Archive

MT's official files as Prime Minister, 1979-90

MT's official files as PM can be read on this site as they are released, in full and free to all - the confidential files originally stored at No.10, the core record of her premiership.

The files have been copied at the British National Archives (TNA) at Kew in London and can be downloaded precisely as they appear in the reading room.

We are doing something more to help people make sense of this mass of information. The files are subject-based, logically enough, but that system makes it difficult to reconstruct the flow of paper across the Prime Minister’s desk at any point in time, depriving us of a sense of context, of the political cross-winds, some of them overwhelming.

To combat this effect we are uploading a large selection of the most important documents from these files – thousands in total – to our powerful site database. You can search and sort by date, subject and other parameters, getting as close as anyone can now get to reconstructing the Prime Minister’s daily "Red Boxes", the rich diet of foreign and domestic policy papers submitted to her by the No.10 Private Office.

List and links to the PM’s files

Below are links to the downloadable files in numerical order. The subject terms are those used in the original filing system.

An average file has around 200 pages.

You can read here an account of how filing worked at No.10, and the system for archiving MT’s Prime Ministerial papers, both of which had their quirks.

Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Private Office files, 1979-1989

1979-89: Chancellor’s Private Office files [links to hundreds of digitised files from the Chancellorships of Sir Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson]

Engagement Diaries

An alternative way through the material is to read MT’s engagement diaries, jumping day to day.

The engagement diaries link directly to relevant documents in the site database, so this is a good way to recover the perspective from the Red Box.

