MT
Well, I'm obviously very pleased. It's a handsome gain. But you mustn't look at it just as an isolated result, it's one in a series of gains. We've been steadily gaining seats from Labour and this is yet another one. I'm delighted.
IRN Journalist
You describe it as a handsome gain but the margin of less than 7 per cent surely wouldn't give you much comfort in a General Election?
MT
A lot of comfort. A clear victory of 75 seats, I'd settle for that any day.
IRN Journalist
But surely by-elections normally have much larger swings than general elections do. If it came to a general election, aren't you still facing a rather close-run thing?
MT
Oh no. Uh, when we got back in 1951 which was the beginning of thirteen years of new Conservative government, we got back with, uh, a majority of about 16. That became a much bigger majority, about … I think about 50 in 1955 and lo and behold it became nearly 100 in 1959. That was a jolly good way to start.
IRN Journalist
Are you expecting then a tight majority if you get one at the next general election?
MT
No, I'm expecting to win and I'm expecting to win well. And I think the whole series of by-election results that we've had augurs very well for us.
IRN Journalist
When do you think the next general election will be after this result?
MT
Well, that's … that's not in my gift. I'm afraid it might just influence the Prime Minister adversely. He'll say, good heavens, with a defeat like this, I'd better hang on.
IRN Journalist
But that won't be good news for you, will it …
MT
No. [end p1]
IRN Journalist
… the more time he has the better his chances?
MT
No, you're wrong. The more time he has, the more he'll show up his mistakes.
IRN Journalist
What role do you think race played in this by-election campaign?
MT
Not a great deal. I think the election was fought on issues that go right across the board, some economic, some like law and order, particularly education. I was asked a lot about education. But you know I've just been listening to the Labour candidate and she didn't think race played a very large part in the by-election either.
IRN Journalist
Why do you think attention was paid to it?
MT
Uh, I don't decide the issues. Politicians don't. It's people who decide the issues, they ask us questions, we answer. It's they who decide what significance to attach to our replies.
IRN Journalist
Looking back, ever since you made a remark in a television interview about the country being as you put it, “swamped with immigrants” , there's been criticism of you for using that phrase. Do you regret having used that phrase?
MT
No, I said that some people felt swamped. Some people do feel swamped, that is perfectly accurate … that is a perfectly accurate reply how quite a number of people feel.
IRN Journalist
It was described as being not just an accurate reply, whether it was accurate or inaccurate, but being emotive? Was it?
MT
My goodness me, if I'm never accused of using any word worse than swamped I shall be very pleased.