Archive

MT's official files as Prime Minister, 1979-90

MT's official files as PM can be read on this site as they are released, in full and free to all - the confidential files originally stored at No.10, the core record of her premiership.

The files have been copied at the British National Archives (TNA) at Kew in London and can be downloaded precisely as they appear in the reading room.

We are doing something more to help people make sense of this mass of information. The files are subject-based, logically enough, but that system makes it difficult to reconstruct the flow of paper across the Prime Minister’s desk at any point in time, depriving us of a sense of context, of the political cross-winds, some of them overwhelming.

To combat this effect we are uploading a large selection of the most important documents from these files – thousands in total – to our powerful site database. You can search and sort by date, subject and other parameters, getting as close as anyone can now get to reconstructing the Prime Minister’s daily "Red Boxes", the rich diet of foreign and domestic policy papers submitted to her by the No.10 Private Office.

List and links to the PM’s files

Below are links to the downloadable files in numerical order. The subject terms are those used in the original filing system.

An average file has around 200 pages.

You can read here an account of how filing worked at No.10, and the system for archiving MT’s Prime Ministerial papers, both of which had their quirks.

Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Private Office files, 1979-1989

1979-89: Chancellor’s Private Office files [links to hundreds of digitised files from the Chancellorships of Sir Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson]

Engagement Diaries

An alternative way through the material is to read MT’s engagement diaries, jumping day to day.

The engagement diaries link directly to relevant documents in the site database, so this is a good way to recover the perspective from the Red Box.

