Radio Interview for COI

Howard Williams

Prime Minister, you have been in No. 10 for some time now. Is this Christmas going to be very different from the Christmasses you spend before you became Leader?

Prime Minister

Well yes, of course it is, because we are lucky enough to have the use of Chequers. You know, Lloyd George was the first Prime Minister to use it, and so, it is such a lovely house and we have an enormous Christmas tree, and we spend it there. All the family are gathering this year, so it will be a lovely time.

Howard Williams

Do you find it possible, even with Christmas, to cut yourself off totally from affairs of state?

Prime Minister

Usually on Christmas Day, because strangely enough, bad things have not happened, at any rate in the last seven years, on Christmas Day.

But I do remember the first Christmas I was there—it was 1979—just after Christmas we had the invasion of Afghanistan, and [end p1] I remember to this day going into the study and taking the telephone call, and so one had to get some people together very quickly about that.

Howard Williams

Most of us find it difficult to find the time to spare to arrange Christmas properly. It must be even more difficult for you. Do you have to delegate the arrangements much?

Prime Minister

Well, some of them, yes. Others one just has to do oneself, and it is always a rush coming up to the end. You know, you have got away the Christmas cards and the Christmas gifts that had to go quite a long way and all of a sudden, you remember you have not got things for the family and tend to dash out and buy something, and one feels guilty because one should have thought of them first of all, but they all understand.

Howard Williams

I think most of us find buying presents a bit of a pleasure and a chore or a pain. Do you often regret the fact that you are not really able to go shopping unaccompanied and unnoticed?

Prime Minister

I regret that one just cannot wander through the shops looking at what is available, looking at the shop windows, and just thinking: ‘Well now! Would someone like that or that?’ I have to [end p2] make up my mind very quickly what I think they would like and order it—and you are quite right, it loses some of the pleasure, but I hope the people who receive it are very pleased with what they have.

Howard Williams

There is a good deal of cynicism surrounding Christmas, not only because of the commercialism. Dealing as you do, with world problems and the darker side of man's nature—I mean the confrontations, the poverty, the selfishness—do you find it difficult to avoid cynicism yourself over things like Christmas?

Prime Minister

I do not think I have ever felt any cynicism at Christmas. On the contrary.

After Christmas lunch, we all gather round the television set to listen to the Queen's broadcast. We have been to service in the morning, and I think Christmas just makes you think a little bit more deeply and widely than yourself, and to recognise that another year has passed and another year is coming, and it just gives you time to ponder a little on the deeper things.

Howard Williams

We are, of course, fortunate that we are able-bodied and can enjoy Christmas in that way aren't we?

Prime Minister

Oh yes! So many people should be thankful for that—very thankful—but for those in hospital, we just know that the nurses [end p3] and doctors will give them the very best time possible and insofar as they are able, they will remember it and even enjoy it and recall it in future years. But of course, the greatest gift they can have is a speedy recovery to full health and strength and that is our wish for all them this Christmas!

Howard Williams

Thank you, Prime Minister. May you have a Happy Christmas too!

Prime Minister

You are very kind. Thank you. And you too!