Thatcher lashes Govt. for pinning faith on oil boom
Speaking in Aberdeen last night Tory Leader Mrs Margaret Thatcher slammed the Government for pinning their faith in the future on profits from North Sea oil.
And at a reception aimed at getting the maximum help from Party workers in any forthcoming election, Mrs Thatcher also condemned the Labour Party for taking power from the people to the State.
She was speaking to Tory Party workers in North and South Aberdeen at the Amatola Hotel before flying to Glasgow.
Mrs Thatcher said the next General Election would be a “watershed.”
Two Types
There were only two types of government—capitalism and socialism. “The SNP will go socialist,” she said. “they will try to build on a socialist system.”
“If we got a socialist government into power next time it would be like one of the East European states. The Labour Party want to nationalise banks, insurance companies and land. There is only one party that will continue to fight for a free society: Ours.”
She said the present Government rely almost totally for any hope for the future on these in private enterprise getting out North Sea oil— “something that Providence, not socialism, put there a long time ago. I don't think we could call it a windfall. If it were a windfall we would have taken it up a long time ago.”
Before ending her speech to mingle with the workers. Mrs Thatcher, who was wearing a blue velvet suit—apparently the second outfit seen yesterday which she purchased from Marks & Spencer Ltd.—called on their future support.
The People
“We are a party of all the people. It doesn't matter who they are but what they do. Not what their background is but what they have to offer society.”
She admitted one of her main reasons for travelling round the country was to gain support. “But who isn't out for more support when they believe so fervently in a thing as we do.”
Mrs Thatcher's second day in the North-east also had its lighter moments. She let slip some family secrets, revealed how she entered politics and had a 75p meal of Scotch broth, mince and tatties and ice cream at an Inverurie restaurant.
It was a fast moving tour of Dyce, Cults, Inverurie and Bridge of Don, and Mrs Thatcher had a fresh smile, gentle handshake and reassuring words for everybody.
Devolution
She made it clear that her kind of devolution was “to give Government back to the citizen” by reducing central government interference in people's lives.
But she told school children at Bridge of Don Academy she expected the devolution Bill, at present before the House of Commons, to go through and reach the referendum stage “provided there is not a General Election.” However it remained a bad method of devolution. “I do not think it will stay where that Bill puts it. We will have to change in some direction” .
Mrs Thatcher told one pupil, who asked if she thought the Scottish National Party would present a threat to the Tories, that they were a more serious danger to LABOUR.
“Their policies have gone much more socialist and that is where they will make their gains.”
Earlier in the day Scottish NFU officials handed her a letter urging her to back any attempts to give the UK green £ parity with the rest of the Common Market.
Mrs Thatcher's day began with a tour around the Lawson of Dyce meat factory. That was where she let slip a secret. “My family love sausages,” she said. And she met a fellow Marks and Spencer shopper Mrs Ina Clark a sausage packer, 13 Ash-hill Way, Cornhill, Aberdeen.
Mrs Clark had been given a fawn-coloured dress identical to Mrs Thatcher's for Christmas by her daughter Alison
Then it was off to Cults and some words of cheer for nine-year-old Sarah Ley, 47 Formaston Park, Aboyne, who was off school to have a brace on her teeth adjusted. Mrs Thatcher told the wee lass: “My Carol Thatcherdaughter had one on for a very long time and did not like it. But when you are in your teens you will be very glad you had it done.”
Grannie
Sarah's grannie, Mrs Maggie Watt. Traquair, Cults, was taking her to the dentist at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.
After traditional Scottish fare for lunch at Inverurie. Mrs Thatcher, her husband Denis, West Aberdeenshire M.P. Mr Russell Fairgrieve and other members of the Tory entourage toured the paper mill of Thomas Tait and Sons, Inverurie.
She joked with workers who told her much of the paper was destined for H.M. Stationery Office. Mrs Thatcher hoped it would not end up as tax returns. And she gracefully ignored a daubed paper roll with the words—SNP Rule OK.
After a Press conference it was on to Bridge of Don Academy where she was met by the rector, Mr Richard Wallis, Grampion Region convener, Mr Sandy Mutch, and regional education chairman, Mr Wilson Stephen.
In one chemistry class Mrs Thatcher, who was a research chemist and has a chemistry degree, was asked how she “got into” politics. After telling the pupils how she and her father discussed events weekly, she quipped: “I got into it because I could not get away from it.” But she said she had always liked politics and hoped she was good at it.
A question and answer session with 4th, 5th and 6th year history and modern studies pupils followed. Then young musicians and singers gave her a lyrical farewell.