‘We did a great job’—Mrs T.

Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher, acknowledging a standing ovation from members of the women's advisory committee in her Finchley and Friern Barnet constituency on Friday, spoke about the current problems in the Labour Party.

But Mrs T., speaking at Firs Hall, Winchmore Hill, at an election victory celebration lunch, had a sympathetic word for Opposition leader James Callaghan and his under-pressure colleagues.

“I don't gloat at what is happening,” she said. “It is a tragedy for democracy.”

Mrs Thatcher said Labour tried to conceal their problems with the Left at the General Election and she added: “Just think what it would have been like if they had won. Events have shown the Labour Party is just what we said it was.”

Labour, she said, had planned to spend £400,000m. more than was coming in. The Conservatives said the country must live within its means—and that meant what the ratepayer and taxpayer gave. The alternative was to leave a millstone for the next generation.

“We said what we were going to do,” said the Prime Minister. “There was only one thing to do when we got in … get stuck in. And get stuck in we did.”

Money had been provided for defence and law and order and coming up in the next few weeks was the biggest cash increase in pensions for some time—19 per cent.

Discussing the trade unions, Mrs Thatcher won loud applause when she promised legislation before Christmas on secondary picketing, the closed shop and secret ballots.

“It had never been my ambition to say what we would do in the first 100 days,” she added, “but we did a fantastic job in the first 100 days—and we are quite determined to put the vision of Britain we had into practice.”

Leaders of other countries had told her they were anxiously watching Britain's attempt to roll back the frontiers of Socialism. “They are waiting for a lead,” she said.

Mrs Thatcher was welcomed by WAC chairman Mrs Esther Levi. Flowers were presented to her by Mrs Marion Freeman, wife of the GLC member for Finchley and Friern Barnet. He was one of a handful of male guests.

Toastmaster was Mrs Sue Thurlow and a vote of thanks to Mrs Thatcher was proposed by Mrs Win Mackrill.