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 2351 - 2400 of 3726

Per page:
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
PREM19/2382 Parliament (Queen's Speeches on prorogation and opening of Parliament: televising the State Opening) (Part 7) Begins: 1986 Jul 21 Ends: 1987 Jun 29 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 5 Classification: Confidential Pages: 282
PREM19/2383 Parliament (Queen's Speeches on prorogation and opening of Parliament: televising proceedings of the House of Commons; establishment of Select Committee) (Part 8) Begins: 1987 Oct 16 Ends: 1988 Nov 29 Date of release: Retained Classification: Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/2384 Parliament (MPs' pay and pensions) (Part 6) Begins: 1985 Sep 4 Ends: 1987 Nov 30 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 2 Classification: Confidential Pages: 227
PREM19/2385 Poland (Prime Minister's visit to Poland, November 1988) (Part 1) Begins: 1988 Mar 29 Ends: 1988 Oct 31 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Secret - Cab One Pages: 293
PREM19/2386 Poland (Prime Minister's visit to Poland, November 1988) (Part 2) Begins: 1988 Nov 1 Ends: 1988 Dec 17 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 163
PREM19/2387 Poland (Internal situation; economic assistance ) (Part 9) Begins: 1982 Oct 21 Ends: 1988 Jan 26 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 257
PREM19/2388 Poland (Visit of Foreign Minister Josef Czyrek in June 1981 and his successor Marian Orzechowski in December 1987: calls on the Prime Minister) Begins: 1981 May 5 Ends: 1987 Dec 8 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 62
PREM19/2389 Police (Police policy) (Part 2) Begins: 1986 Apr 8 Ends: 1988 Dec 23 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 2 Classification: Secret Pages: 263
PREM19/2390 Posts and Telecommunications (Pay negotiations in the Post Office and British Telecom (BT): industrial action) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Apr 3 Ends: 1987 Aug 14 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Secret Pages: 249
PREM19/2391 Posts and Telecommunications (Future of the Post Office; Sale of the Government's Cable and Wireless shares; British Telecom (BT) and National Girobank) (Part 10) Begins: 1985 Aug 1 Ends: 1987 Sep 18 Date of release: Retained Classification: Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2392 Posts and Telecommunications (Future of the Post Office; Government use of Mercury Communications Ltd; privatisation of National Girobank) (Part 11) Begins: 1987 Oct 5 Ends: 1988 Dec 19 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 297
PREM19/2393 Posts and Telecommunications (Study by the Official Group on Telecommunications on withstanding a telecommunications strike; industrial action at British Telecom (BT)) Begins: 1982 Jan 11 Ends: 1987 Mar 3 Date of release: Retained Classification: Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2394 Prime Minister (Mark Thatcher and the Omanis: other allegations against Mark Thatcher) Begins: 1984 Jan 1 Ends: 1988 Nov 9 Date of release: Retained Classification: Closed for 40 years
PREM19/2395 Prime Minister (Cementation contract: Mark Thatcher and the Omanis) (Part 1) Begins: 1981 May 4 Ends: 1988 Mar 9 Date of release: Retained Classification: Closed for 65 years
PREM19/2396 Prime Minister (Cementation contract: Mark Thatcher and the Omanis) (Part 2) Begins: 1984 Jan 15 Ends: 1988 Mar 19 Date of release: Retained Classification: Closed for 65 years
PREM19/2397 Prime Minister (Request by Electronic Data Systems to employ Mark Thatcher) Begins: 1987 Feb 1 Ends: 1987 Feb 23 Date of release: Retained Classification: Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/2398 Prime Minister (Submission of papers to the Prime Minister prior to trips abroad and recesses) Begins: 1979 Jul 17 Ends: 1986 Jul 7 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 22
PREM19/2399 Prime Minister (Proposal for a Margaret Thatcher Chair of International Relations) Begins: 1987 Oct 12 Ends: 1988 Jun 23 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21
PREM19/2400 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with a delegation of Muslim religious leaders, 28 April 1988) Begins: 1988 Jan 28 Ends: 1988 Jun 7 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 3 Classification: Restricted Pages: 80
PREM19/2401 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's international commitments) (Part 1) Begins: 1983 Dec 16 Ends: 1988 May 5 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 7 Classification: Personal & Confidential Pages: 226
PREM19/2402 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Allen Adams MP to discuss Babcock Power, 20 January 1987) Begins: 1986 Dec 23 Ends: 1987 Jan 20 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 14
PREM19/2403 Prime Minister (Arab League Delegation visit to London: meeting with Prime Minister; supply of IR18 Thermal Imager to Syria) (Part 3) Begins: 1983 Apr 15 Ends: 1988 Mar 15 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 115
PREM19/2404 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Archbishop Worlock and Bishop David Sheppard of Liverpool) Begins: 1986 Nov 17 Ends: 1987 Sep 24 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 107
PREM19/2405 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Dennis Canavan MP, 17 December 1987) Begins: 1984 Sep 11 Ends: 1988 Jan 11 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 62
PREM19/2406 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Edgar Bronfman, President of the World Jewish Congress) Begins: 1985 Feb 4 Ends: 1988 Mar 8 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 46
