The Downing Street Years

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R OBERT Self now completes his excellent service of publishing very largely the complete texts (omitting only occasional minor matters) of Neville Chamberlain's weekly letters to his two unmarried sisters—a series which constitutes one of the greatest sources for early twentieth-century British politics and Cabinet-level policy making. It was worth a read, if only to marvel at how thoroughly Thatcher was convinced at the righteousness of her own policies. First UK edition, first printing, This first volume of Margaret Thatcher's memoirs encompasses the whole of her time as Prime Minister - the formation of her goals in the early 1980s, the Falklands, the General Election victories of 1983 and 1987 and, eventually, the circumstances of her fall from political power.

Thatcher: The Downing Street Years | Complete Series | BBC

The overarching economic goal of the first Thatcher Parliament can be fairly succinctly stated (though it is a bit of a tongue twister): reduce the deficit, which in turn will reduce inflation and thus mitigate the need to fund future deficits via inflation. In reality, the policy itself was patently absurd and strongly suggests that by the later years of her premiership Mrs.Upon the election of Edward Heath in 1970, Thatcher was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Science. The trigger was an altercation between Conservative Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell, and the police officers on duty at these gates.

Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, Signed - AbeBooks Downing Street Years by Thatcher Margaret, Signed - AbeBooks

I had to look up many, and oftentimes, even when I understood what they now meant, the people and departments were still too foreign for me to fully comprehend. Also, parts of the book, especially in dealing with economic reforms, effectively explain aspects of her beliefs that have been twisted or misunderstood -- she's no fan of speculators, for instance. Geoffrey Howe reviewed the book in the Financial Times, Nigel Lawson in the Evening Standard, Douglas Hurd in The Spectator, Norman Tebbit in the Daily Mail and Bernard Ingham in the Daily Express. Walpole accepted the royal gift with the stipulation that it be available to all future prime ministers. After his resignation, in 2022 Liz Truss became the UK’s third female Prime Minister and the shortest serving Prime Minister to date.

The unread market is not, however, one to be sniffed at, as the royalties of Arnold Toynbee and even Churchill proved. Thatcher’s only expressed regrets are times when she should have been even more unyielding, ruthless in battle, and secure in the “Tightness” of her positions.

BBC Two - Thatcher: The Downing Street Years

After securing the royal lease, Downing built between 15 and 20 terrace houses on the street that now bears his name. What is remarkable about this extensive overview of domestic, European, and foreign affairs is the candid assessments she lays down. Thatcher sold them off: British Aerospace, British Petroleum, British Steel, Britoil, British Gas, British Leyland (which included Jaguar and Land Rover), and Rolls Royce. Following the resignation of David Cameron on 24th June 2016, Theresa May became the second female Prime Minister of Britain, taking office on 13th July. With that judgment I have a good deal of sympathy, although many parts of the narrative, even when erstwhile colleagues are not being savaged, carry the reader along perfectly easily and even agreeably.

Larry, the Downing Street cat, gets in the royal wedding spirit in a Union flag bow-tie before the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. is authorised] to build new and more houses further westward on the grounds granted him by the patent of 1663/4 Feb. In effect the introductions are first drafts for chapters, rather than the more detached editorial exercise of assisting the reader to understand and assess the texts as historical sources.