Harold Wilson could not do any better

— MRS. THATCHER

Harold Wilson would have failed to solve her present problems if he was premier, said Education Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher in an attack on the Opposition leader. She was speaking at the Finchley and Friern Barnet Conservative Association's women's advisory committee meeting last Wednesday.

Mrs. Thatcher, MP for said if Mr. Wilson was Prime Minister now he would “never have tackled the fundamental problems” facing the Government.

She continued that it had been seen that the Edward HeathPrime Minister had the strength of purpose, the will and the tenacity to tackle these problems.

Earlier she said that industry must adhere to the Government's ceiling of £2 on wage claims which is currently being discussed between the Government, trade unions and the CBI.

She said: “Someone has to pay for wage and salary increases and every increase means a price rise for some people.

“Power has passed into the hands of some militants who cannot match it with the same sense of responsibility.” she said. Mrs. Thatcher stressed, too, the need for funds towards the running costs of the Conservative Party.

She said the Tories do not have an annual £1 million income from trade union contributions like the Socialists.

“The Conservative Party has no such funds to call upon and it is only the hard work of all of us that provides sufficient money for the party to operate,” she added.

Mrs. Thatcher had been introduced by Mrs. Margaret Tiplady, chairman of the women's advisory committee and wife of Barnet councillor Mr. John Tiplady.

Mrs. Tiplady commented on the ovation given to Mrs. Thatcher at the recent Conservative Party conference in Blackpool.