Margaret Thatcher: From MP to PM | Mrs Thatcher's journey from Finchley to Downing Street
News | Thatcher Arrives at Downing Street
'Where there is discord, may we bring harmony': Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister.
CHANNEL | BBC 1
FIRST BROADCAST | 04 May 1979
DURATION | 6 minutes 1 seconds
FIRSTBROADCAST
1979
Synopsis
Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister in Britain and enters 10 Downing Street. Amid cheers and jeers from the assembled crowd, Thatcher famously quotes St Francis of Assisi and recalls Airey Neave with the words 'there is work to be done'. This is an extended version of the original news broadcast and provides an insight into the coverage of the event and the reactions of the crowd to the new Prime Minister.
Did you know?
Airey Neave was murdered by a car bomb the day after the general election was announced. In an address at Neave's memorial service one week later, Margaret Thatcher stated that if he had lived he would have been a member of the cabinet and stressed his words 'there is work to do', promising never to grow weary 'until that work is done'.
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Documents
Letter to Margaret Thatcher about the general election, 1959.
A letter asking Margaret Thatcher to take part in a radio programme.
Memorandum about Margaret Thatcher, 1959
A memo to the producer of 'Any Questions?' about Margaret Thatcher.
Producer's comments on Margaret Thatcher in 1962.
Production notes from an interview with Margaret Thatcher on 'Woman's Hour'.
Producer's comments on Margaret Thatcher, 1966
Production notes from a discussion about punishment of offenders with Margaret Thatcher.
Memo from Joanne Symons on Mrs Thatcher
A memo on the suitability of Margaret Thatcher for television appearances.
Letter proposing a television profile of Margaret Thatcher, 1970
Nicholas Harman outlines plans for a profile of Margaret Thatcher on 'Panorama'.
Memorandum discussing Margaret Thatcher's areas of interest, 1973
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