Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Party Election Broadcast (European Election)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Flat C, 52 Warwick Square, central London
Source: Thatcher Archive: transcript
Editorial comments: Broadcast on Tuesday 13 June.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 501
Themes: European elections, European Union (general), Economic, monetary & political union, European Union Single Market

Voice Over

If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday Labour could join up with the Socialist and Communists to get control of the European Parliament, that would give them the chance to impose Socialism on Britain through the back door.

If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday the Labour Party will once again try to tie Britain up in red tape and put union bosses in the company boardroom, a frightening thought for foreign investors and jeopardising the jobs the Conservatives have created in this country, that is more new jobs since 1983 than the rest of the European Community put together. If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday who will fight for the tax payer, the farmer, for Britain, will the Labour Party? Can the Labour Party?

If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday will we get a good deal more or a good deal less? Margaret Thatcher has negotiated a budget deal that has won Britain five billion pounds over the past five years, and made food mountains a thing of the past. If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday who will generate the wealth needed to clean up our rivers and beaches? If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday who will make sure we have secure defences? If you don't vote Conservative on Thursday who will fight Britain's corner?

Margaret Thatcher MP

The European Community stands on the threshold of the most important period in its history, together our twelve countries are creating a single market, a market of over three hundred and twenty million people so that we can compete with the United States and Japan. There will be free movement of people and free movement of goods but without getting rid of vital frontier checks.

1992 will be an historic opportunity for our country so we must be vigorous in furthering Britain's interests and we must fight our corner, just as other European countries fight theirs. We have lead the way in Europe in cutting taxes, in getting the finances right, in getting unemployment down and in creating enterprise and wider ownership. Only we Conservatives can be trusted to safeguard the achievements of the last decade and to go on doing well for Britain in the next one. Our future is in Europe as part of the Common Market, a future that this Government is doing a very great deal to shape. But the Community must tackle problems in a practical way, and step by step and that is just what our Conservative team has been doing, ministers and Conservative members of the European Parliament alike.

In the last ten years we have fought off Socialism and union domination with all their disastrous consequences, so we mustn't let them creep in again through the back door. The Conservative vision is of a family of nations understanding each other better, working more closely together but each one cherishing its national identity and character. That we believe will build [end p1] the best future for our children and grandchildren and that's why I am asking you to vote Conservative on Thursday.

Voice Over

Don't let Labour in through the back door, vote Conservative on Thursday.