Read The Downing Street Years Online
Authors: Margaret Thatcher
Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR), 31, 42, 50, 95, 126–8, 673–4; arguments about, 52–5, 124, 132–6; errors in predicting, 315–16, 699, 700
public spending, 49–56; Cabinet arguments, 123–9, 147–50; cuts or savings (1983), 315–16; Scottish, 619–20; levels, 676
Pugo, Boris, 802
Pym, Francis
(Defence Secretary 1979–81, Leader HC 1981–82, Foreign Secretary 1982–83):
Chequers lunch, 37; Defence, 123; Leader of House, 131; government information, 131, 149; economic forecast, 149–50; Foreign Secretary, 186–7; War Cabinet, 188; Haig negotiations, 192, 196, 199, 200, 204, 205–8, 210–11; Falklands, 193, 214; US/Peruvian peace plan, 217, 220; Falklands final proposals, 222, 224; Trident, 246; NATO, 249; election campaign (1983), 293, 294; return to backbenches, 306–7; Centre Forward, 416
Qaboos bin Said, Sultan, 163
Qatar, MT’s visit (1981), 164
QE2
, 215, 228
Quayle, Dan
(US Vice-President 1981–93)
, 782, 820
Question Time
, 294
Rabin, Yitzhak
(Israeli Prime Minister
1
974–77, 1992-), 511
Rajk, Laszlo, 454
Rakowski, Mieczyslaw, 779
Ramphal, Sir Sonny
(Commonwealth
Secretary-General 1975–90)
, 76, 517
Rand Afrikaans University speech (1991), 599n
Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), 162
Rapier Air Defence Systems, 246
Rashid bin Said al-Maktum, Sheik, 163
rate-capping, 284, 644
rates, 644–5, 650–1
Rate Support Grant, 646
Ravenscraig steel works, 361–2, 622
Rayner, Sir Derek
(Prime Minister’s Adviser on Efficiency in Government 1979–83)
, 30–1
Reagan, Nancy, 160, 470, 770
Reagan, Ronald
(US President 1981–89):
informality, 69, 164; election, 88, 156–7; MT’s relationship, 157–60, 165–6, 232, 324–5, 332–3, 435, 469, 587, 774, 820; G7, 164–5, 171, 299–301, 738;
Falklands, 179–80, 201–2, 211–12, 217, 220–1, 230–2; London visit (1982), 233, 258; Trident, 246–8; SDI, 247, 450, 462, 463–9, 470–1, 776, 782, 818; defence policies, 249, 768; European attitudes to, 251–2; Polish crisis, 253–5; G7 Versailles summit, 257–8; ‘Reagan Doctrine’ speech, 258; Autocue, 258; ‘dual key’ question, 268; INF
negotiations, 26g-70, 470; supporters, 298; MT’s visit (1983), 322–5; Reaganomics, 322, 739; Grenada invasion, 330–1, 332; Westland affair, 435; British public opinion, 437; bombing of Libya, 443–9; letter to Brezhnev, 455, 462; Geneva meeting with Gorbachev, 470; Reykjavik, 470–2; attitude to Japan, 498; IDU, 500; South Africa sanctions, 515, 520; exchange rates, 694; MT’s visit (1987), 770–1; Irangate, 770; INF treaty (1987), 771, 774; Washington summit with Gorbachev (1987), 774; NATO Brussels summit (1988), 775; Moscow visit (1988), 776; London visit (1988), 776–7; achievements, 813
recession, 51, 52, 55, 92, 119, 123, 676, 678
Red Book, 96
Redwood, John
(Head of Prime Minister’s Policy Unit 1983–85)
, 438n
Reece, Gordon, 286–7, 658, 841
Rees, Peter
(Chief Secretary 1983–85)
, 419–20, 649
Rees-Mogg, William, Lord, 636
Regan, Donald, 15g Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), 608n
regulation, 6, 7
RENAMO, 527–8
Renton, Tim
(Chief Whip 1989–90)
, 835, 846, 847–8