Showing items 2451 - 2500 of 3726

Items per page
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
PREM19/2482 Scotland (Report of the Royal Commission on Legal Service in Scotland) 1980 Apr 21 1987 Dec 2 2016 Jul 21 Confidential 81
PREM19/2483 Security (Sir Maurice Oldfield: articles in Irish newspapers; Prime Minister's statement in Parliament regarding allegations in Chapman Pincher's book 'Traitors') 1980 Jan 8 1987 Jul 24 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2484 Security (Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ): changes in funding, status and staffing at) (Part 5) 1986 Apr 17 1988 May 27 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2485 Security (Correspondence between Tam Dalyell MP and Prime Minister concerning the programme 'Cabinet') 1988 Aug 28 1988 Oct 7 2016 Jul 21 Confidential 21
PREM19/2486 Security (Correspondence with Anthony Steven Divall) 1988 May 31 1988 Oct 4 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2487 Security (Correspondence with Gavin Strong MP concerning Archibald and Jane Williams) 1988 Feb 19 1988 Mar 15 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2488 Security (Correspondence with Lieutenant Colonel Robert Butler) 1983 Apr 15 1988 Mar 30 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2489 Security (Distribution of the Prime Minister's diary) 1981 May 13 1988 May 24 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2490 Security (Intelligence Co-ordinator in the Cabinet Office: proposed appointment of the Sir Anthony Duff and his successors) 1980 Jun 18 1988 Oct 17 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2491 Security (Terrorist activity and extremism in Great Britain) (Part 3) 1986 Jun 3 1987 Sep 29 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2492 Security (Terrorist activity and extremism in Great Britain, including threat to UK nuclear facilities and nuclear materials) (Part 4) 1987 Oct 19 1988 Sep 30 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2493 Security (Links between Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and other terrorist organisations: People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine operations in London) 1979 Sep 28 1988 Mar 17 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2494 Security (Ministerial personal protection: security arrangements for overnight parking of Ministers' cars: VIP security) 1979 Aug 28 1987 Jun 12 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2495 Security (Miscellaneous leaks and security breaches) (Part 1) 1985 Mar 26 1987 Jun 30 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2496 Security (Miscellaneous leaks and security breaches) (Part 2) 1987 Jul 2 1988 Dec 22 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2497 Security (Correspondence with Members of Parliament) 1988 Apr 12 1988 Apr 22 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2498 Security (Threat of unauthorised disclosure by former employee of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)) 1987 Feb 6 1987 Mar 20 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2499 Security (RAF fixed telecommunications system) 1988 Mar 29 1988 Jul 21 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2500 Security (Reform of Official Secrets Act: proposed Protection of Official Information Bill; enforcing the duty of confidentiality) (Part 1) 1979 May 4 1987 Oct 30 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2501 Security (White Paper on Reform of Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911: proposed Protection of Official Information Bill; enforcing the duty of confidentiality) (Part 2) 1987 Nov 3 1988 Jul 19 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2502 Security (Security and protection of the Prime Minister) (Part 2) 1986 Feb 3 1987 Jan 26 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2503 Security (Case of Geoffrey Arthur Prime) 1983 Jul 1 1987 Aug 11 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2504 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 5) 1987 Jan 8 1987 Mar 12 2023 Dec 29 8 Secret 265
PREM19/2505 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 6) 1987 Mar 13 1987 Mar 31 2023 Dec 29 7 Secret 102
PREM19/2506 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 7) 1987 Apr 3 1987 Jun 30 2023 Dec 29 16 Top Secret 343
PREM19/2507 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 8) 1987 Jul 2 1987 Sep 22 2023 Dec 29 12 Secret 233
PREM19/2508 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 9) 1987 Sep 23 1987 Oct 30 2023 Dec 29 14 Secret 202
PREM19/2509 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 10) 1987 Nov 2 1988 Mar 31 2023 Dec 29 23 Top Secret 209
PREM19/2510 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 11) 1988 Apr 7 1988 Sep 29 2023 Dec 29 12 Top Secret 298
PREM19/2511 Security (Security of the Secret Services: Chapman Pincher's book 'Their Trade is Treachery'; Peter Wright case) (Part 12) 1988 Oct 5 1988 Dec 23 2023 Dec 29 19 Top Secret 286
PREM19/2512 Security (Sunday Times articles on the death of Stephen Ward and his association with MI5 at the time of the Profumo affair: book by Phillip Knightley and Caroline Kennedy 'An Affair of State') 1982 Nov 29 1982 Nov 29 2018 Dec 28
PREM19/2513 Security (Case of Michael Bettaney and the ensuing review of the Security Service) 1986 Jun 2 1988 Nov 8 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2514 Security (Allegations against the Security Service) 1977 Jul 16 1987 Mar 18 Retained Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2515 Security (The Hijacking Declaration of the Bonn Summit, July 1978: prevention of international terrorist activity) (Part 5) 1986 Jun 2 1988 May 25 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2516 Security (Lord and Lady Rothschild) 1987 Jun 8 1987 Jul 17 Retained Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2517 Security (Procedure for dealing with suspicious letters and parcels received at 10 Downing Street: letter bombs) (Part 1) 1968 Sep 25 1986 Jan 20 Reconsideration 2027 Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2518 Singapore (Relations with UK: visits by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew; meetings with Prime Minister) (Part 1) 1979 May 24 1988 Mar 8 2016 Dec 30 2 Confidential 280
PREM19/2519 Social Services (Review of social security benefits: Social Fund) (Part 5) 1986 Oct 1 1987 Sep 29 2016 Jul 21 Secret 252
PREM19/2520 Social Services (Review of social security benefits: Income Support; Pensions Ombudsdman) (Part 6) 1986 Oct 2 1990 Feb 27 2016 Jul 21 2 Secret 397
PREM19/2521 Social Services (Social Services Committee report on perinatal mortality and morbidity; independent review of morbidity in the Bonnybridge/Denny area (near Falkirk)) 1980 Nov 14 1987 May 7 2016 Jul 21 Restricted 263
PREM19/2522 Social Services (Unemployment Benefit: availability for work test; restriction of benefit payments to European Community nationals; low income statistics) (Part 5) 1986 Oct 28 1988 Nov 9 2016 Jul 21 Confidential 30
PREM19/2523 Social Services (Pensions: portable pensions; Inquiry into Provision for Retirement; consultation document on personal pensions) 1983 Sep 30 1988 Feb 19 2016 Jul 21 Secret 337
PREM19/2524 South Africa (Internal situation: relations with UK) (Part 14) 1986 Dec 9 1987 Aug 28 2017 Dec 29 19 Top Secret - Cab One 301
PREM19/2525 South Africa (Internal situation: relations with UK) (Part 15) 1987 Sep 2 1988 May 26 2016 Nov 7 14 Secret 408
PREM19/2526 South Africa (Internal situation: relations with UK) (Part 16) 1988 Jun 2 1988 Aug 26 2017 Dec 29 8 Secret 289
PREM19/2527 South Africa (Internal situation: relations with UK) (Part 17) 1988 Sep 1 1988 Dec 22 2017 Dec 29 7 Secret - Cab One 256
PREM19/2528 South Africa (Report of the Erasmus Commission on alleged irregularities in the South African Department of Information; resignation of President John Vorster; European Community Erasmus programme (student exchange programme)) 1979 Jun 6 1987 Jan 30 2016 Dec 30 Confidential 12
PREM19/2529 Soviet Union (Prime Minister's visit to Soviet Union, March-April 1987) (Part 1) 1987 Jan 5 1987 Mar 31 2017 Jul 20 4 Top Secret 603
PREM19/2530/1 Soviet Union (Prime Minister's visit to Soviet Union, March-April 1987: briefing for Prime Minister) (Part 2) [1 of 2] 1987 Apr 1 1987 Jun 26 2017 Jul 20 5 Top Secret 193
PREM19/2531 Soviet Union (Policy towards the Soviet Union: calls on Prime Minister by Robert Conquest; organisation of a seminar on Soviet intentions; Soviet and East European studies) (Part 1) 1979 Aug 1 1987 Sep 8 2017 Jul 20 8 Top Secret 201
Items per page