Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Speech on being reelected MP for Finchley

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Christ’s College, Finchley
Source: Finchley Press, 16 October 1964
Editorial comments: Early morning; exact time of declaration uncertain.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 386

Fair Shares for all in Disappointment

Victory for the Conservatives—but disappointment was a three party emotion as the General Election result for the Finchley Division was announced. The Conservatives hoped for a ten thousand majority, Labour's hopes rested on the ‘silver’; but for the Liberals the crash of their dream world, in which they saw themselves as Orpington-type conquerers.

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher retained her seat, but with a reduced majority of 8,802. The Liberals went into second place, with Labour third, over three thousand votes behind them. Consolation came for the Liberals in that they were the only party to increase their votes, compared with 1959.

The result, declared at Christ's College, earlier than was expected, produced cheers from the Conservatives, who had been listening to what for them were the rather dismal results coming over the radio, for the rest of the country.

For the Liberals it was also a night of despondency. They had seriously believed that they might win the constituency or at any rate come a lot closed to Mrs. Thatcher than they did.

As for Labour, their hopes buoyed up by the results from the rest of the country, the result was most disappointing—their vote had shrunk by over a thousand.

Result

The final figures were: Thatcher (Con.) 24,591; Pardoe (Lib.) 15,789; Tomlinson (Lab.) 12,408. There was a poll of 78.218 p.c.—a rather surprising drop of 2 p.c. compared with the last General Election. The result was declared at 12.40 am.

After thanking her supporters for the help they had given her during the campaign, and expressing her satisfaction with the result, Mrs. Thatcher had this to say— “We have had such an excellent campaign, and have suffered none of the drawbacks which have been found in some other constituencies. I am very glad and proud to think that in Finchley we have all observed freedom of speech and the right to be heard.”

Said Mr. Pardoe, who was greeted with cheers from the large number of Young Liberals in the hall, “I believe that this result is very heartening for Liberals.”

But Mr. Tomlinson, the Labour candidate was quite cheerful about his reverse—as well he might with the results coming over the radios—and he advised his listeners to quickly get home and switch on.