Leading lady
Sir: Bravo, Margaret Thatcher! Congratulations, too, for the hundred and forty-six Conservative MPs who had the good sense to elect her as their leader. And top marks to Patrick Cosgrave and The Spectator for having championed her cause. I have little doubt that was a considerable Intluence at the Palace of Westminster.
Although the years of Heathian rule have left their scars I am sure that Mrs Thatcher will, with tact and understanding, be able to heal the wounds. Her first priority must be to heal the breach with those Conservatives — both in the House and in the country — who opposed (rightly, as it turned out) Mr Heath's excursion into the Common Market, The new leader and the party machine would be wise to adopt a low profile on this issue which, as Mr Powell correctly asserts, lost them two General Elections last year. By all means encourage Mr Heath to join Sir Christopher Soames's pro-Market circus, for their joint activities are more likely to boost the anti-Market cause! But, for heavens sake, keep the party machine out of the EEC fray. It has already 'caused untold damage on this issue. Indeed, Mrs Thatcher is going to need the support of the anti-Market Tories — many of whom were the backbone of the local constituency associations until the Heathmen took over — if she is to make it to Number Ten. Providing she accepts that Conservatives are genuinely divided on this issue, I for one am happy to give her my full-hearted consent.
John English 39 Greenfields Road, Harrogate
Previous page
