Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Speech to Conservative Agents

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Blackpool
Source: Yorkshire Post, 7 October 1975
Journalist: John Fisher, Yorkshire Post, reporting
Editorial comments: 2000 after dinner; a "scene setting speech" (appointment diary).
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 167

Now Mrs Thatcher makes her mark

The Conservative leader, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, called on Conservative agents last night to get ready for an election.

“We have to be ready. We have to be ready in the constituencies to fight and to win.

“We have to get the organisation geared up. What we are going to see this week and in the constituencies in the future is a united effort from a united party.”

Mrs. Thatcher was given a warm reception by the party's professional agents and she struck the right note when she congratulated them on the by-election victory at West Woolwich.

Within a few hours of her arrival at Blackpool, Mrs. Thatcher demonstrated that she is out to stamp her authority on the Conservative party this week.

She is still untested as a leader in the difficult show arena of a party conference.

But there can be no mistaking that her successful North Atlantic tour has given Mrs. Thatcher the confidence that she can show herself, equal to the Conservative leadership.