Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Letter to Norman St John-Stevas MP (rejecting press comment on his resignation)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: No.10 Downing Street
Source: Thatcher Archive
Editorial comments: Norman St John-Stevas wrote to MT on 7 January repudiating press interpretation of MT’s television interview the previous afternoon, the press hinting that he had been dismissed for leaking Cabinet secrets. His letter, and a press statement he issued that to, precedes MT’s reply and enclosure (extract from the interview).
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 937
Themes: Executive (appointments), Media

Dear Prime Minister,

I have been greatly distressed and indeed angered by the interpretation that has been put upon your broadcast yesterday which mentioned cabinet leaks and that they would be reduced by the ministerial changes which you have made. In the press and media the deduction has not unreasonably been drawn that I have in some way been responsible for this. I cannot for a moment believe that you meant this but the fact is that it is so believed. I am writing to ask you to confirm that this interpretation is incorrect. Needless to say I have throughout my period as a cabinet minister scrupulously observed the established constitutional rules in this matter. Neither have I however vigorously I have argued my point of view in cabinet ever indicated disagreement outside the cabinet with decisions reached. Others may not have observed these rules but I have no responsibility for that and as you know I have expressed to you my utter condemnation of cabinet leaks.

When one has suffered a misfortune one is naturally [end p1] upset but one is upheld by one's own faith, integrity and moral standards. It is because these have now been attacked that I cannot maintain a public silence any longer and I have issued a statement to the press a copy of which I enclose. I have informed the press that I have written to you but I have not revealed the contents of the letter. I would however wish that my letter and your reply should be released when you have had time to consider the matter.

Yours sincerely,

Norman St.John-Stevas. [end p2] Enclosure

Statement by the Right Honourable Norman St.John-Stevas M.P.

So far I have been scrupulous to make the least possible public comment on my dismissal from the government but a development has now occurred which makes it imperative for me to speak out. I have been greatly distressed and indeed angered by suggestions which have appeared in a number of newspapers today from what are described as sources close to the Prime Minister that my departure is connected with the leaks which have undoubtedly occurred from the cabinet in recent months, leaks which I deplore and condemn as a violation of cabinet secrecy and constitutional responsibility. Unfortunately in a television statement yesterday the Prime Minister made remarks about leaks being reduced by her ministerial changes. This was an ambiguous statement which has been interpreted by some to mean that in some way I have been responsible for this. I have written to the Prime Minister today to clarify what she meant. Meanwhile I must put the record straight. As Leader of the House it was part of my duty to take the weekly press lobby to give guidance on government policy and as a result I have enjoyed close and cordial relationships with the press. Such guidance is quite different from giving away cabinet secrets or revealing cabinet discussions. This I have never done either inside or outside the lobby. The loss of one's job is a misfortune which should be born with dignity and reticence but if one's honour and integrity are impugned there is an inescapable duty to speak publicly and set out the facts. [end p3]

Dear Norman St.John-StevasNorman

Thank you for your letter of today about the reports in this morning's newspapers about the television interview which I gave yesterday.

I can well understand that these reports should have upset you. Let me make it absolutely clear that nothing I said in the interview was meant to suggest that I thought that you were responsible for the leaks of Cabinet discussions which, very regrettably, have occurred from time to time over the past months. Nor do I believe it reasonable that my remarks should have been interpreted in the way they apparently have been. I enclose a copy of the relevant extract from the transcript of my interview. You will see from that that I condemned—as you have done in your statement—both leaks and disloyalty to the Cabinet as a whole and said, in effect, that I hoped that these were problems of the past. But, as you can see, my remarks on this score contained no reference at all to the changes in Ministerial appointments which I announced on Monday, and I did not intend that anyone should see a link between the two things.

I am very sorry that you have been caused such distress and I hope that what I have said in this letter will reassure you that I was in no way casting doubt upon your integrity and loyalty as a member of the Cabinet. [end p4]

I think that you are right in the circumstances to ask that your letter and my reply should be made public, and I am arranging for this to be done immediately.

Yours ever

Margaret [end p5]

Enclosure

Extract from the Prime Minister's Interview with the “Afternoon Plus” programme on 6 January 1981

Interviewer

I understand that what angers you rather a lot is disloyalty and leaks of information. I mean you have shown how displeased you have been with that—that has happened quite a bit in the Government so far hasn't it?

Prime Minister

Leaks there have been, yes. They shouldn't happen because it doesn't make for efficient Cabinet Government because you feel that anything you say might be repeated outside. It should not happen. It shouldn't happen in any Government. I hope it will happen less and less. I think people are very much aware of the damage that it has done. Disloyalty? It's not a question of being loyal or disloyal to a Prime Minister. Cabinet Government consists in coming to a decision by discussion. What you shouldn't ever do is say “All right, I'll go along with it inside Cabinet provided outside I can say I don't agree.” And that is not Cabinet Government and will weaken any Government. We've had one or two problems. I hope we're through those.