- Aug 10, 2001
- 10,420
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The Europeans never seem to learn from their mistakes.
Thatcher wrong on Europe say Tories
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IAIN DUNCAN SMITH faced pressure from senior Conservative Party members last night to distance himself from Baroness Thatcher?s forthright views on Europe.
A Times survey of more than 100 constituency chairmen found that more than two thirds regarded her stance as impractical and outmoded.
...The former Shadow Foreign Secretary?s R. A. Butler lecture also criticised Lady Thatcher?s record in office towards local government and rejected her ?dogmatic? politics.
He called on the Tories to pursue ?grown-up? politics, which did not mean opposition for the sake of it.
His remarks on Europe were a rebuke to Lady Thatcher. A great political party like the Tories needed to be broad and generous in addressing international problems if it was to break free of its Little Englander image, he said. ?This negative caricature has made it much more difficult for Conservatives to engage in the great debate about the future of the European Union.?
In a clear reference to Lady Thatcher he added: ?This caricature can too easily be reinforced by rumbling from our Hall of Fame. We do not believe it was wrong for Britain to join the EU. We do not believe that mainland Europe has been the source of all evil.?
...Phillip Ingall, chairman of Newark, said: ?She is no longer running the party and should accept that fact. She should back Iain Duncan Smith completely or shut up." Justine Holmes, chair in Totnes, Devon, said: ?She did a lot of good in the past, but she should not be allowed to have influence anymore." Pat Horrigan of Southend West in Essex added: ?William Hague hung his coat on Maggie?s hook. He went along that line and paid the price for it. IDS should respect her, but she is in the past and he has got to go to the future without making the same mistake.?[/i] >>
Thatcher wrong on Europe say Tories
[/i] >>
IAIN DUNCAN SMITH faced pressure from senior Conservative Party members last night to distance himself from Baroness Thatcher?s forthright views on Europe.
A Times survey of more than 100 constituency chairmen found that more than two thirds regarded her stance as impractical and outmoded.
...The former Shadow Foreign Secretary?s R. A. Butler lecture also criticised Lady Thatcher?s record in office towards local government and rejected her ?dogmatic? politics.
He called on the Tories to pursue ?grown-up? politics, which did not mean opposition for the sake of it.
His remarks on Europe were a rebuke to Lady Thatcher. A great political party like the Tories needed to be broad and generous in addressing international problems if it was to break free of its Little Englander image, he said. ?This negative caricature has made it much more difficult for Conservatives to engage in the great debate about the future of the European Union.?
In a clear reference to Lady Thatcher he added: ?This caricature can too easily be reinforced by rumbling from our Hall of Fame. We do not believe it was wrong for Britain to join the EU. We do not believe that mainland Europe has been the source of all evil.?
...Phillip Ingall, chairman of Newark, said: ?She is no longer running the party and should accept that fact. She should back Iain Duncan Smith completely or shut up." Justine Holmes, chair in Totnes, Devon, said: ?She did a lot of good in the past, but she should not be allowed to have influence anymore." Pat Horrigan of Southend West in Essex added: ?William Hague hung his coat on Maggie?s hook. He went along that line and paid the price for it. IDS should respect her, but she is in the past and he has got to go to the future without making the same mistake.?[/i] >>
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