Margaret Thatcher's role in plan to dismantle welfare state revealed
Source: guardian
Margaret Thatcher and her chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe were behind a politically toxic plan in 1982 to dismantle the welfare state, newly released Downing Street documents show. She later attempted to distance herself from the plans after what was described as a "riot" in her cabinet.
The proposals considered by her cabinet included compulsory charges for schooling and a massive scaling back of other public services. "This would of course mean the end of the National Health Service," declared a confidential cabinet memorandum by the Central Policy Review Staff in September 1982, released by the National Archives on Friday under the 30-year rule.
Nigel Lawson, then the energy secretary, said the report by the official thinktank on long-term public spending options caused "the nearest thing to a cabinet riot in the history of the Thatcher administration".
In her memoirs, Thatcher said: "I was horrified when I saw this paper. I pointed out that it would almost certainly be leaked and give a totally false impression
It was all a total nonsense," claiming the proposals were never seriously considered by her or her ministers.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/28/margaret-thatcher-role-plan-to-dismantle-welfare-state-revealed
indepat
(20,899 posts)Boomerproud
(7,955 posts)After all, she and her American boyfriend were soulmates. I actually think Ronnie (at least the people around him) had more success and continue their quest to this day-with a LOT of help.
AlphaCentauri
(6,460 posts)they wouldn't let their accomplishments taken down
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)as much as Reagan.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)That is the dream of all fascist and she is no different.
Her and Ronnie weren't buddies for nothing.
ikri
(1,127 posts)If the report made it to a full cabinet meeting then it would have been discussed at length by ministers and civil servants. It didn't just appear out of nowhere.
ywcachieve
(365 posts)Response to alp227 (Original post)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)A link for those who wish to keep track.
http://www.isthatcherdeadyet.co.uk/
UTUSN
(70,708 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)Third Doctor
(1,574 posts)They see, to exist in more places than I thought.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)She is one of the most evil people who ever lived.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)It was leaked to the press at the time.
leftlibdem420
(256 posts)Nobody really liked her, but she and her party exploited a shitty electoral system to impose a toxiic, hard-right agenda on an electorate that didn't want it. Only morons support first past the post. I consider support for such an archaic electoral system and opposition to proportional representation to be on the same level of stupidity as opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and the legalization of soft drugs.
daleo
(21,317 posts)The right wing has turned gaming first past the post into an art-form.
ButterflyBlood
(12,644 posts)Israel's government almost aways has some crazies in it because it's almost impossible to get a majority without them. Also the Netherlands's system gives a bit too much power to Geert Wilders because of the system. I'd like to look at something like single transferable vote.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)she wanted to privatize everything. Thank goodness we stopped her.