UK: BARONESS THATCHER URGES CONSERVATIVES TO UNITE BEHIND MAJOR скачать в хорошем качестве

UK: BARONESS THATCHER URGES CONSERVATIVES TO UNITE BEHIND MAJOR

(6 Apr 1997) Natural Sound Baroness Margaret Thatcher has urged Britain's Conservatives to unite behind Prime Minister John Major and "go out and win" the May 1 election. Addressing party candidates and MPs in London, the "Iron Lady" praised her successor's "magnificent stewardship of the last six years" and said she supported him. The former prime minister's high-profile appearance at the meeting is being seen as a morale-booster for the beleaguered Tory election campaign. John Major's ruling Conservatives are currently lagging behind nearest rivals, Labour, in the opinion polls. Around 300 Conservative Party candidates, members of parliament and supporters met at their party's headquarters at Smith Square in London on Sunday. Security was tight - police had been put on alert following Saturday's suspected IRA bomb scare which prevented the 150th Grand National horse race from starting. First to arrive at Conservative Central Office was Prime Minister John Major - who was upbeat as he greeted waiting reporters. The beleaguered prime minister has a tough battle ahead in the coming weeks ahead of the May 1 poll. Britain's ruling party has been plagued by a string of sleaze and corruption scandals which has undermined its election campaign. Opinion polls claim the Tories are lagging behind their closest rivals, Labour. The Tory "top brass" turned out for Sunday's meeting - including former prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, there to issue a rallying call. Accompanied by husband Dennis, she received a cordial, if not exactly warm welcome from her successor and Conservative Party chairman Brian Mawhinney. Once inside the party headquarters, candidates were treated to a morale-boosting video compilation of John Major's years at Number 10 Downing Street. The British prime minister and Lady Thatcher received a rapturous welcome as they entered the meeting hall. Thatcher's high-profile appearance was as much a morale-booster as a rallying call for the Tory party faithful. She urged candidates to unite behind their leader and "go out and win" on May 1. In her rallying address, she praised John Major's "magnificent stewardship of the last six years" and added she support him. Lady Thatcher also warned that the election of a Labour government could throw Britain back to the days when "bully boys" in trade unions could shut down the country. But it remains to be seen whether the rhetoric will work on the electorate and the Conservatives will be returned to power for a fifth consecutive term. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...