A time for bold leadership

MRS MARGARET THATCHER, CONSERVATIVE

Out of the maze of election speeches, I should like to distil the issues for next Thursday.

Money—The £

Any realistic definition of money would have to include the phrase “paper which loses its face value with time” . Inflation means cheating the thrifty out of part of their savings. While Conservatives have not been blameless, the Labour party, as the Sunday Times puts it “as a government … has been the more inflationary” . The results of 1965 bear this out and the worst year of all was the last year of the previous Labour government. I believe that a Conservative Government would be more zealous than Labour to maintain the value of the £1 sterling.

A WAY OF LIFE.

A dislike of being dictated to is one of the more fundamental British characteristics. Yet a further period of Labour government would mean five years of more conformity to Socialist doctrine. Enforced comprehensive schools regardless of the needs of the locality. Higher taxation directed as much to penalising those of whom the Socialists disapprove, as to raising revenue to meet expenditure. An increasing number of government departments employing large numbers of people on telling others what to do. These are the language and methods of Socialism. I reject them in favour of individual liberty and free choice.

Private Enterprise v. State Control.

The majority of the exports of the nation and of her wealth are the product of free enterprise. It is difficult therefore to see why our opponents should want to further state control, to nationalise steel at a cost of £650 million or to use another £150 million to buy shareholdings in industry. These things are not put forward for commercial reasons, but because Socialists have an insatiable appetite for power.

Europe.

A Conservative Government would like to enter Europe at the first favourable opportunity. Many of the obstacles which were present in 1963 have now been mitigated or have disappeared. Whatever we do Europe will be strong economically and influential politically. We should be taking a lead in fashioning her policies, and we should enable our exports to benefit from her vast markets.

Leadership.

This is a time for bold and vigorous leadership Abroad Edward Heath won universal acclaim for his handling of the Brussels negotiations. At home he has a passion for mobilising Great Britain's full potential. Let Thursday give him the opportunity to do so.