PM gives clue to election date

PSST! Want to know the date of the General Election? My forecast is that the autumn is the earliest time.

I went along to the Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association dinner dance at Selbourne Hall, Southgate, on Saturday looking for clues.

The Prime Minister was going to use the occasion, I thought, to drop a hint to her constituency workers to gear themselves for the fray.

The Finchley Tory “do” is something of a family affair; almost ritualistic and full of fervour. It's Mrs Thatcher preaching to the converted, most of whom call her Margaret and smile and chat with her as she makes her way round the tables.

After dinner she delivers a sort of State of the Nation speech, always impressive, always ending to a standing ovation.

She talked about her “pilgrimage” to the Falklands and earned the customary deep voiced “Hear, hears” as she described last year's conflict with the simple phrase: “It was a total togetherness.”

She spoke about war … “I don't like any kind of war, not just nuclear war.” She made what she called the significant point that there has not been a war involving powers with nuclear weapons since 1945.

That is because, she added, the consequences would be so horrific. There had been 140 “conflicts” since the Second World War, but nuclear weapons had helped keep the peace and proved a deterrent to war.

The PM handed out a pat on the back to those in business who had produced “absolutely splendid” export figures and a surplus in 1982 that was £1 billion more than forecast. That meant there were businesses getting out and selling rather than sitting waiting for the recession to end.

There was more about sound money, sound defence and pensions in line with inflation. Then the first mention of the election.

“I am not going to tell you the date,” said Mrs Thatcher, “for the simple reason that I don't know it.”

Then a clue. She pointed out that she will not have been in office four years until this May. “There's too much to do to think about an election yet,” she added. “We shall just carry on.”

Does that mean she plans to stay the whole five years? Mrs T did not elaborate. All the constituency devotees got to get them on their feet at the end was the prediction that if the Government sticks to its policies it would have “a tremendous victory when the time comes.”

One date that was confirmed. Councillor John Tiplady, the constituency chairman for nearly five years, has just retired from work and will be standing down from office at the annual meeting.

Mr Tiplady, welcoming the Prime Minister's husband Denis—everyone calls him Denis too—told Mrs Thatcher: “You demonstrated to the world that Britain was great again in 1982. I will never forget your courage.”

Will she still be Prime Minister at next year's annual dinner dance? That may depend, of course, when she decides to name the election day.

Judging by the response to the woman who has been the MP for Finchley for more than two decades she has only to set a date to get the faithful cracking to get her re-elected. (2) Barnet Press, 4 February 1983

PM praises Task Force men and raps ‘no nukes’

PRIME MINISTER Mrs. Margaret Thatcher spoke of her recent “pilgrimage” to the Falklands when she addressed local Conservatives this week.

At Saturday's Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association annual dinner and dance at Selborne Hall, Southgate, Mrs Thatcher said: “I was deeply moved to make a pilgrimage to the Falklands to see the ground over which the campaign was boldly planned and bravely fought by people from all walks of life.

“It was a total togetherness and that was its greatest inspiration.”

Mrs Thatcher, accompanied by husband Denis, son Mark, and daughter Carol, continued:

“If you want to make certain that freedom continues, you must have sure and strong defences.

“We were able to send that fleet because we have strong defences.”

Mrs. Thatcher defended Britain's commitment to nuclear weapons.

“I don't like any kind of war—not only nuclear—and we all wish weapons of war had never been invented,” she said.

“But they have, and we can't carry on as though they have not been.

“There has not been a war between powers who have nuclear weapons. That is because the consequences would be so horrific. The USSR has never rolled its tanks into a country with nuclear arms.”

Mrs. Thatcher said nuclear weapons were the reason for such a long period of peace.

Turning her attention to the economy, the Prime Minister said:

“We have managed to conduct financial affairs in Britain in a sound way, so we don't have the worries of other countries.

“We don't have enormous deficits. And when you hear high inflation mentioned, it is not in connection with this country.

“We sometimes don't trumpet our achievements as we should: The latest figures show exports and the balance of payments at an all-time high.

“There are many factories and businesses who are not sitting around waiting for the end of the recession.

“They are getting out and selling, and bringing the end of the recession by their activities.”

Mrs. Thatcher said her government had managed to keep rises in the old age pension in line with inflation and had given pensioners a Christmas bonus every year—something the last Labour government had failed to achieve.

She said the number of people in their own houses and flats was an all-time record.

“We want more and more people to be men and women of property. It is that which gives you security and independence.”

Briefly mentioning unemployment, she said “Jobs come from successful businesses, not from government.”

Mrs. Thatcher said she was not going to reveal the date of the next General Election— “for the very simple reason that I haven't decided.”

She continued: “I think we have too much to do to think about an election yet.

“We are just going to get on with the job. Exports are improving and we want to see the fruits of that.

“I have great confidence that if we are true to the things we believe, we shall have a tremendous victory when the time comes.”

Introducing Mrs. Thatcher, association chairman Cr. John Tiplady said:

“During the long anxious days you demonstrated to the world by your splendid leadership that aggression should not be allowed to pay, and that Britain was really great again.

“We will never forget your courage or resolution.”

Following the speeches, the guests were entertained by Dick Davis and his band, and guitarist and singer Paul Dardis.