Louise Bagshawe: In praise of Margaret Thatcher

I want to thank Tim Montgomerie and Sam Coates for the opportunity they gave me to write a column for ConHome this year. Partly, this chance was afforded me because Tim knows I have been a Cameroon voice on the site for some time, under both my own name and pseudonyms, and because the editors wish to recognise Conservatives who represent the full range of party opinion. But in considering myself a Cameroon, I remain, as I have always been, a Thatcherite. When submitting myself for selection I was lucky enough to be able to include quotes from friends who had known me since university, and who could attest to my profound hero worship of the greatest woman statesman. I am in an odd position; in that I have a number of friends from political families, I have several acquaintances who know Lady Thatcher socially. I can not, and likely will never, make that boast. I do not know Lady Thatcher. But politically, I worship her. I never had any doubt as to how my column on Conservative Home should end. Posters on this site should not worry when the media spins to them that Cameroon, modern compassionate Conservative MPs and candidates, want to distance themselves from Lady Thatcher. This is nonsense; I do not wish to distance myself. I wish instead merely to touch the hem of her garment.

How can I express my gratitude to the greatest living Conservative and politician? I was born in 1971, born when my father was forced by punitive taxation to look at emigrating, and persuaded against it by my mother on the grounds that walks in the English countryside were always free. I was born into a world where strike-ridden Britain was perceived to be in permanent decline. I was born into a world where the idea of social justice was capitulation to the unions and pacifism abroad even in the face of aggression. I was born into a world where over-employment seemed a fact of life and the Foreign Office was telling the PM her job was to “manage Britain’s decline”. BM (Before Margaret) we were taking loans from the IMF, like the proverbial banana republic. We were a charity case, an afterthought. We were quite simply losers.

One of the most encouraging lessons in life is that of the utter triumph of the human will when expressed courageously. As a young girl in a world, in the 70s, where only men succeeded, Margaret Thatcher stood out like a beacon. She did not allow herself to be beaten down by prejudice, she simply forced the world to accept her talents. (NB: those commentators that say Margaret Thatcher was insensate to the sexism of selection committees need only read the letters of complaint she sent to cchq during her lengthy attempt to get selected. Indeed, to this day Baroness Thatcher assists women candidates in getting selected and I was privileged to meet her, at last, at a Women2Win event). I have also, and for different reasons, admired Arnold Schwarzenegger; like him, Thatcher is an exemplar of what a person can achieve if they simply refuse to accept limitations. Read the story of Margaret Thatcher’s victory in the leadership; men with a better chance simply did not have the stones to stand. She did, and the rest, literally, is history. Thatcher’s genius did not end with winning office, which (for example) Brown has appeared exclusively focussed on. She fought her party over the EU, the rebate, overemployment, interest rates, Westland, the lot. She was stamped through with Courage like a stick of Brighton rock. And not just political courage (her mandarins wanted to surrender over the Falklands) but physical courage too. After the Brighton Bombing, Margaret Thatcher, having prayed, persuaded M&S to open early. Delegates bought suits, and the conference opened on time – as usual.

Margaret Thatcher was a scientist. (Is a scientist). She was the first major politician seriously to warn of global warming. Despite the ludicrous caricature of her public image, she was a champion of social justice, the grocer’s daughter who swept away the barriers to home ownership for many of Britain’s poorest people. Elected on a popular mandate again and again, the voters never threw her out, much to the dismay of the liberal commentariat. She was the ultimate people’s politician.

I do not think it is an exaggeration to state that the country I grew up in was shaped and saved by Margaret Thatcher. She is my heroine, present in everything I attempt, whether in politics or popular fiction. I do not agree with everything she did; it would be a poor politician who aimed to photocopy someone else; but there’s no doubt at all that I hope, in Parliament, to be proved worthy of the noble, moral name of Thatcherite, that I will always look first to the weak and the helpless and hope to improve their situation, that I will always be proud of Britain, that I will fight any attempt to cede away our sovereignty (such as the EU Constitution), that I will do my best to preserve the Special Relationship, and that I will remember the basic Thatcherite tenet that politics, like life, is counter-intuitive; that things that seem compassionate (such as excessive worker protections) actually lead to high unemployment and are uncompassionate, and vice versa.