Renwick, Sir Robin
(British Ambassador to South Africa 1987–91)
, 522, 531
research funding, 639
reshuffles,
see
Cabinet
Resource Allocation Working Party (RAWP), 616
Retail Price Index (RPI), 43, 134, 654, 658, 659, 724, 831
Revenue Support Grant, 657
Reykjavik summit, 465, 470–2, 473, 482
Rhodesia, 64, 71, 72–8, 91
Ridley, Adam, 283
Ridley, Nicholas
(Transport Secretary 1983–85, Environment Secretary 1986–89, Trade and Industry Secretary 1989–90):
Foreign Office, 27, 29; Falklands discussions, 175–6; Transport, 312; miners’ strike (1984–5), 346; Environment, 563, 589, 651; speeches, 567; election campaign (1987), 570, 571, 577, 582; housing reforms, 571, 601, 606; painting, 632; Thyssen Collection, 633; housing and the environment, 638; community charge, 651–2, 653, 655–6; water privatization, 682; EMU question, 716, 726; possible Chancellor, 717; ERM approach, 722–3; resignation, 722; suitability as successor to MT, 755; DTI, 756, 758; leadership election (1990), 851
Rifkind, Malcolm
(Scottish Secretary
1986–90):
Scottish Secretary, 433, 620–3; Gorbachev visit, 460; Botha visit, 514; South Africa seminar, 515; community charge, 652, 655; leadership election campaign (1990), 852
Right Approach, The
, 14
Right Approach to the Economy, The
, 14, 94
riots: urban (1981), 143–7; community charge (1990), 661
Roberts, Alfred (MT’s father), 11, 23, 37
Robilliard, Joy, 22, 858
Robinson, Derek, 116, 117
Rocard, Michel
(French Prime Minister
1988–91)
, 738
Rogers, General Bernard
(Supreme Allied
Commander in Europe 1979–87)
, 240
Rolls-Royce, 116, 678
Romania, fall of Ceauşescu, 790
Romanov, Grigory, 453
Rome, Treaty of, 546, 547, 549–50, 554
Rome Airport terrorists, 441–2
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
(US President
1933–45)
, 236
Rossi, Hugh, 423
Rothschild, Victor, Lord, 563, 646–7
Rover Group, 679–80,
see also
British Leyland Royal Academy, 633
Royal Air Force (RAF), 250
Royal Navy, 250, 251
Royal Society, 640
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), 57–8, 397, 401, 411
Russian Orthodox Church, 478–9
Ryan, Father Patrick, 413–14, 746
Ryder, Caroline
(née
Stephens) 25, 297
Ryder, Richard: Downing St arrival, 24; election campaign (1983), 297; budget seminar (1990), 675; leadership election campaign (1989), 830; leadership election campaign (1990), 850, 854, 860
Ryder Plan, 115
Ryzhkov, Nikolai
(Soviet Prime Minister)
, 483, 802, 804, 809
Saatchi & Saatchi, 295, 570, 585
Sadat, Anwar, 508
Sakharov, Andrei, 452, 475, 480
Saltley Coke Depot picketing (1972), 112, 340, 345
SALT II, 65, 245
Salvation Army, 627
Sanderson, Russell, Lord, 623
Sands, Bobby, 391
Santer, Jacques, 552
satellite broadcasting, 635, 638
Saudi Arabia: MT’s visit (1981), 162; Gulf crisis (1990), 818, 820–2
savings ratio (1988–9), 674
Scargill, Arthur: presidency of NUM, 140, 143, 340, 341; response to 1983 election, 339; Saltley pickets, 340; miners’ strike (1984–5), 349–52, 354–5, 360, 363–6, 373–6; fined for contempt, 368; Libyan connection, 351, 369
Scarman, Lord, 143, 144
Schild family, 83
Schluter, Poul
(Danish Prime Minister 1982–93)
, 731, 740, 751
Schmidt, Helmut