Showing items 1401 - 1450 of 3726

Per page:
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
PREM19/1402 USA (Visit to UK by US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mrs Jeane Kirkpatrick, April 1984: meeting with Prime Minister) Begins: 1984 Mar 23 Ends: 1984 Oct 16 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Classification: Secret Pages: 69
PREM19/1403 USA (Visit to UK by Donald Rumsfeld, President Reagan’s special Middle East envoy: meeting with Prime Minister) Begins: 1984 Jan 16 Ends: 1984 Jan 20 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 29
PREM19/1404 USA (UK/USA relations) (Part 2) Begins: 1982 May 10 Ends: 1984 Feb 28 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Top Secret Pages: 305
PREM19/1405 USA (Internal political situation; 1980 and 1984 Presidential election campaigns) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 May 4 Ends: 1984 Nov 7 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 457
PREM19/1406 Yugoslavia (Visit to UK by Prime Minister Milka Planinc, November 1983: meeting with Prime Minister) Begins: 1982 Jun 30 Ends: 1983 Nov 25 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Classification: Confidential Pages: 233
PREM19/1407 Zaire (Visits to UK by President Mobutu, December 1981 and September 1984: meetings with Prime Minister) Begins: 1981 Nov 19 Ends: 1984 Dec 4 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Classification: Confidential Pages: 70
PREM19/1408 Ireland (Prime Minister's meetings with Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald; Anglo-Irish Summits) (Part 7) Begins: 1983 Nov 1 Ends: 1984 Nov 23 Date of release: 2014 Jan 3 Any docs withheld? 3 Classification: Secret Pages: 495
PREM19/1409 Aerospace(Presentation on United States manned space station at Lancaster House during London Economic Summit, 1984) Begins: 1984 Mar 20 Ends: 1984 Jun 6 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 18
PREM19/1410 Aerospace (Rolls-Royce V2500 engine project) Begins: 1984 Jan 31 Ends: 1984 May 17 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 30
PREM19/1411 Aerospace (European Airbus A320 project: UK participation in European Transonic Windtunnel project) (Part 1) Begins: 1982 Mar 30 Ends: 1985 Jun 24 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 259
PREM19/1412 Aerospace (Future of British Airways (BA): BA privatisation and United States anti-trust suits; Laker Airways liquidation; airports policy) (Part 3) Begins: 1984 Nov 2 Ends: 1985 Apr 3 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 289
PREM19/1413 Aerospace (Space policy: formation of British National Space Centre (BNSC)) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Jun 20 Ends: 1985 Nov 29 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 265
PREM19/1414 Aerospace (UK-Hong Kong air services licensing appeal: demise of Laker Airways; Hong Kong-Australia Air Services Agreement) Begins: 1980 Jun 12 Ends: 1985 Oct 9 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 184
PREM19/1415 Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 1A) Begins: 1985 Apr 30 Ends: 1985 Dec 10 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 205
PREM19/1416 Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 1B) Begins: 1985 Dec 10 Ends: 1985 Dec 27 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 213
PREM19/1417 Aerospace (Third London Airport) Begins: 1979 Nov 27 Ends: 1985 Jan 30 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 230
PREM19/1418 Agriculture (Agricultural expenditure) (Part 1) Begins: 1983 Sep 23 Ends: 1985 Oct 31 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 307
PREM19/1419 Agriculture (Liquid milk prices: milk marketing) (Part 2) Begins: 1981 Mar 18 Ends: 1985 Jun 28 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 279
PREM19/1420 Argentina (Falklands) (Part 39) Begins: 1984 Nov 1 Ends: 1985 Apr 25 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 4 Classification: Secret Pages: 383
PREM19/1421 Australia (Anglo-Australian relations: internal situation; trading relations with the EEC) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Sep 26 Ends: 1985 Dec 30 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 15 Classification: Secret Pages: 317
PREM19/1422 Broadcasting (Television licence fees: finances of BBC; pay in the BBC; review of external services) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Jul 6 Ends: 1985 Mar 28 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 407
PREM19/1423 Canada (UK/Canadian relations: patriation of the Canadian constitution) (Part 5) Begins: 1982 Feb 11 Ends: 1985 Jun 14 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 263
PREM19/1424 Chile (UK/Chilean relations: policy on arms sales) Begins: 1979 Sep 17 Ends: 1985 Dec 9 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 9 Classification: Secret Pages: 328
PREM19/1425 China (Sino-British relations; defence sales) (Part 2) Begins: 1984 Mar 19 Ends: 1985 May 31 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 4 Classification: Secret Pages: 236
PREM19/1426 China (Visit to UK by Chinese Prime Minister, Zhao Ziyang, June 1985: meetings with Prime Minister) (Part 2) Begins: 1982 Jul 19 Ends: 1985 Jun 21 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 285
PREM19/1427 Civil Service (Long term management and manpower policy) (Part 17) Begins: 1984 Dec 4 Ends: 1985 Aug 30 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 303
PREM19/1428 Civil Service (Pay and pensions: performance related pay) (Part 14) Begins: 1984 Mar 2 Ends: 1985 Feb 25 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 274
PREM19/1429 Civil Service (Assassination and death in service: policy on compensation for civil servants' families) Begins: 1984 May 21 Ends: 1985 Nov 20 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 24 Classification: Confidential Pages: 110
PREM19/1430 Civil Service (Scrutiny of Overseas Development Administration (ODA): correspondence from civil servant in ODA) Begins: 1982 Feb 12 Ends: 1985 Dec 3 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 9 Classification: Confidential Pages: 59
PREM19/1431 Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Nassau, Bahamas, October 1985) (Part 9) Begins: 1984 Jun 18 Ends: 1985 Oct 13 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 242
PREM19/1432 Cyprus (Internal situation: UK/Cyprus relations) (Part 2) Begins: 1983 Dec 1 Ends: 1985 May 31 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 9 Classification: Secret Pages: 446
PREM19/1433 Cyprus (Visits to the UK by President Kyprianou: meetings with Prime Minister) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Dec 10 Ends: 1985 Jan 14 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 3 Classification: Secret Pages: 386
PREM19/1434 Defence (Higher defence organisation: Ministerial responsibilities; Management Information System for Ministers (MINIS)) Begins: 1981 Feb 10 Ends: 1982 Jul 22 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 43
PREM19/1435 Defence (Celebration of 40th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day) Begins: 1984 Oct 2 Ends: 1985 May 29 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 5 Classification: Confidential Pages: 189
PREM19/1436 Defence (Report by General Sir Hugh Beach on the handling and control of military information) Begins: 1983 Nov 1 Ends: 1985 Apr 18 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 181
PREM19/1437 Defence (Proposal by Julian Amery MP to revive the Special Operations Executive (SOE): history of SOE in the Far East, Greece and Scandinavia) Begins: 1980 Apr 3 Ends: 1985 Dec 16 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 12 Classification: Secret Pages: 48
PREM19/1438 Defence (Correspondence concerning the Army Medal Office) Begins: 1985 Jan 10 Ends: 1985 Mar 7 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 37
PREM19/1439 Defence (Closures of and changes to Ministry of Defence (MOD) establishments: Prime Minister's visit to Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), December 1985) Begins: 1985 May 19 Ends: 1985 Dec 10 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 20
PREM19/1440 Defence (Procurement of weapon systems: national defence technological capabilities; rising cost of defence equipment; participation in European Fighter Aircraft project) (Part 2) Begins: 1983 Dec 13 Ends: 1985 Jun 27 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 314
PREM19/1441 Defence (Armed Forces' pay: pay review body report; Service doctors' and dentists' pay; local and overseas allowance; London weighting) (Part 2) Begins: 1982 Mar 11 Ends: 1985 Dec 12 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 270
PREM19/1442 Defence (Arms control) (Part 6A) Begins: 1985 Mar 8 Ends: 1985 Jul 29 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 231
PREM19/1443 Defence (Arms control) (Part 6B) Begins: 1985 Jan 4 Ends: 1985 Feb 15 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 2 Classification: Secret Pages: 218
PREM19/1444 Defence (Ballistic missile defence: United States Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI); UK participation in research programme) (Part 2) Begins: 1985 Jan 2 Ends: 1985 Apr 30 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 225
PREM19/1445 Defence (Ballistic missile defence: United States Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI); UK participation in research programme) (Part 3) Begins: 1985 May 30 Ends: 1985 Nov 29 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 285
PREM19/1446 Defence (Defence sales) (Part 5) Begins: 1985 Jan 2 Ends: 1985 Oct 25 Date of release: 2015 Jul 16 Any docs withheld? 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 357
PREM19/1447 Defence (UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent) (Part 6) Begins: 1982 Dec 16 Ends: 1985 Jan 31 Date of release: Reconsideration in 2024 Classification: Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/1448 Disasters (Bradford City Football Club fire: Prime Minister's visit to Bradford, May 1985) Begins: 1985 May 12 Ends: 1985 May 22 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 42
PREM19/1449 Downing Street (250th anniversary of Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street; BBC documentary) Begins: 1984 Dec 10 Ends: 1985 Dec 12 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Any docs withheld? 15 Classification: Confidential Pages: 181
PREM19/1450 Drugs (Drug misuse: prevention; proposed legislation) (Part 1) Begins: 1982 Nov 19 Ends: 1985 May 31 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 252
PREM19/1451 Drugs (Drug misuse: trafficking; proposed legislation; Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) report) (Part 2) Begins: 1985 Jun 3 Ends: 1985 Sep 30 Date of release: 2014 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 219
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