Blair made the Labour party electable by accepting Thatcherite reforms; indeed, her radical economics are now cross-party received wisdom. Earlier this year, the big Feartie from Fife (“frit!”) as the Lady would say, pretended for the cameras that he recanted a lifetime of spitting on her and admired her. She as a past PM was too polite to say no. But accept no imitations. I, and plenty of other PPCs, hoping to be elected under David Cameron, are true and passionate Thatcherites. This is my last column for the website, I have asked to be excused to concentrate on motherhood, fighting Corby, and my book career. But I didn’t want to leave without pinning my colours to the mast. Margaret Thatcher shaped me as a girl, a woman, and a would be politician. I am hugely grateful to her. And if I am so fortunate as to be elected for Corby & East Northants, I will try to be true to her tradition of service.

Comments

[Tony Makara]

"I would get very short shift from my grandchildren if i kept on about how wonderful the fifties were."

Dick Wishart, the 1950s were the greatest decade ever! I didn't live through the 1950s but I've seen the movies from that era and the way people lived, with respect for each other, is something to be admired. Sadly that era is mocked today for being too Conservative, but it looked like a wonderful world to me. The women in those days were so feminine too!, the 1950s definitely had the best-looking women, by a mile! I think the 1950s was the last good decade, its been downhill ever since, and ever decade seems to be worse than the last.

[Tony Makara]

On the subject of the 1950s, here is a recent report on the subject. I have to say that I agree with so many points here.

Everything was better in the 1950s, except washing machines, central heating and inside toilets, according to a survey of people aged above 50. The 3,000 seniors found modern society crime-ridden, sleazy, promiscuous, foul-mouthed, noisy and second-rate. And they strongly disliked its greed, selfishness, unfriendliness, ill discipline, bad manners, easy credit, drug culture, TV sex and violence.

In the 50s people seemed kinder and had more time for each other, they said. People were neighbourly, public transport was good, music was better and housing more affordable. And they missed the slower pace of life, job security, and the way families had lived closer together and society valued housewives. With an average age of 69, 89% of those asked said they were glad they had been young in the 50s and not now, as children had been more innocent and allowed to remain child-like for longer.

Children had been safer then said 88%, with more freedom to play outside, 85% felt. But most said it was better to be a pensioner now, with 70% saying they lived healthier, longer and more active lives and people no longer considered 60 to be old. Four out of every five said mobile phones had made life worse, only 14% felt the internet had improved it, and 92% said they had been "happy in the 50s without any of these modern things".

They missed respect for authority, said 93%, bobbies on the beat, 91%, and the pride people used to feel in being British, 81%. People had been more innocent according to 86%, and seemed kinder, 72%, with less crime, 85%. Barbara Windsor, who was born in 1937 and first appeared on the acting scene in the 50s, said they "were happy days because everything seemed so much more affable, honest and direct".

Singer Val Doonican, 78, added, "It was a gentler, somehow less competitive world." The editor of Yours Magazine, which commissioned the research, Valery McConnell said it shows most people are happier when they have a simple life rather than a complicated one.

She said, "Everything about modern-day society is complex and stressful - automated answering machines, mind-boggling car parks and road systems, endless traffic, 50 different varieties of everything, bank managers you cannot talk to, high crime levels and aggression on the streets. More has been lost than gained. Material possessions designed to make our lives easier also have a downside. Modern communication means people speak on mobiles, not on the street corner or at the bus stop. Increased mobility means we no longer know our neighbours or live near our families."

Ms McConnell added, "Cars have driven children off the streets. Large out of town supermarkets mean many High Streets are deserted. People no longer feel at home in their communities. No wonder many older people miss the simplicity of the 50s and wish their grandchildren could experience the same. The 50's was a gentler era when manners and people mattered. People were more important than possessions and had time for each other... knew their neighbours and had a sense of belonging."