(German Chancellor 1979–82):
visit (1979), 34–5; EC, 61–2, 79, 83–4, 552; G7, 67–70, 165, 257; visit (1980), 83; ERM question, 83, 692; Falklands, 191; nuclear policy, 240–2, 245, 246, 249, 258–9, 771; achievements, 813
Scholey, Bob, 112
schools,
see
education, grant-maintained
Schools Examination and Assessment Council, 594
science, 639–41
Scoon, Sir Paul, 330
Scotland: housing policy, 602, 621, 623; Health Boards, 608n; Thatcherism rebuffed, 618–24; rate revaluations, 645, 647; community charge, 651, 652, 653, 655; electricity industry, 682; Church of, 704
Scotland Act, 36
Scottish Conservative Conferences, 35–6, 221, 291, 561–2, 576, 704
Scowcroft, General Brent, 788, 820
Seccombe, Dame Joan, 582
Selsdon Group, 154
Selsdon Man, 13
Shackleton, Lord, 175
Shah, Eddie, 348
Shakespeare, William, 106
Shamir, Yitzhak
(Israeli Prime Minister 1983–84, 1986–92)
, 510–12
Shcherbitsky, Vladimir, 802
Sheffield
, HMS, 216–17
Shelton, Bill, 830
Shenfield, Arthur, 6
Sherbourne, Stephen: election campaign (1983), 291; MT-Tebbit meetings, 564; Strategy Group, 565; MT’s speeches, 567; manifesto (1987), 572–3; election campaign (1987), 579, 586–7, 588
Sherman, Alfred, 133
Shevardnadze, Eduard
(Soviet Foreign Minister 1985–90)
, 773
Shrimsley, Tony, 285, 287
Shultz, George
(US Secretary of State
1982–89)
, 256, 333, 461, 468, 473, 783
Sidewinder missiles, 226, 227
Sihanouk, Prince, 506
Sikorsky, 426–31, 436
Silkin, John, 296
Silkin, Sam, 98
Singapore, MT’s visit (1985), 504–5
Single European Act, 555–7, 558, 741
Sinn Fein, 394–5, 397, 401, 406, 408, 412
Sir Galahad
, 233
Sirs, Bill, 103, 109, 111–12
Sir Tristram
, 233
Skinner, Dennis, 859
SLADE, 98, 102
Smith, Adam, 291, 618
Smith, Hector, 111
Smith, Ian, 72
Soames, Christopher, Lord
(Leader HL
1979–81)
, 27, 77–8, 79, 151
Soames, Mary, 78
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 387, 391, 394–5, 400, 403–4, 410
Social Democratic Party (SDP), 153, 264–5, 274, 298, 573–4
socialism: democratic, 6–7; debilitating effects, 9; appearance and reality, 12; Labour Party, 265, 566; ingrained, 306; failure, 625; reversal of, 687; Poland, 779
Socialist Workers Party, 293
social security benefits, 49, 55, 127
society, ‘no such thing’, 626
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 119
Soeharto, Thojib N.J., 503
SOGAT, 113
Solidarity, 156, 252, 777–82, 789
Solzhenitzyn, Alexander, 290, 452, 813
South Africa: political issue, 78, 91, 487, 512–13; British relationship, 160, 512–13; sporting relations, 166; sanctions, 166, 515–16, 517–19, 532, 534; Commonwealth relations, 502–3, 512, 516–19, 520–4, 530–1; Botha’s Chequers visit, 514–15; debt repayment freeze, 515; Chequers seminar, 515–16; ‘Eminent Persons Group’, 518–19; changes, 522, 531–2; Namibia, 528–9; leadership, 529; MT’s visit, 533
Southall riots (1981), 143–4
Southern Thule, 176
South Georgia, 174, 177, 179, 196, 201, 204–5, 208–9, 219
South Sandwich Islands, 174, 176
South-West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), 529
Sovietologists, 451, 474
