PA
Prime Minister you have a year of your term of office to go, you have a healthy majority in the Commons, why does there have to be an Election now?
PM
Well you'll be the first to recall I have been pestered for months now. If and when will there be an Election. Pestered and pestered. I've been asked nothing else … . I thought it advisable to end that uncertainty so that people can now make their long term plans for the future after an Election.
PA
The accusation from the Opposition will be that you've cut and run before inflation rises and unemployment gets worse.
PM
Well I shouldn't worry about that. If I didn't go they'd say I was dithering and clinging onto office so I don't really think there's much in that accusation.
PA
Your slogan was, is, the resolute approach. You said only yesterday, you weren't going to be pushed around by anybody and yet you seem to have been pushed into this Election.
PM
Well no hardly. I seem to remember that you asked me about the Election on December 31st last year and indeed that was one of your main questions … . I said I was not going to consider it until I'd been in power after four years. When I'd been in power four years I did consider it and I believe I took the right decision. Having taken it, I acted swiftly and gave reasonable notice of the Election. That made it quite clear we were going to have it quickly.
PA
Now, when it comes to that Election, we speculate that unemployment will be the main issue. Would you admit right at the outset that on that issue you'll have to say to the electorate you've failed? [end p1]
PM
No, I most certainly will not. On that issue I'll be able to say to the electorate we have the only policy which will give us long term jobs and we've pursued a very, very sound policy. But may I take issue on one thing. No Election is ever fought on one single matter. It will range over the whole field of policy.
PA
More than most of the other issues it might range over the comparison between yourself and Mr. Foot. I mean that's the way our Elections tend to go these days isn't it?
PM
Well I just hope that he will give much, much more attention to the issues. They're really what matters.
PA
I know we only have a few minutes left of this interview but I wonder if you could perhaps summarise what you're going to say to people. What has this Conservative Government done for them, even for the unemployed, the 3½ million unemployed?
PM
I would think that during the lifetime of this Government this country has regained its confidence and self-respect at home. I believe overseas we are held in high regard and admiration for two things—first because we have chosen the right policies and secondly because we have stuck to them. That's not a bad record on which to ask for a view and mandate to your people.
PA
And now finally a very short question, do you expect to win?
PM
I expect and hope of course to win. We are cautiously optimistic. Now you know I never make colossal claims, I am cautiously optimistic about the result.
PA
Mrs. Thatcher, many thanks.