[David Sergeant]

One the great problems to-day is that the Conservative party is lumbered with a trashed history of Thatcher and the 18 years. The reason is that Labour, the Lib/Dems, the BBC and media generally have all piled in to trash Thatcher and the party and no one in the party has attempted to produce any serious defence. (Indeed some useless people, and I include an ex party chairman, rather than stand up for the real history have tried to blame Cameron!)

Even Tony Makara has bought in to the over simplified myth about losing manufacturing jobs when in the last three years to 1997 400,000 new manufacturing jobs were created and since then Labour have destroyed about 1.5 million. (This helped Brown because the products of the jobs now came cheaper from China and kept his inflation down) As a further example during the 18 years the Sheffield steel industry lost about a third of its jobs BUT produced the same amount of steel.

We really need to carefully define the real world of 1979 to 1997, it is no good saying it is water under the bridge, Brown and Labour regularly parade their version as a defence, (some times it seems their only defence) and one result is that Brown is still ahead on financial competence.

[Tony Makara]

David Sergeant, now that the credit driving the Gordon Brown economy has dried up we can expect to see interest rates cut on a regular basis. This will weaken the position of the pound and Gordon Brown's import economy will become very expensive, leading to inflation and wage demands to match.

I maintain that it was a mistake to allow manufacturing to decline, yes, the unions were too powerful, but I wish Mrs Thatcher had found a way to control politicized unions without giving up on an entire industry. Labour certainly have done manufacturing no favours, they can claim transiently that manufacturing is on the up, but that isn't difficult to do when operating from a small starting base. The reality is that Gordon Brown's import economy is costing jobs every day and will continue to cost jobs.

I certainly have no wish to trash Margaret Thatcher's reputation, however we have to recognize that some mistakes were made in the Thatcher years, just as mistakes have been made under every other prime minister.

The future of our nation depends on learning from all the mistakes of previous years. The two great issues I see facing our nation today are the welfare state and dependency on imports. If we were to create an economy geared towards serving our home market where possible, we could eradicate the evil of unemployment and be less subject to the destabilizing effects of inflation. Neither of which is possible without a co-ordinated economic strategy at government level, blind faith in market forces will lead to blind government. There has to be strategy to help our entrepreneurs.

[Dick Wishart]

Yes the fifties had some good points, it was a much gentler and for a lot of people happier times, however not everthing was that wonderful:- most people were poor, rationing was still on, people still doffing their caps to so called betters (i've never called anybody sir since i was demobbed from the army), outside toilets, cars with rod brakes (try stopping one in a hurry - very exiting) no household appliances to speak of, no choice of where to shop, in fact no choice, plenty of foul language - granted not in public, violence - i got smacked a few times (and i dont mean by my parents), yes you could talk to the bank managers - so long as you did as they said, assuming of course you had a bank account, if you did then presenting a cheque for payment warranted treatment as if you were from another planet,not much traffic - cause most people did not have a car, as with all era's its always good if you have money.
Todays generation have more going for them than was ever hoped for in the fifties and good luck to them
Never look back, its always seemed better but seldom is.
Old man now signing off.

[Michael Davidson]

Well said Mr. Wishart.

Tony Makara, I still read your posts with increasing bemusement. Your attitudes towards the free market lead me to believe that you are not a Conservative, but a Christian Socialist - the kind of which you're likely to find in the little Moscows of South Wales.

[Tony Makara]

Michael Davidson, as you know Conservatism is a very broad church and encompasses protectionists as well as free-marketeers. I support the brand of Conservatism that is pro-business, pro-market but works in the national interest rather than putting global markets first.

I am certainly not a socialist, and believing that the state can support entrepreneurs is certainly not a socialist stance. Government can and should have a strategy to support business. For it is business that creates jobs, puts food in the shops, gives us the wares by which to live.

A government that puts British business first is a priority. Any government that cares naught for the national interest and serves only the needs of international capital first is not a British government. As I've said before I do not see foreign states as partners but rather as competitors who are trying to take the markets that British business needs to exploit. The job of British government is to support our entrepreneurs and help them to corner markets.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Tony @9.45 . Well said sir.

