‘State control the issue’

Finchley M.P. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher has been expressing strong criticism of the Government at a number of ward annual general meetings recently.

In a speech at Moss Hall she stated that the political atmosphere in the House seemed indicative of an early poll, possibly on March 31st.

One significant point seemed to be the change in parliamentary programme and the billing of a debate on ‘Tory changes in the Welfare State’ instead of the scheduled legislation in the Government's programme.

Mrs. Thatcher considered that public opinion polls were a poor guide to the way the electorate voted and thought that feeling would swing to the Conservatives when the date was announced.

The Conservatives would be fighting the election with a constructive policy built up over the previous six months.

The main election issue may be that of state control versus self reliance of the individual. On this question she was critical of the plan for the proposed Ombudsman, in that he would not possess sufficient powers to deal with injustices caused to the individual by state intervention.

In conclusion Mrs. Thatcher attacked the attitude of the Harold WilsonPrime Minister towards the Rhodesia crisis in that the economic blockade was not being successfully enforced.