Margaret Thatcher's role in plan to dismantle welfare state revealed

[alp227]

Source: guardian

Margaret Thatcher and her chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe were behind a politically toxic plan in 1982 to dismantle the welfare state, newly released Downing Street documents show. She later attempted to distance herself from the plans after what was described as a "riot" in her cabinet.

The proposals considered by her cabinet included compulsory charges for schooling and a massive scaling back of other public services. "This would of course mean the end of the National Health Service," declared a confidential cabinet memorandum by the Central Policy Review Staff in September 1982, released by the National Archives on Friday under the 30-year rule.

Nigel Lawson, then the energy secretary, said the report by the official thinktank on long-term public spending options caused "the nearest thing to a cabinet riot in the history of the Thatcher administration".

In her memoirs, Thatcher said: "I was horrified when I saw this paper. I pointed out that it would almost certainly be leaked and give a totally false impression … It was all a total nonsense," claiming the proposals were never seriously considered by her or her ministers.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/28/margaret-thatcher-role-plan-to-dismantle-welfare-state-revealed

[indepat]

1. Trying to emulate Saint Ronnie's rampant misery creating?

[Boomerproud]

11. This is hardly a revelation.

After all, she and her American boyfriend were soulmates. I actually think Ronnie (at least the people around him) had more success and continue their quest to this day-with a LOT of help.

[AlphaCentauri]

2. Britons are smart people

they wouldn't let their accomplishments taken down

[secondvariety]

3. I dislike her

as much as Reagan.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Sure they weren't taken seriously.

That is the dream of all fascist and she is no different.

Her and Ronnie weren't buddies for nothing.

[ikri]

12. "Not taken seriously" and "Discussed by the cabinet" are polar opposites

If the report made it to a full cabinet meeting then it would have been discussed at length by ministers and civil servants. It didn't just appear out of nowhere.

[ywcachieve]

5. She is a very cold person.

[Kalidurga]

7. It seems conservatives are incapable of history lessons.

A link for those who wish to keep track.


http://www.isthatcherdeadyet.co.uk/

[UTUSN]

8. R#15 & K n/t

[Nye Bevan]

9. I guess "end welfare as we know it" just wouldn't fly over there (nt)

[Zoeisright]

10. I knew that women was a complete bitch.

[Third Doctor]

13. So she was the british version of a corporatist tea bagger.

They see, to exist in more places than I thought.

[FiveGoodMen]

14. Thatcher said there is no such thing as society; only individuals and families

She is one of the most evil people who ever lived.

[bemildred]

15. This was a secret or something? nt

[dipsydoodle]

18. Nope

It was leaked to the press at the time.

[leftlibdem420]

16. Reminds me of Stephen Harper...

Nobody really liked her, but she and her party exploited a shitty electoral system to impose a toxiic, hard-right agenda on an electorate that didn't want it. Only morons support first past the post. I consider support for such an archaic electoral system and opposition to proportional representation to be on the same level of stupidity as opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and the legalization of soft drugs.

[daleo]

17. PR would be a huge improvement

The right wing has turned gaming first past the post into an art-form.

[ButterflyBlood]

19. PR has its benefits, but look at Israel if you think its flawless

Israel's government almost aways has some crazies in it because it's almost impossible to get a majority without them. Also the Netherlands's system gives a bit too much power to Geert Wilders because of the system. I'd like to look at something like single transferable vote.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. Thatcher was like Romney except she carries a purse

she wanted to privatize everything. Thank goodness we stopped her.

[alp227]

21. Kicking in the wake of her death n/t