach to the trade unions was cautious but comprehensive. Heath had wined and dined the leaders of the Trade Union Congress at Number 10, their support tirelessly sought. However with the burden of controlling inflation now falling on public expenditure, wage controls were banished and the unions were debunked from their privilaged position in economic policy making. Rising inflation in the 1970s had been a powerful recruiting agent for the unions as workers demanded (understandably) above-inflation wage settlements. Falling inflation in the 1980s removed the primary reason why people joined trade unions in such numbers during the previous decade. On the legislative front eleven small Industrial Relations Bills were introduced between 1979 and 1993 which slowly did the work of Heath’s ill-fated Industrial Relations Act. For the Thatcherites, the set-piece battle against the Miners in 1984 was a re-run of Heath’s humiliating defeat at the hands of the Miner’s Union back in 1972. 

The Heath Government had pledged in 1970 to free the economy from State intervention or ‘Disengagement’. The Thatcherites had been disappointed with Heath’s progress here and his increasing reliance on Keyenesian demand-management techniques to stimulate growth. In reaction the Thatcher government placed ‘supply-side reform’ at the centre of its economic strategy. In a way there was no choice. Tight fiscal policy to keep inflation and wages under firm control, meant that ‘old-fasioned’ demand-induced expansion was out of the question. The result was wide-ranging financial services deregulation, extensive privatization, and a shift in the tax burden from earnings to consumption. 

This in a nut-shell is Thatcherite political economy and a comprehension of the Heath Government is vital in terms of  understanding it. Indeed the election of Margaret Thatcher herself as Conservative leader in 1975 can only be understood in the context of the Heath years. As far as the Thatcherites were concerned, Heath was naive and un-Conservative. As far as the Heathites were concerned, the Thatcherites were dogmatic Monetarists, brutal and uncaring. The divide between these two titans of Conservatism was formative for the Conservative party, dividing it into ‘Wets’ and ‘Dries’ for a generation.

The Lady Behind The Legend

Mrs Thatcher loved to promote a steely image, indeed she relied upon it, but much of it was a mirage. Her kindness, courtesy and sheer humanity is legendary to those who choose look beyond the tough talking exterior and attempt to understand the lady behind the legend. On the anniversary of her election to power I am delighted that this side to Mrs Thatcher, a side that often gets ignored, is being remembered. Charities such as ‘ChildLine’ have issued statements saying they “owe Margaret Thatcher a great deal.” They go on to say that soon after Childline launched “she held a reception for us in Number 10, and made sure that every relevant politician was there – secretaries of state and ministers responsible for child protection, as well as philanthropists who could help us in our work. One of our speakers, a survivor of child abuse, broke down while explaining the impact of the abuse upon her life. I finished her speech for her and later found her being comforted by Mrs Thatcher in her private study. Mrs T was saying: ‘You can stay here as long as you like, no one will disturb you – it’s far better to express your feelings than try to bottle them up.’ This was not the Iron Lady. She was empathetic and compassionate. On a subsequent visit to ChildLine, she quietly pulled a personal cheque made out to the charity from her famous handbag. No other politician or visiting celebrity has ever done so.”

I also have a personal memories of my own that clearly show her sheer kindness and grace. At the Bruges dinner last October myself and a friend travelled to London’s Grosvenor House Hotel to mark 20 years since her infamous Bruges speech. As she stepped out of her government jag, visibly frail, one could have forgiven her for wanting to get to her table, have her dinner and then go as quickly as possible… but not Lady Thatcher. We were one of the lucky few who greeted her as she arrived and spoke to her before she entered the ballroom for the dinner. As we assembled for personal photographs with an icon of the age, my friend (who was taking the photo) became flustered by the fact such a momentous figure was stood mere feet away from him. He was so overawed at this encounter he pushed the off button on the camera rather than ‘capture’. Getting even more flustered now, believing her to be understandibly in a rush, he apologised and said it had failed to take. She tapped him on the arm, in a very maternal way, and said “Don’t worry dear. Try again”. Her sheer calmness, patience and kindness amazed everyone and we managed to get the photos we will treasure for a lifetime.

