Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Remarks condemning Trafalgar Square riot ("absolute horror ... these people are against democracy")

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Chequers
Source: BBC Radio News Report 1800 1 April 1990
Editorial comments:

Around 1130. MT spoke to reporters after church. BBC indexes record further material: "Margaret THATCHER walks to camera and says most people were protesting peacefully but it was taken over by some extreme groups who have no consideration for other people or property and we are grateful to the police for the job they do". ITN indexes: "Nothing warrants this ... the place to discuss this is Parliament ... these people are against democracy".

Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 148
Themes: Local government finance, Community charge (“poll tax”), Law & order

In the aftermath of last night's rioting in the West End of London, it's been a day for assessment of the damage done, and reflection on the scale of the violence and its causes. The Home Secretary, Mr David Waddington, has been to the area where the disturbances were centred, on Saint Martin's Lane, and Charing Cross Road, near Trafalgar Square. He was met by a hostile crowd, and there were more arrests.

The Prime Minister, and politicians of all sides, have joined in condemnation of yesterday's trouble, which happened after a rally against the Community Charge. Mrs Thatcher expressed her “absolute horror”&em;she said people had the right to demonstrate peacefully, but there was no excuse for turning to violence. Of the more than one hundred and thirty people injured in the disturbances, seven are still in hospital. …