Mrs Thatcher warns Tories not to be caught off guard

Mrs Thatcher, Leader of the Opposition, had an enthusiastic reception from Conservative backbenchers of the 1922 Committee when last night she gave the customary review of the Conservative Party's achievements in the present session.

Mrs Thatcher, who is still receiving congratulations on her effective political performance in the Commons on Wednesday, was in an aggressive mood. After referring to the success of Conservative candidates in constituencies that had been regarded as Labour strongholds she said that the opportunities for the Conservative Party were wide open. The high level of taxes and prices was the subject that dominated the thoughts of people of all parties and of none.

“Now it is clear that millions of people who have been lukewarm Labour supporters are there for the winning if we go out to convert them to our views” , she said.

She said the unexpected could happen and there could be an autumn general election; “we must not be caught off guard” .

Reviewing the year, she said: “This is a hung Parliament, a paralysed Parliament.” The Government could not get its legislation through and had to rely on the backing of 13 Liberals to survive.

Referring to by-election successes, which had followed one after the other, Mrs Thatcher, in a reference that recalled her visit to China, said that she was delighted with the success of “her gang of four” .