Mrs T. cheered—and jeered

Cries of “Thatcher Out!” met the Prime Minister as she drove into the middle of the worst crisis to hit the pottery industry since the war.

But she offered no quick solution, to rising unemployment and falling sales which have caused alarm throughout Stoke-on-Trent.

Mrs. Thatcher, however, expressed confidence in the industry, “with the comment: “We can always sell quality. Exports are keeping up well.”

But in the end it was the management and workers who themselves held the key to a successful future.

Surged forward

The Premier was yesterday visiting, the Minton factory of Royal Doulton Tableware, Stoke, as part of a day-long tour in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

There were jeers as well as cheers from a crowd of more than 200 as her car drew on to the forecourt.

Dozens surged forward to shake her hand as she stepped out.

But it was a different reception from two of the leading hecklers who went up to her and told of the plight of 200 workers who had just lost their jobs in the collapse of Royal Stafford China, Longton.

Miss Jean Johnson, of Longton, herself a pottery worker, stormed angrily afterwards: “I asked her why the factory closed down. She did not answer.”

And fellow Longton pottery worker Mrs. Pat Banks added: “I asked her about all the unemployed school-leavers. But she did not answer me either.”

But Mrs. Thatcher was in a jovial mood as she toured the works.

Though some workers at the factory wore red T-shirts as a political gesture and one man was heard to whistle “The Red Flag” as the entourage passed by, the tour was labelled a complete success.

Good relations

Mr. Richard Bailey, Chairman of Royal Doulton Tableware, said Mrs. Thatcher recognised that the good relations between management and workers was the strength that the industry was able to draw on at this time.

And he added: “Mrs. Thatcher made it clear that the solution to the problems was in our own hands—to which I totally subscribe. She realises the importance of priority being given to reduce high inflation and interest rates. We all recognise that the present tight hold on money supply is essential, while hoping that success of these efforts will come sooner than later.”

At an informal gathering for Staffordshire Conservative workers at the George Hotel, Burslem, last night, two young Tory leaders presented Mrs. Thatcher with a copy of a “comprehensive” education report.

It was a Midlands survey of the education spectrum from nursery education to university. The presenters were co-chairmen of Stoke-Trent Young Conservatives, Stephen Forrester and Deborah Mallender.

Presentation at Burslem

Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher was last night presented at Burslem with a bowl bearing the inscription “To the best Prime Minister since Winston Churchill.”

The bowl was handed over by Mrs. Jackie Jerrett, President of Stoke South Conservative Association, at a reception at the George Hotel for 240 covering all 10 Staffordshire Conservative associations.

Members included one of the longest-serving, Mrs. Zilphia Statham, of Whitmore—who has worked for the party since 1924.