Conservatism: Hoskyns diary (meeting MT with Norman Strauss) ["first step to show electorate you mean it[,] is to change Tory Party"]
| Document type: | Declassified documents |
|---|---|
| Source: | Hoskyns papers (privately held) |
| Editorial comments: | The bulk of this entry can be found in John Hoskyns's memoir Just In Time (2000), p24. |
| Importance ranking: | Major |
| Word count: | 100 words |
| Themes: | Conservatism, Conservative Party (organization) |
Monday 23 August 1976
[Met] Margaret Thatcher in the Leader of the Opposition’s room at House of Commons with Norman [Strauss]. We got there at 11 am and stayed for 3 hours and she skipped lunch. Norman’s message was, “You won’t [get] new ideas and change without a professional and psychological strategy. And first step to show electorate you mean it is to change Tory Party.” He did v. well, and I was more impressed and liked her more than I’d expected. Adam Butler MP served drinks at 1 pm and withdrew. Afterwards I gave Norman lunch at the steak house in Trafalgar Square.