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John Sergeant: Margaret Thatcher 'handbagging' made my career John Sergeant: Margaret Thatcher 'handbagging' made my career
(6 months later)
John Sergeant, former BBC chief political correspondent, has recalled the "handbagging" he received from Margaret Thatcher days before she quit as prime minister as the night "my career had been made and hers had been finished off".John Sergeant, former BBC chief political correspondent, has recalled the "handbagging" he received from Margaret Thatcher days before she quit as prime minister as the night "my career had been made and hers had been finished off".
Sergeant, writing in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph, says the incident on the steps of the British embassy in Paris just two days before Thatcher quit was a defining moment in his career. "From then on, I was a well-known TV reporter," he said, adding that he has "no difficulty in saying she was my favourite PM".Sergeant, writing in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph, says the incident on the steps of the British embassy in Paris just two days before Thatcher quit was a defining moment in his career. "From then on, I was a well-known TV reporter," he said, adding that he has "no difficulty in saying she was my favourite PM".
He added: "The truth is that from the moment she became leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 through to her 11 years in power, I was in thrall to Mrs Thatcher".He added: "The truth is that from the moment she became leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 through to her 11 years in power, I was in thrall to Mrs Thatcher".
His sentiment echoes that of Jon Snow, the Channel 4 news presenter, who authored a self-mocking portrait of Thatcher which was screened on Monday night.His sentiment echoes that of Jon Snow, the Channel 4 news presenter, who authored a self-mocking portrait of Thatcher which was screened on Monday night.
He recalled how Thatcher used her matron-like status in an all-male cabinet to triumphant effect and how she enjoyed humiliating the journalists who followed her and her retinue.He recalled how Thatcher used her matron-like status in an all-male cabinet to triumphant effect and how she enjoyed humiliating the journalists who followed her and her retinue.
Sergeant recalls how he waited outside the British embassy in Paris in 1990 reckoning she was not going to give an interview to the BBC, as she had just heard that Michael Heseltine had the support of 152 Conservatives in the first round of the leadership battle.Sergeant recalls how he waited outside the British embassy in Paris in 1990 reckoning she was not going to give an interview to the BBC, as she had just heard that Michael Heseltine had the support of 152 Conservatives in the first round of the leadership battle.
Out of the blue she emerged unknown to Sergeant who was facing his camera crew to the front of the building.Out of the blue she emerged unknown to Sergeant who was facing his camera crew to the front of the building.
The London crew were shouting "she's behind you" and as she swept past Sergeant her press secretary, Bernard Ingham, could be seen elbowing him out of the way. That became known as the handbagging moment.The London crew were shouting "she's behind you" and as she swept past Sergeant her press secretary, Bernard Ingham, could be seen elbowing him out of the way. That became known as the handbagging moment.
"I have a great deal to thank Margaret Thatcher for; she made my career," he said. "You can work in TV news for a long time night after night, and somehow the public are totally unmoved by your presence. Something needs to happen to bring you to their attention, and in my case that involved making a big mistake in front of a very large audience"."I have a great deal to thank Margaret Thatcher for; she made my career," he said. "You can work in TV news for a long time night after night, and somehow the public are totally unmoved by your presence. Something needs to happen to bring you to their attention, and in my case that involved making a big mistake in front of a very large audience".
He went on to recall another humiliating incident when he was on the press plane taking Thatcher to Moscow in 1987 tucking into a generous meal and vintage wine. She came down to his seat and his immediate reaction was to stand up knocking his entire tray to the ground.He went on to recall another humiliating incident when he was on the press plane taking Thatcher to Moscow in 1987 tucking into a generous meal and vintage wine. She came down to his seat and his immediate reaction was to stand up knocking his entire tray to the ground.
"She knelt down and told me firmly to stay where I was. She would sort this out – the meaning was clear: I was an idiot male," recalls Sergeant. As the horrified staff rushed forward to stop her cleaning the mess up, he turned red with embarrassment."She knelt down and told me firmly to stay where I was. She would sort this out – the meaning was clear: I was an idiot male," recalls Sergeant. As the horrified staff rushed forward to stop her cleaning the mess up, he turned red with embarrassment.
"She loved it. It was her sort of joke," said Sergeant."She loved it. It was her sort of joke," said Sergeant.
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