MT
Thank you Mr Chairman. First, may I say that it is a very great thrill for me to be asked to do this draw today. Anyone invited so to do would grasp the opportunity with both hands, and I am very pleased to have the chance to do so.
It is very good to be at Ibrox Stadium. It is, of course, almost legendary in that it leads the whole of the United Kingdom in the excellence of its facilities, in the number of places that are fully seated, and in the way in which it has brought up standards. I think that those who are responsible in this club realised that with higher standard of living people were demanding a higher and higher standard of facilities, and I'm not in the least bit surprised that Lord Justice Taylor was very very impressed when he came and is recommending for many many other clubs that which has already been achieved here, or is in process of being achieved. May I congratulate those in charge of Ibrox Stadium for the excellence of the standards they have set for the whole of the United Kingdom.
Just one third thing, because I know that people are here to hear the result of this. I understand that the last Prime Minister that came here was Winston Churchill. There is no Prime Minister I would rather follow than Winston and it is fifty years, this year, since he became Prime Minister. So I am very happy to follow in his footsteps and I hope it won't be quite so long in the future before another Prime Minister—or even the same Prime Minister [laughter] —is invited here and gladly accepts an invitation.
[Draw takes place. MT willing to take questions but none asked]MT
Shall we end the formal proceedings? You have no questions? That's marvellous. I have answered quite a lot outside. But I do just confirm that Scottish football as a whole has led the standards of the United Kingdom, and we are very proud of Scottish football, very proud indeed. Er, it really has been an example both from the players and from those who come to watch them in this very exciting game which has a very great past a very great future.
[Film then follows of remarks outside the Stadium]Questioner
Mrs Thatcher, did you enjoy the experience this morning of being involved in the Scottish Cup draw?
MT
It was a great honour to be asked and it was very exciting and I enjoyed it very much indeed.
Questioner
What do you think of Ibrox Stadium and its facilities?
MT
[end p1]Oh, marvellous. Absolutely marvellous. I know Lord Justice Taylor came here and looked at it and was most impressed, and of course many of the recommendations that he has made have already been achieved in this stadium. And as you know they are doing more seats, er, to complete the all-seating stadium. It is very impressive, not only in the all-seating stadium but in the facilities everywhere—in the restaurant facilities, in the way in which they have done everything for good maintenance and good standards. I think it is the best one I've ever seen.
Questioner
As far as the Cup draw is concerned, it isn't the first time you've involved yourself in the Scottish Cup—we remember you appeared at Hampden Park two seasons ago. You're obviously keen to involve yourself with Scottish football.
MT
Well, look, we enjoy it very much. Denis has been involved with the other kind of football—rugby football—more, but we enjoy football very much indeed, and it was a great delight to come up and watch the cup final here, two years ago, when it was Celtic and Dundee. The result you know, but we enjoyed the match very much.
Questioner
I have to say to you, there are those people today—of course, you know—who say that your involvement in the Cup draw today is nothing more than cheap political gain. What would you say to that?
MT
The Prime Minister should be involved in almost all aspects of national life, and therefore I come as a Prime Minister.
Questioner
Thank you.
MT
Thank you.
Questioner
Super. Thank you very much for doing that. Thank you.
MT
[Coughs] Just in time, because I was just getting a frog in my throat. [Laughter]
[Film ends]