Speech to Fulham Conservatives

The Prime Minister has been talking this morning about the timing of the general election—but she's given little away. Speaking at the Conservative Party office at Fulham in South West London, Mrs. Thatcher pointed out that her Government had been in power for less than four years (the last general election was held on May the third 1979). She added “Until we've been in for four years I'm not going to think about a precise date for the election”. Our political correspondent says Mrs. Thatcher's advisors are busily trying to damp down speculation about an early poll. Those in the Party who want one in June argue that the Government will not get a better set of figures on inflation and unemployment between now and then. Those who are urging a delay say that by the Autumn the upward trend of the economy should be a good deal more obvious. The Prime Minister's comments this morning were made in the course of a tour of South West London.