Archive

Guide to the archives, 1925-79

Below are links to guide pages, highlighting material in the archive up to the point MT became Prime Minister in May 1979

1959-74: a conventional political career?

1959-60: new MP [MT's Private Members Bill & her first clashes with the machinery of government, central & local]

1970-74: Heath Government [relations with Heath, 1971 & 1973 British-French summits, 1972 Budget, 1972-73 Chief Whip's private assessments of MT written for Heath, 1973 Emergency Budget]

1970-71: British entry to the European Economic Community [1970-71 files on EEC application in full]

1970-79: Hailsham diary [highlights from Lord Hailsham's secret diary, decoded for this site (with help from GCHQ)]

1974: fall of the Heath Government [1974 failed Conservative-Liberal coalition negotiation]

1974-79: opposition & the birth of 'Thatcherism'

1970-79: Hailsham diary [highlights from Lord Hailsham's secret diary, decoded for this site (with help from GCHQ)]

1974-79: MT's relationship with the Centre for Policy Studies [creation & crucial early years of the Think Tank which pioneered 'Thatcherism']

1940s-80s: Thatcher, Hayek & Friedman [MT's dealings with the great free market economists]

1975-79: MT's personal files [material from her archive in Cambridge, released in 2008]

1975: MT's first visit to the US as party leader [FCO files on a controversial but very successful trip]

1975-78: the G7 [creation & early years of the annual World Economic Summit of richer nations]

1975-90: "Gentleman George" - the secret archive of George Younger [selections published on this site]

1976: MT's private dealings with Callaghan plus visit to India & Pakistan [No.10 & FCO files]

1978-79: Britain & the origins of the EMS [creation of the European Monetary System]

1979: the Henderson despatch [leaked valedictory despatch from Britain's Ambassador to Paris, lamenting national decline]