Speech to Knutsford Conservatives (by-election)

Document type:	Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue:	Conservative Club, Knutsford, Cheshire
Source:	The Sun, 17 February 1979
Journalist:	John Hill, The Sun, reporting
Editorial comments:	Morning. See also Speech to Hale Conservatives which has a full account of the Knutsford speech. The Financial Times, 17 February 1979, reports MT saying of the "concordat", "It is just the same as the social contract which was going to solve all our problems in 1974 and which has got us where we are now". The Knutsford Guardian, 22 February 1979, adds: "I want a bumper victory to show the Government exactly what we think of the way it is running the country".
Importance ranking:	Minor
Word count:	193
Themes:	By-elections, Labour Party & socialism, Trade unions, Pay

MAGGIE GETS STUCK IN AS SHE SETS OFF FOR A POLL BATTLE

Tory leader Margaret Thatcher was caught up in a red hot row yesterday—after being trapped by the Arctic conditions.

Mrs Thatcher's overnight train from London to Manchester was delayed for nearly five hours by frozen points.

She had only three hours sleep in her hotel room before her vote-catching tour of Knutsford, Cheshire, where she found by-election candidate Jock Bruce-Gardyne had stirred up a row.

Nupe officials threatened to shut down polling stations by calling out school caretakers after Mr. Bruce-Gardyne referred to “union thugs and bully boys.”

Mrs Thatcher's speech to constituency workers again criticised unions for abusing their power. She also scorned the Government's “concordat” deal with the TUC.

Mrs. Thatcher said: “You know what that word means in the original French—it is a bankrupt's certificate.”

The by-election on March 1 follows the resignation of Tory foreign affairs spokesman John Davies who had a 10,426 majority over the Liberals.