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Ken Clarke: Margaret Thatcher was no rightwing ideologue Ken Clarke: Margaret Thatcher was no rightwing ideologue
(34 minutes later)
Politicians on the right and the left are guilty of creating simplistic "myths" about Margaret Thatcher which bear little relation to the actions of the late prime minister, who was no rightwing ideologue, Kenneth Clarke has said. Politicians on the right and the left are guilty of creating simplistic "myths" about Margaret Thatcher that bear little relation to the actions of the late prime minister, who was no rightwing ideologue, Kenneth Clarke has said.
In a jibe at the right, which reveres Thatcher as a Eurosceptic, the former chancellor described Thatcher as a pro-European who gave ministerial jobs to "incurable old wets" like himself. In a jibe at the right, which reveres Thatcher as a Eurosceptic, the former chancellor described her as a pro-European who gave ministerial jobs to "incurable old wets" like himself.
But Clarke, who told Thatcher to her face that she should stand down in November 1990 after Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge, also criticised the left.But Clarke, who told Thatcher to her face that she should stand down in November 1990 after Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge, also criticised the left.
"That is all the leftwing myth," he told the Today programme after Ken Livingstone accused Thatcher of laying the ground for the current recession after the "catastrophic mistake" of running down Britain's manufacturing base."That is all the leftwing myth," he told the Today programme after Ken Livingstone accused Thatcher of laying the ground for the current recession after the "catastrophic mistake" of running down Britain's manufacturing base.
Clarke, one of only four Tory MPs to serve as a minister between 1979 and 97, said Britain would be a "rust bucket ruin" if Thatcher had not been able to rescue the country. Clarke, one of only four Tory MPs to serve as a minister from 1979-97, said Britain would be a "rust bucket ruin" if Thatcher had not been able to rescue the country.
But the minister without portfolio, who has served on every Tory frontbench since 1972, said all sides were guilty of creating myths about Thatcher. "I am almost amused – I am saddened obviously by the death – by the way she still polarises debate. The right and the left have created myths about her government. They are fighting them out over her memory.But the minister without portfolio, who has served on every Tory frontbench since 1972, said all sides were guilty of creating myths about Thatcher. "I am almost amused – I am saddened obviously by the death – by the way she still polarises debate. The right and the left have created myths about her government. They are fighting them out over her memory.
"Some day somebody will have to write a sensible history of what actually happened. But this isn't the day. And it is a tribute to the woman who made more difference to life in this country than any politician in my lifetime – any peacetime politician. It was a privilege to work with her."Some day somebody will have to write a sensible history of what actually happened. But this isn't the day. And it is a tribute to the woman who made more difference to life in this country than any politician in my lifetime – any peacetime politician. It was a privilege to work with her.
"Today is not the day to rewrite all these marvellous myths. It wouldn't have worked if it had been so simplistic as that. It actually did modernise and transform a failing country.""Today is not the day to rewrite all these marvellous myths. It wouldn't have worked if it had been so simplistic as that. It actually did modernise and transform a failing country."
Clarke, who recalled meeting Thatcher in his time as a whip in the early 1970s when Ted Heath wanted to sack her from his cabinet, said she was no ideologue. "She was not a rightwing ideologue. She had lots of incurable old wets like me in the government … She was pro-European."Clarke, who recalled meeting Thatcher in his time as a whip in the early 1970s when Ted Heath wanted to sack her from his cabinet, said she was no ideologue. "She was not a rightwing ideologue. She had lots of incurable old wets like me in the government … She was pro-European."
Clarke was scathing about Tories on the right who hail Thatcher as Britain's greatest Eurosceptic. "The Bruges speech today would be regarded as a pro-European panegyric," he said.Clarke was scathing about Tories on the right who hail Thatcher as Britain's greatest Eurosceptic. "The Bruges speech today would be regarded as a pro-European panegyric," he said.
He also hit out at other myths from rightwingers who hail Thatcher as a great tax cutter. "The tax cuts to the present level were achieved after her under the Major government. She took away the really swingeing ones but the 20% and all that was John Major. We are wishing on to today's politics things she didn't actually do." He also hit out at other myths from rightwingers who hail Thatcher as a great tax-cutter. "The tax cuts to the present level were achieved after her under the Major government. She took away the really swingeing ones but the 20% and all that was John Major. We are wishing on to today's politics things she didn't actually do."
But Clarke said that people regarded Thatcher as an ideologue because she had the courage to voice support for market economics. "She was a believer in market economics. When I started in politics if you said as a Conservative you were in favour of free market economics you were regarded as an extremist. She did see the country was on its knees when we took over – we were an industrial, political laughing stock. By the time she had lost office she had transformed the country – given it a modern economy – it was a quite remarkable achievement … It was great fun if you could stand the hassle because she kept this permanent revolutionary air going inside the government, which was great fun." But Clarke said people regarded Thatcher as an ideologue because she had the courage to voice support for market economics. "She was a believer in market economics. When I started in politics if you said as a Conservative you were in favour of free market economics you were regarded as an extremist. She did see the country was on its knees when we took over – we were an industrial, political laughing stock. By the time she had lost office she had transformed the country – given it a modern economy – it was a quite remarkable achievement … It was great fun if you could stand the hassle because she kept this permanent revolutionary air going inside the government, which was great fun."
Livingstone told Today: "She destroyed our manufacturing base. If you compare us with Germany, where unemployment is half the level it is now, they carried on investing. They prioritised their industry over their financial sector. It is a catastrophic mistake and we have still got to try and solve the consequences."Livingstone told Today: "She destroyed our manufacturing base. If you compare us with Germany, where unemployment is half the level it is now, they carried on investing. They prioritised their industry over their financial sector. It is a catastrophic mistake and we have still got to try and solve the consequences."