Remarks on unemployment ("we’d have been drummed out with this level")

Document type:	Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue:	FCS Conference, Loughborough
Source:	Central TV Archive: OUP transcript
Editorial comments:	Exact time and place unknown. MT was chatting to members of the Federation of Conservative Students on the conference floor when she was approached by two reporters, one from ATV (probably, but not certainly, John Withington). She was unwilling initially to speak and turned away several times during the brief exchange.
Importance ranking:	Major
Word count:	465
Themes:	Employment, General Elections, Monetary policy, Labour Party & socialism

John Withington, ATV

Mrs Thatcher, ATV. Can you tell us who do you think of the present candidates should be the next Prime Minister?

No. I can't. That's a matter for the Labour Party and not for me.

John Withington, ATV

Which one would you most like to face in a General Election?

I do not get involved in problems of the Labour Party. They've got a lot of problems, I agree with you, but they must sort them out. They made them, they must sort them out.

John Withington, ATV

You've been calling fairly strongly for a General Election. Do you think we are going to have one in the near future?

I would like to think so. We are ready for one aren't we? All of us.

chorus of FCS delegates cries “Yes” . Laughter.

Any time. The sooner the better. They're doing fantastically in the universities and we are going to sweep the university towns.

Second Questioner

words inaudible

Can I guess? No, I don't divine the workings of the … minds of our Labour opponents I'm afraid. [end p1]

Second Questioner

How do you feel about being a possible Prime Minister?

Oh, quite good. [laughter] Quite good. I'm hoping for promotion. [students laugh]

John Withington, ATV

Mrs Thatcher, there have been some people who have been somewhat sceptical as to whether the Conservatives really want a General Election at the moment. What would you say about that?

[turns to student and speaks over reporter] Well, you can tell him to do with that one can't you? [turns to reporter] We would like one immediately.

John Withington, ATV

In what way though would your policies differ basically, though, from the need to reduce inflation by holding wages down and cutting public spending which the present government has said it's going to do?

Well, certainly the policy's to reduce inflation, but who put inflation up to 25 per cent? The Labour Party. Who put unemployment up to … higher levels than the Conservative Party has ever had it. If we'd had unemployment at the level they've got it, we should have been drummed out of office long since. So, we should not … we could not rival them in incompetent handling of the economy.

John Withington, ATV

Many people are still worried that a Conservative Government …

[turns and walks away] Right, thank you.