[Michael Davidson]

Protectionism is not a valid strand of the Conservative Party I'm afraid.

Also, free trade is in Britain's national interest. British firms need to face competition from abroad in order to make them efficient. That's why the party leadership supports free trade within Europe and beyond.

A conservative who does not believe in the free market and open competition, is not a conservative at all.

[Adrian]

Louise,

You say you were 'always a Thatcherite'.

Does this also include the period when you were a Labour Party member, and campaigning for a Labour Government committed to destroying everything which Mrs. Thatcher achieved?

I understand you were a Tory, defected in 97 and then came back? Therefore I find your grasp of your own history somewhat confusing.

I joined the Tory party as a YC the day we got rid of Thatcher, for one purpose only - to preserve her legacy and finish what she began. In 1997 I was out campaigning to continue her work whilst your friends in the Labour Party were using every trick in the book to destroy us. I wonder if we had met than and I had asked "are you a Thatcherite, Louise", what your reply would have been?

I agree with every positive comment you make about Mrs. T, but I find the person making it somewhat less credible.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Really Michael Davidson? You're not seriously suggesting the Conservative administration in the United States believes in free markets and open competition do you? Or what about Merkel and Sarkozy? I don't think so really. The job of a British government is to use every trick in the book, fair or unfair, to boost our industry and commerce. Rigidly following some utopian ideology is for the communists and other idealogues. Not serious politicians.

[chris hossack]

All in favour of any positive commentary on the great lady.

But the profile of our A list bares very little resemblence to the full Thatcher profile i.e. from a working class (north/mid) background, studied hard, worked hard, fought unwinnable seats and suffered defeat only to bounce back to be the greatest tory of recent decades.

By all means give praise, any halfwit cannot diagree with Thatcherism, but never forget that Thatcher was never a fashion and equality accessory of the A list unlike many currently residing thereon. She needed a leg up from no man and always remained true. Therein Cameroons and Thatcherites a quite different.

[Anon]

COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.

[Buckinghamshire Tory]

I do not really see how free trade is an basic tenent of Conservatism. As mentioned earlier, Conservatism is a broad church. Probably broader than both Socialism and Liberalism. It is of course correct that it is an important part of the Thatcherite version of conservatism, but that’s only one version of Conservatism.

For example, the Christian-Democratic version of Conservatism (as found in many countries in continental Europe) does not view free trade as particulary important.
The same goes for certain parts of the American Republican Party. The hard-right of that party (like Pat Buchanan) is very sceptical towards free trade, as they view it as a prerequisite for the welfare state.

When that is said, I am greatly in favour of free trade and open markets.

[freedom to prosper]

She is our greatest living politician bar none and together with Ronald Reagan changed the World. Yes she made silly mistakes but she put Britain back on the map.

[Ernesto]

A truly moving post. I was so moved, the tears rans down my legs in rivulets. When the fateful, steady lad, day comes when the Lady throws a seven, I cordially invite you to a tea and scone event at Arthur Scargill House, Barnsley. Details to follow soon - (hopefully).

[Richard Woolley]

Louise, Thatcher did not believe in social justice, she was a devotee of Hayek after all, she believed in real justice. Hayek thought 'social' a weasel word.
Social justice is the antithesis of real justice.

[Deputy Editor]

LabourHome and Kerron Cross aren't too impressed with this.

[Mr Right Is Alright]

I have to admit when I read this that I thought the adulation plays right into the hands of the socialists.

What annoys me is how the phrase "there's no such thing as society" has been taken out of context and is constantly parroted as evidence that Thatcher was evil and uncaring when it is actually a statement about personal responsibility (the full quote is here).

[Chris Palmer]

I don't know, Sam, Peter Hitchens wasn't particularly inspired either...

You've got to love this comment: "The irresistibly charming thing about Miss Bagshawe, now prospective Conservative candidate for Corby in Northamptonshire, is that - like David Cameron himself, only with less pretence about it - she is clearly only slightly interested in politics, and has a marvellously limited understanding of what it involves. She will, I fear, go very far."

[timelord]

COMMENT OVERWRITTEN.