The Prime Minister has made it clear that she hasn't yet decided when to call the general election. During a visit to south west London this morning, she pointed out that her government had been in power for less than four years. She said she wasn't going to think about a precise date for polling until the four years were over—that'll be early next month. Tonight, Mrs. Thatcher has been addressing Conservative candidates at a party conference in Hertfordshire, More details from our political Correspondent, John Sergeant: [end p1]
If the candidates were hoping for a hint as to when the general election would be they were disappointed. The Prime Minister repeated what she said in public, that she's waiting until her fourth anniversary in power before she considers the matter—that's on May the 4th. She said there were four possible months when the election could be held. June or October this year, or next year in March or May. But the main purpose of this conference is to inspire the candidates, and so in an off the cuff speech Mrs Thatcher stressed her government's positive achievements. On inflation this would be the only government in recent times to leave office with a lower inflation rate than when they came into office. Public spending was now under control, and social services spending was up. The Conservatives, too, she declared, had a good record on law and order, and on defence. She believed the majority of people in the country supported their defence policies despite what she called the antics of CND. And the candidates will hear more on this tomorrow when, among a group of Ministers attending, will be the defence secretary, Mr Michael Heseltine.