Meeting with Thatcher seen as Tony Blaire’s faux pas by Labo

LONDON, May 27: Margaret Thatcher remains the most potent political symbol of British Conservatism of the 1980s and therefore of a world vi...

LONDON, May 27: Margaret Thatcher remains the most potent political symbol of British Conservatism of the 1980s and therefore of a world view that Labour claims to reject. This is perhaps why the news of her “secret” meeting with Tony Blair, on the day he was leaving for his first European Union conference as Britain’s new prime minister, received the sort of treatment that is normally reserved for reconciliations between sworn enemies.

Blair and Thatcher are clearly not enemies’ and are reported to admire each other’s “strong leadership style”. Weeks before the election Thatcher called Blair a “patriot” and someone who “won’t let Britain down”.

Tony Blair has, for his part, exploited the comparison with Britain’s Iron Lady’ to win the support of those for whom she is still an icon of right-wing nationalist Britain.

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A private confabulation, at her request it is said, was therefore exactly what a right-wing Sunday newspapers would treat as a major political event. “Baroness Thatcher held secret talks with Tony Blair to advise him.” was just the subtle toppling of hierarchy that makes the Conservative press which has been left isolated after a Labour victory feel that it is still in the thick of political action, and its immortal icon is still the power that moves Britain.

By Monday morning, however, the re-anointing of the Tory icon as the power behind the throne was dampened by news that it is routine for new prime minister’s to meet their predecessors. In fact, Blair has already met John Major to discuss the Irish issue. Before the election Blair took advice from another former prime minister, James Callaghan; Callaghan who was prime minister from 1976-79, told BBC’s Radio 4 yesterday, that he had met Major soon after he became prime minister in November, 1990, and just before he was due to attend a European heads of government meeting in Rome.

He said, “these courtesies aren’t unknown when a new Prime Minister takes office.” Labour party left-winger and veteran MP, Tony Benn said that he had received a number of phone calls yesterday trying to get someone on the left to protest about Blair meeting Thatcher. He said, “what people forget is that prime ministers and leaders of the Opposition meet regularly and always have done.”

But, Lord Healey, who was chancellor of Exchequer in Callaghan’s cabinet criticised Blair’s decision to meet and hold discussions with Lady Thatcher. He said, “I see no point really, except publicity, because she was a disaster. She destroyed British influence in Europe,” Lord Healy added.

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“She had worse relations with the Germans than any prime minister in living memory since the War.” Asked why he believed Blair had done it, he said, “I think, basically, to show he is open-minded and, secondly, I think because perhaps he thought it might reassure the Euro-sceptics that he wasn’t going to be a push-over, but I think it was a bad choice.”

The strongest denunciation of the Blair-Thatcher meeting came from The Guaradian newspaper which has been wary of Blair’s flirtations with right-wing populism and symbolism. In an editorial the paper said that Blair was “elected to create a Not-Thatcher’ Britain” and that if there was a serious criticism of Blair it was that “he does not seem to have understood what was so wrong about Thatcherism.”

It said that it was understandable that Blair might want to pick Thatcher’s brains, but that “he should do so with a long spoon.” It added that “interest in a persons experience of office was not enough, since on that basis, Blair could have some useful chats with ex-President Mobutu too”.

What matters, it said, “is what the leaders stand for, and Thatcher’s importance is matched only by the destructive effect of her period in office.”.