It's not often that Mrs Thatcher allows herself to be upstaged … but the Prime Minister happily took a back seat at the weekend at Roy Langstone 's night.

For the past 20 years Mr Langstone has been secretary and agent to Mrs Thatcher in her Finchley and Friern Barnet constituency. Saturday's annual dinner dance at Selborne Hall, Southgate, was his last function before retiring … and also his 65th birthday.

The dinner-jacketed and evening-gowned guests gave the Prime Minister her customary standing ovation after her mini-State of the Nation report, but they entered into the more light-hearted spirit of the occasion by singing Happy Birthday To You to the new senior citizen and howling their derision at his attempts to blow out the birthday cake candles.

Mrs Thatcher presented him with a personal gift and the constituency officers gave him a lighter. Everyone in the room signed a memento card. “We've been together now for 20 years,” said the Prime Minister. “And there's not an agent living in the land that I'd swap for my dear old Roy.” Incoming agent Mr Andrew Thomson, who took over on Monday, saw at first hand that Mrs Thatcher has a friendly relationship with her agent and constituents which accounts for some remarkable loyalty.

After years in the background, Roy relished the chance of the limelight—and he even made a political speech in support of his MP and her policies. “I hate ‘Wets’,” he told an approving audience. “They are dishonourable.” And, warming to his theme, he advised the Tory waverers to “keep quiet or get out.” He said he was appalled by some Conservative members of Parliament— “even some higher up. That's the way,” he advised. “Get rid of people who are not loyal.”

But, if the SDP reckons it can expect a purge and a rush of disaffected Tory MPs, it ought to know that message was received showed that, in Finchley Langstone was preaching to the converted and the tible.

Mr Langstone, whose wife Barbara is a councillor in the constituency, is to stay on in the area and join the ranks of Barnet's voluntary workers. He also collected an unexpected reference from constituency chairman Councillor John Tiplady as “an agent for 20 years and an expert bingo caller.” There were loud “Hear, hears” when Mr Tiplady called the Prime Minister “the best constituency MP in the country.” Since 1979, he added, she had fearlessly shown courage and earned distinction throughout the whole world.

Mrs Thatcher, in a low-key address to match the occasion, reminded the guests that Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister when Roy Langstone arrived in Finchley and then, as possibly now, there were “local difficulties” with the Liberals.

The theme of her speech was: “I believe the worst is over.” She prefaced her remarks by saying: “I think there is a general feeling now that we are winning through.” Tories she said, were doers and not talkers. “You have got to be my talkers,” she said. The Conservatives had given a bonus to old age pensioners every year even though they had been in difficulties, and nurses had had a better deal under the Tories, with 76 per cent more cash than the day the Government came into office.

Mrs Thatcher referred to the new trade union legislation— “It's a source of great joy to me that people who have lost their jobs since 1974 because they wouldn't join a union will be compensated” —and to unemployment. In this country the critics pointed to the number of unemployed and blamed it on “Thatcherism.” Yet in Germany, where there was a Social Democrat Government, unemployment had risen by 200,000. “That can't be my fault,” said Mrs. T.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by her husband, Denis, left the centre stage to Roy Langstone. At midnight he was still dancing to the music of Dick Davis and his Band.

Keep customers satisfied, says PM

Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher paid tribute to her right-hand man in Finchley and number one supporter, Roy Langstone, on Saturday evening.

Roy has worked behind the scenes for 20 years but at the annual dinner of the Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association the spotlight was turned on him.

The dinner at Selbourne Hall in Southgate was Roy 's last engagement as constituency agent and it coincided with his 65th birthday.

“It's Roy 's night tonight,” proclaimed the Premier who then went on to speak of the political scene since her agent took office.

When Mrs. Thatcher came to Finchley, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and the Liberal Party were presenting “difficulties” at local level.

She mentioned Alec Douglas-Home before attacking the administration of Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan.

“They went straight to the IMF because Britain was broke. They spent and spent money this country wasn't earning and borrowed until the people of this country and overseas said they would not lend any more” .

Britain's reserves—held by the Bank of England—were run down to four billion dollars while the national debt stood at 22 billion dollars.

The present Government were steadily paying back the money owed thereby improving Britain's standing in world affairs.

Mrs Thatcher went on to state the Government's determination to stick to its policies.

“You don't have an income unless you please the consumer,” she said.

The price and design of British goods had to be right if they were to be bought and our standard of living improved.

She said: “It is ridiculous for a politician to give the impression, vote for me and we'll have it easy. If anyone ever tells you that he's a liar.

“It is the workers who earn it. We know full well that we all function best when it's a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

“You cannot have one without the other. We're all in it together, we all prosper or we all go under” .

Reduced overmanning in private businesses had made them more efficient and a solid foundation was being built to ensure a prosperous future for industry and commerce.

Mrs. Thatcher said the Tories were “doers instead of talkers” . Since they returned to power pensioners had been paid a Christmas bonus every year; there were more doctors and nurses in the NHS and the wage bill to nurses had increased by 76 per cent. [end p2]

During the Labour administration people had lost their jobs for refusing to join closed shops. They had been sacked without a penny compensation.

So she had taken great pleasure in introducing a bill that would order compensation to be paid to those who had lost their jobs from 1974 to 1980 for this reason.

“It doesn't matter if you join a trade union or not. The important thing is whether you are a good worker at your job or not.

“We have laid a sound foundation, the kind of foundation on which Britain in the future can be respected and build prosperity and grow.

“It is a slow steady climb back and there are no easy winding roads uphill. We have to climb them all the way but the view from the top of the higher slopes is good” .

Mrs Thatcher thanked Ron and Sue Thurlow, Derek and Tessa Phillips, Roy and Barbara Langstone and Renee Sapstead for their ork in arranging the dinner dance.

In his farewell speech Roy Langstone said it had been a privilege to work for the association and a marvellous experience to act as agent for the first woman Prime Minister.

He then launched a bitter attack on the rebels in the Labour Party. “I hate wets, in my opinion they are dishonest, dishonourable and one should keep quiet or get out.”

After a five course meal members and their guests enjoyed dancing to Dick Davis and his band and guitarist Paul Dardis.