Margaret Thatcher: power and personality PDF
Preview Margaret Thatcher: power and personality
MARGARET THATCHER To Elizabeth Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgements Prologue 1 The early years The birthplace Family tensions Fun (or lack of it) First school Fatherly inspiration Reflection 2 The war, grammar school and fighting her headmistress Grantham at war KGGS Getting her own way Reflection 3 Oxford, boyfriends and political ambition Early unhappiness at Oxford Stirrings of romance Success in OUCA politics Reflection 4 First steps in politics Young Conservative Mentored by Alfred Bossom MP Young candidate Three men on a string The general election of 1950 Frustration, consolidation and engagement Reflection 5 Marriage, motherhood and Finchley Marriage Motherhood The bumpy road to Finchley Elected Reflection 6 First years in Parliament 1959–1964 The lucky legislator Making her way in the House Junior minister In the constituency Family life Reflection 7 Front-bench opposition Entering opposition Iain Macleod’s no. 2 Joining the shadow cabinet Wooed by the Americans, dismayed by the Soviets Preparing for government Reflection 8 Secretary of State for Education First moves Milk snatcher Saved by the Prime Minister Wider than education Reflection 9 Heath on the ropes The twilight of a Tory leader The phoney war in the party The rise and fall of Sir Keith Joseph Reflection 10 Winning the leadership Deciding to run Toffs for Thatcher and other surprises A deal with Edward du Cann Enter Airey Neave A stunning result on the first ballot Reflection 11 Leader of the Opposition: a fragile beginning Winning the final round An uncertain start Personal glimpses Reflection 12 Three frustrating years Party conferences and foreign visits Outmanoeuvred by James Callaghan New policies and philosophies Reflection 13 Last lap to the election The importance of the laughing boys The winter of discontent The vote of no confidence Reflection 14 The final ascent to No. 10 Waiting before the off Soft-centre campaigning On the eve of power Victory Reflection 15 First moves as Prime Minister Making a start Handling her cabinet Challenging the civil service Reflection 16 The learning curve Inside No. 10 Bridge builders and voices Old Stripey and stubbornness A favour for Rupert Murdoch Personality traits on and off duty Dog days on Islay Reflection 17 First steps in foreign affairs Learning from Lord Carrington Rhodesia Europe A slow start to the Special Relationship Reflection 18 Storm clouds on the economy and in the cabinet The gathering storm Outflanking Jim Prior The courage of the 1981 Budget The vulnerable Prime Minister Blockbustered into reshuffling the cabinet Reflection 19 The Falklands War I: the prelude Sabotaging the leaseback option Parliament’s war Seeing off Haig Reflection 20 The Falklands War II: into the fighting Military and political preparations South Georgia, the Belgrano and the Sheffield More diplomatic wobbles Reflection 21 The Falklands War III: victory The battle for the Falklands Victory Reflection 22 After the Falklands The changing of the political landscape The economy and the unions The beginnings of privatisation The suicide of the opposition A landslide victory Reflection 23 Stumbling into the second term Cecil Parkinson and the Speaker Other early glitches Difficult problems Her blue-eyed Chancellor Reflection 24 Terrorism, Ireland and Hong Kong Facing down terrorism The Anglo-Irish Agreement Accepting reality in Hong Kong Reflection 25 Batting for Britain in Saudi Arabia The deal of the century Fighting the French The Denis back channel Difficult hurdles to overcome The motivation of the Prime Minister Reflection 26 Unions and miners Stepping stones towards solving the problem Arthur Scargill’s challenge David Hart: her secret Blue Pimpernel The NACODS crisis and the collapse of the strike Losers but no victors Reflection
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