Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

TV Interview for ITV ("Votes for Women")

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Unknown
Source: Finchley Press, 9 October 1959
Editorial comments: Item listed by date of broadcast. Broadcast by Associated-Rediffusion 1900-1930. MT appeared as a panellist.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 288
Themes: Defence (arms control), General Elections, Taxation, Social security & welfare, Women

Mrs. THATCHER ON I.T.V.

Finchley television viewers on Tuesday evening saw on the ITV programme “Votes For Women” their prospective Conservative candidate, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, sitting as one of a panel of prospective women MP's in a political “question-meeting” for women only.

The Chairman, and the only man participating in the programme, was Lord Birkett.

Sitting with Mrs. Thatcher as the other prospective Conservative woman candidate was Mrs. Evelyn Emmet. There were two prospective women MP's from the Labour and Liberal parties.

The first question was: “Was it fair for a married woman with a small private income, or who was employed, that her income should be lumped together with her husband's for tax purposes?”

Giving her reply Mrs. Thatcher said that the practice came from ancient English law whereby husband and wife were counted as one. The family was a unit and regarded as such. Actually, as far as the practice was concerned it only affected those in the surtax region.

With another question concerning which parties had done the best to help old age pensioners, Mrs. Thatcher said, it was best to judge parties by their records. That was all that was needed.

Another question, on disarmament, was also answered by Mrs. Thatcher, who gave a brief but effective history of disarmament meetings.

The programme finished at half past seven yet before 8 pm Mrs. Thatcher was at a political meeting at Christ College, Church End, and gave an address there. The meeting was full to over-flowing. Then she went on to the Norrice Lea Synagogue, Hampstead Garden Suburb, to take part in an all candidates meeting.