Thank you very much for this lovely gift of roses and for naming the rose “The Margaret Thatcher Rose” .
I confess that when you first asked me if you could do this, I was a little fearful of saying “Yes” , because, of course, any rose named after a Prime Minister has to be a winner, and I had to be certain that you had got a winner. I think I chose well and I hope you chose well in the name.
You tell me about its characteristics. They seem wonderful to me: strong stems, beautiful flowers, will endure in all weathers and are very long-lasting. Of course, you say that the rose if not handled properly has some thorns and will give some pricks. I think perhaps that might be true too. But then, who amongst us would like to be called “smooth” ? It is not always the greatest compliment and perhaps you need a few prickles to have some personality and to represent a bit of a challenge to other people. So I think it is quite right if you [end p1] want beautiful, long-lasting, durable things, then they have to have just one or two prickles.
You mentioned also the Flower Festival at Liverpool. I remember when it was first decided to have it, I and my colleagues were the but of a number of criticisms. What were we doing trying to revivify Liverpool with a great international flower festival? I thought it a marvellous idea and one that would give enormous lift to the spirits of the people of Liverpool, and I know that it is an idea which comes from Germany—the idea which you have of having a rebirth of an old city centre by having great flower festivals there—and I am very glad that we took it up. I think its success has exceeded all expectations and I think it has given a real lift to the people of Liverpool. It is the first international one we have had; they have done it and they have done it magnificently.
I know that you are going to have a very special event there from September 1st to the 12th. It will be very beautiful and I understand it is also going to have a number of very special plants and I wish you well.
Thank you for naming this beautiful rose; thank you for the gift of twenty-five bushes. I would like if I may, to divide them so that we may have some in the Downing Street garden, where I hope Prime Ministers in the next century might look at them with very great pleasure and some in Chequers garden, because it is a place of rest and recreation for Prime Ministers for ever; and then, if I might keep one for myself. That also, will remind me [end p2] of your delightful gesture and give me great pleasure from the beauty of the rose, which I hope will not only bring peace, but what matters to us all, is peace with freedom and justice. Thank you. (applause)