PREM19/2407 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Gerry Steinberg MP, 23 February 1988) Begins: 1987 Dec 14 Ends: 1988 Mar 18 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 27
PREM19/2408 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Gordon Brown MP to discuss redundancies and closures in his constituency, 29 January 1987) Begins: 1984 Nov 16 Ends: 1987 Feb 24 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 55
PREM19/2409 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with James Prior MP and Sir Peter Tapsell MP about East Coast sea defences, 1 July 1986. Note:Â With maps) Begins: 1986 May 30 Ends: 1988 Jul 29 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 77
PREM19/2410 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with John Browne MP, 21 October 1986: discussion of proposed M3 extension around Winchester. Note:Â With maps) Begins: 1981 Dec 7 Ends: 1987 Apr 10 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 72
PREM19/2411 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Lord Carrington, Lord Windlesham and Jacob Rothschild to discuss museum buildings, 23 October 1987) Begins: 1987 Jul 21 Ends: 1987 Oct 23 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 28
PREM19/2412 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Lord Chilver, 13 April 1988) Begins: 1988 Jan 20 Ends: 1988 Apr 14 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 6
PREM19/2413 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Lord Sieff) Begins: 1980 Apr 8 Ends: 1987 Jun 16 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Secret Pages: 72
PREM19/2414 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Lord Weinstock) Begins: 1983 Jan 28 Ends: 1987 Jun 12 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 33
PREM19/2415 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Lord Wilson, 8 July 1986: proposed China Trade and Cultural Centre in London Docklands) Begins: 1986 Jun 5 Ends: 1987 Jul 13 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 60
PREM19/2416 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Martin Feldstein, Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers in Washington, on 27 April 1984) Begins: 1984 Mar 14 Ends: 1988 Jan 11 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 15
PREM19/2417 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan) Begins: 1983 Feb 3 Ends: 1988 Dec 5 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 3 Classification: Confidential Pages: 54
PREM19/2418 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Irina Ratushinskaya, 22 December 1986) Begins: 1986 Dec 19 Ends: 1988 Jun 13 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 9
PREM19/2419 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Robert Key MP, 28 April 1987) Begins: 1988 Apr 19 Ends: 1988 Apr 27 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Restricted Pages: 7
PREM19/2420 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Roger Gale MP to discuss the employment problems of the Isle of Thanet, 13 January 1987. Note:Â With map) Begins: 1986 Dec 15 Ends: 1987 May 18 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Restricted Pages: 87
PREM19/2421 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Ryoich Sasakawa, Chairman of the Federation of World Volunteer Fire-Fighters Associations, 3 October 1987) Begins: 1988 Sep 29 Ends: 1988 Oct 3 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 30
PREM19/2422 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Sir Brandon Rhys Williams MP) Begins: 1986 Nov 11 Ends: 1987 Nov 25 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 72
PREM19/2423 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Sir Fergus Montgomery MP and Tom Sackville MP to discuss Manchester Airport, 21 April 1988) Begins: 1988 Mar 15 Ends: 1988 Apr 22 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 29
PREM19/2424 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Sir Peter Emery MP, 22 January 1987) Begins: 1986 Jul 23 Ends: 1987 Jan 22 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 28
PREM19/2425 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with the World Leadership of Soviet Jewry and the 'Mothers of Freedom') Begins: 1983 Sep 12 Ends: 1987 May 4 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 3 Classification: Confidential Pages: 70
PREM19/2426 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meeting with Toby Jessel MP about proposed closure of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, 21 January 1986) Begins: 1986 Jan 10 Ends: 1987 Mar 20 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 49
PREM19/2427 Prime Minister (Prime Minister's meetings with Natan Sharansky) Begins: 1986 Jul 30 Ends: 1987 May 11 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 46
PREM19/2428 Prime Minister (Policy Unit briefing for Prime Minister: general topics) Begins: 1983 Mar 1 Ends: 1987 Mar 4 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 252
PREM19/2429 Prime Minister (Possible defamation of the Prime Minister by the Radio 4 'Today' programme) Begins: 1988 Jan 18 Ends: 1988 Jan 22 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Classification: Confidential Pages: 9
PREM19/2430 Prime Minister (Visits to government departments) (Part 3) Begins: 1980 Jan 15 Ends: 1982 Nov 25 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 2 Classification: Confidential Pages: 248
PREM19/2431 Prime Minister's Gifts (Copies of invoices received for payment for gifts purchased for presentation to overseas visitors: general correspondence on gifts) (Part 3) Begins: 1984 Sep 3 Ends: 1986 Sep 5 Date of release: 2016 Jul 21 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Restricted Pages: 315
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