Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Speech to Belvedere Conservatives

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: St Augustine’s Church Hall, Belvedere, Kent
Source: Dartford Chronicle, 3 November 1950
Editorial comments: Evening?
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 285
Themes: Conservative Party (organization), General Elections

TORIES CAN LEARN FROM OPPONENTS

MISS ROBERTS ON ‘SOFTENING’ UP GROUND

At the reopening of Abbey Wood (mixed) branch of the Conservative Party, on October 25 at St. Augustine's Church Hall, Belvedere, Miss Margaret Roberts, M.A., B.Sc., the prospective candidate, made clear what the objects of the branch should be.

Elections, she said, were won in the space of time between them, and not during the actual three weeks or so of the fight. It took the Labour Party 50 years to get into power, and they did it by softening up the ground the whole time. Conservatives should learn from their opponents.

Success lay in the number of keen, willing workers available for canvassing and organisation. They should know where their support lay and where their opponents were, but most important was to know where the doubtful voter was. At present there were not enough seats held by Conservatives to get them in at the next election, so seats had to be wrested from Labour. She concluded, “In this area the Socialists have reached saturation point, but Conservatives can still gain votes.”

In the election of officers, Mr. J. Dove was elected chairman, Mrs. Morby vice-chairman, Mr. G. Page treasurer, and Mr. J. Cuffley secretary.

M. H. Winn was nominated as municipal election candidate.

The committee consists of Mrs. Woodward, Miss Roberton, Messrs. A. Pye, F. Burt, C. Knapp and R. Divall.