Soviet Union: growing threat, 9; Iron Lady title, 65; Kosygin discussions, 65–6; Afghanistan invasion, 65, 69, 87–8; military spending, 238; nuclear capability, 239; Brezhnev’s arms reduction proposals, 242; West Siberian Gas Pipeline, 253–6; South Korean Airliner, 321, 322, 324, 450; US arms talks, 323–4, 453, 461,
see also
SALT; NUM support, 369; East-West relations, 450–3, 769;
refuseniks
, 460, 476, 484, 510; GALOSH, 465; Gorbachev leadership, 469–70, 768; Reykjavik, 470–2;
perestroika
, 475, 773, 803–4; MT’s visit (1987), 478–85; Baltic States, 767, 801; reforms, 768–9, 790, 800–1; INF treaty (1987), 771, 773, 774, 784; Reagan’s visit (1988), 776; German reunification, 790, 792, 798; MT’s visit (1989), 792; political situation (1989–90), 800–4; MT’s visit (1990), 804–7; Gulf crisis, 819, 826–7;
see also
Brezhnev, Gorbachev
Spain: US bombing of Libya, 446; EC membership, 545–6; economy, 668; Gibraltar discussions, 746
Special Air Service (SAS), 90, 205, 222
Special Boat Service, 222
Speed, Keith, 190, 250
Spicer, Michael, 285, 604, 605
Sri Lanka, MT’s visit (1985), 503–4
Stalin, Joseph, 459, 475, 483, 801
Stalker-Sampson Report, 409
START Agreement, 773, 774–5, 776
statism, 6–7
Steel, David
(Leader Liberal Party 1976–88)
, 222, 573–4, 578
steel strike (1980), 108–14
Stepping Stones group, 42
sterling,
see
MONETARY POLICY
Stevas, Norman St John
(Leader HC 1979–81)
, 130, 446–7
Stewart, Ian, 515
Stock Exchange, 311
Stock Market collapse (1987), 700, 710
Stormont, 386
Stowe, Sir Kenneth
(Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1975–9, Permanent Secretary NIO 1979–81, then DHSS 1981–87)
, 18, 25
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty,
see
SALT
Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), 247, 450, 462, 463–71, 776, 782, 818
Strategy Group, 565–6
Streator, Ed, 192
strikes: effects on PSBR, 53; steel, 54, 104–7; supplementary benefit, 55; problem, 92; engineering industry (1979), 98, 101; steel (1980), 108–14; civil service, 139; public sector, 274–5; NHS (1982), 275; water (1982), 275; miners (1984–5), 306, 344–78; coal (1926–7), 340; miners (1973–4), 340; dock (1984), 355–7, 361–2; reduction, 669
student loans, 598
Suez (1956), 8, 173, 437
Sukarno, Achmad, 8
Sunday Telegraph
, 596, 840
Sunday Times
, 132, 368, 840
Sununu, John
(US Chief of Staff 1989–91)
, 820
supplementary benefit, 55
‘supply side’ reforms, 669, 672
Suzuki, Zenko
(Japanese Prime Minister 1980–82)
, 232
Syria: Lebanon policy, 326–7, 334; El Al Heathrow bomb, 510; Gulf crisis, 823–4
Takeshita, Noboru
(Japanese Prime Minister 1987–89)
, 499
Tamworth manifesto, 281
Taraki, Nur Muhammed, 87
Tax and Price Index (TPI), 43n
taxation: government approaches, 6, 7; Conservative policies, 7; VAT increases (1979), 42–3, (1991), 667; income tax cuts (1979), 43, (1986), 673, (1988), 673; tax allowances, 43; income tax policy, 136, 271, 570; husband and wife, 279, 570; Labour’s manifesto (1987), 579; mortgage tax relief, 600, 671, 672, 674; hypothecated (NHS), 610; private health insurance tax relief proposals, 610, 612–13; child care tax relief proposals, 630–1; local government finance proposals, 648–9; reform, 672; Lawson’s reforms, 672–5;
see also
VAT