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oldironside

(1,248 posts) Fri Jan 3, 2014, 04:25 AM Jan 2014

Margaret Thatcher 'made no case' for Mandela's release

Margaret Thatcher barely mentioned the plight of Nelson Mandela when she controversially invited the hardline South African president PW Botha to talks at Chequers on 2 June 1984, newly released Downing Street files show, throwing into doubt claims made after Mandela's death last month.

Two of Thatcher's closest supporters, Norman Tebbit and Charles Moore, claimed on Mandela's death that as prime minister, she had put persistent pressure on Botha to release Mandela. Moore claimed that "the release of Mandela was the strongest and most specific of all her demands".

But there is little evidence in official papers to back this up. The Downing Street file on the visit shows Thatcher did not raise Mandela's case at all during the four-hour official meeting at Chequers.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/03/thatcher-mandela-release

Well, well, well, what a surprise.

5 replies

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Margaret Thatcher 'made no case' for Mandela's release (Original Post) oldironside Jan 2014 OP

Of course she didn't. non sociopath skin Jan 2014 #1

Indeed. I am old enough to remember the attitudes of young Tories, e.g. some of my fellow students, LeftishBrit Jan 2014 #4

The Secretary in the school I worked in, a Thatcher supporter ... non sociopath skin Jan 2014 #5

I just fell on the floor in absolute amazement. LeftishBrit Jan 2014 #2

But she loved her man Pinochet.... truebrit71 Jan 2014 #3

non sociopath skin

(4,972 posts)

1. Of course she didn't.

Reply to oldironside (Original post)

Fri Jan 3, 2014, 07:32 AM

Jan 2014

Mandela remained a figure of hatred among Tories until well into the 90s when they finally woke up, smelt the coffee and realised that another tack was needed to protect their South African investments.

The Skin

LeftishBrit

(41,208 posts)

4. Indeed. I am old enough to remember the attitudes of young Tories, e.g. some of my fellow students,

Reply to non sociopath skin (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 3, 2014, 12:45 PM

Jan 2014

in the 1980s.

Which ranged from just ignoring apartheid, to actively wanting to 'hang Mandela'.

They were of course just taking their cue from the party leadership of the time.