Queen’s Speech for a nuclear war
In 2003, it was revealed that in the event of a nuclear war the Queen would deliver a special speech before being bundled to safety as Tony McMahon discovers
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SNP topples Labour PM Callaghan in 1979
In 1979, SNP MPs toppled the Labour government of James Callaghan opening the door to over a decade of Margaret Thatcher as Tony McMahon discovers
London reacts to Maggie in 1979
London and the south east had a swing to the Tories in 1979 that was 50% higher than the rest of the country. The GLC was already in Tory hands under the leadership of Horace Cutler. He was looking forward to a close working relationship with Thatcher around issues that would eventually move in his…
James Callaghan heckled by Pat Arrowsmith
Jim Callaghan heckled during his 1979 election speech
Riot police armed with dustbin lids
As the level of civil disturbances rose in the 1970s riot police complained of only having dustbin lids and traffic cones for protection
Thatcher was not a feminist
In recent years, Thatcher has been lauded as a feminist icon – an idea that would have been laughed at in the 1980s
TV roasting of Margaret Thatcher
One TV viewer gave Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher a roasting over the sinking of the Belgrano putting the Iron Lady on the back foot
When Thatcher caved in to the miners
In 1981, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher caved into the miners but was simply biding her time for a future showdown