Remarks on 1977 Party Political Broadcast ("we’d have been drummed out of office if we’d had this level of unemployment")
| Document type: | Speeches, interviews, etc. |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Outside Cleve House, Exwick |
| Source: | Thatcher MSS (Churchill Archive Centre): THCR [General Election Compilation Tape (VHS)] |
| Editorial comments: | Around 1315. The material was broadcast on a BBC TV Evening News bulletin; the exact time is unknown. |
| Importance ranking: | Major |
| Word count: | 222 |
| Themes: | Employment, General Elections, Famous statements by MT (discussions of) |
BBC Newscaster
… The question in their minds was raised by the Scottish Nationalists who produced a 1977 video of Mrs Thatcher—then in Opposition—on unemployment.
MT
Sometimes I've heard it said that Conservatives have been associated with unemployment. Well, that's absolutely wrong. We'd have been drummed out of office if we'd have had this level of unemployment. … your whole political philosophy is that you try to give the individual a chance and then you want him to be responsible for himself and his family.
BBC Newscaster
But when she faced the cameras, Mrs Thatcher was reluctant to discuss issues other than dogs.
Journalist
… your reaction to the Scottish National Party video on …
MT
We're here on this. We're here on this. The reaction to that is quite simple. We were elected in 1979 and we were re-elected in 1973 [sic] because people think that our policies are best for the economy and are best for producing jobs in the future. …
BBC Newscaster
And that was that.