Once he’d calmed himself down (with the help of a double gin and tonic!), still in awe of this exceptional womans patience, we all followed her in to the main ballroom. The assembled guests when they caught a glimpse of her completely erupted in to raptuous applause. There were cheers and tears as the figure of the fragile Iron Lady being supported by her ever loyal bodyguards came clearer in to view. As we were stood just behind her we could quite easily catch her conversation; the organiser of the event suggested she should take the nearest door which was just to our left so she could get to the top table quicker. She refused and for a brief moment a flicker of the passion and power that characterised the ‘legend’ of the Iron Lady came back, however fleetingly. She was determined to greet those that had patiently waited to see her and noone was going to stop her. They were her people and without a thought for herself or her own health she and her entourage made their way straight through the adoring crowds, most of whom were visibly moved at the gesture.

So why did she present this hardline image? Well the truth is Margaret Thatcher didn’t have the luxury of being ‘kind’ in politics. From her first speech in politics to her last she was always aware that there were many who did not want her there. Even when she should have been amongst friends she had learnt to watch her back. She had to present a tough image to show she was capable of dealing with the formidable circumstances that faced her and face of any potential threats. Perhaps the most suprising source of ‘praise’ came from Ken Livingston who said: “After years of waffle and drift from Callaghan and Wilson, I respected Thatcher for her firm beliefs and determination with which she pursued them, even though I disagreed with her. The post-war consensus had run out of ideas and Britain needed root-and-branch reform”. With her Iron image she was able to deliver that reform but the Iron image wasn’t the real Margaret Thatcher. The kindness and compassion that is at the core of the Iron Lady did not come across in public because had it done so she would have been ejected from Downing Street far sooner.

Britain needed reform. It was going to happen anyway and she had the balls to deliver it. But behind closed doors she was a different woman. As a Fleet Street photographer observed “When she gave her leaving speech, she was as solid as a rock, without a quiver in her voice. As the car started to pull away, she leant forward to have one last little look at 10 Downing Street and saw the girls in the press office weeping at the window. That was the moment I photographed her, with her face covered in tears. You couldn’t help but admire her.”” The women in the press office weeped for a woman that quite simply they adored and for good reason. They saw for 11 and a half years the Prime Minister ‘off stage’ which showed her full of caring, courtesy and compassion qualities that were never allowed to be displayed publicly.

The stories documented here are ones of many and reflect the real Mrs Thatcher. No soundbites or teleprompters. No prepared speeches or cue cards. No images to project. What these stories show are not Margaret Thatcher the Icon, but Margaret Thatcher the woman, the mother, the grandmother. People often wonder why I am so devoted to Mrs Thatcher and her legacy and my answer is always the same: until you meet her you can never really know why. You can never understand just how special she can make people feel with just a kind word or a show of courtesy reminiscent of a bygone age. 30 years on I salute this most exceptional woman and thank her for everythig she has done for this nation and this world. Maybe one day the left can look beyond the passions of the time (a time which most can’t even remember) and see the true greatness of her work and the lady behind the legend.

Cameron to Thatcher: Thanks for Saving Britain

Below is the text of the letter sent by Tory Leader David Cameron to Margaret Thatcher on the eve of the 30th anniversary of her election to power:

“I wanted to write and send my best wishes on this, the 30th anniversary of the great day when you first walked into Downing Street as our prime minister. I still find it awe-inspiring to think of the state of the nation you inherited and the immense achievements of your governments. Getting the country to live within its means, bringing the trade unions within the law, rolling back the tide of state ownership, standing steadfast with our allies in the cold war … but above all giving the British people back their pride and self-belief. The whole country owes you a huge debt. It is with huge trepidation that I attempt, 30 years on, to get rid of an exhausted Labour government and start the process of mending the national finances and tackling some deep and entrenched problems that we face. If we are elected as the next government, I know that it will be extremely difficult work – but in your life and your work you have given all of us an example of real courage to follow”

BUCF will be celebrating Thatcher’s 30th Anniversary at our AGM on Monday.