press release

18 June 2015

ARCHIVE OF ACQUIRED FOR THE NATION

Arts Council England today announces the acceptance in lieu of inheritance tax of papers from the estate of former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, (Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.) who was the longest serving British Prime Minster of the 20th century.

The papers accepted complement and complete the rich materials already gifted to the Nation. In 1997, just over six years after leaving office, Baroness Thatcher generously gifted the bulk of her personal and political files to the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust, stressing that she had always wanted her archive to stay in the United Kingdom and to be a resource for students and scholars. The collection, deposited at Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge, contains material from her earliest life right the way through her time as an MP (1959-92), Conservative party leader (1975-90), Prime Minister (1979-90), and beyond. She kept possession of some key personal papers and of much post 1990 material which is now accepted in lieu and which completes the archive.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair, Arts Council England said: "Whatever our politics we have to recognise Margaret Thatcher as a major historical figure. Her papers will now join those of Churchill and be available to scholars of the 20th century."

The collection accepted in lieu of tax, contains her most personal papers including three handwritten personal memoirs by Margaret Thatcher relating to crucial episodes in her time as Prime Minister.

 Of prime importance is her previously unpublished 128 page/17,000 word handwritten memoir of the , written over Easter 1983, almost

exactly a year after the Argentine invasion, probably the single most significant historical document Margaret Thatcher ever wrote. This memoir gives profound insights into her handling of the war, particularly her relationships with colleagues like , and allies, notably the United States. Her emotional reaction to events is also powerfully present.

 A second previously unpublished memoir gives her personal account of the Fontainebleau European summit in June 1984 which finally settled the five year battle to reform the EC budget and “get her money back”.

 A third tells of her visit to Moscow for the funeral of Soviet President Chernenko in March 1985, where she renewed her acquaintance with his successor - Mikhail Gorbachev.

Other significant items include:  The final draft of her remarks in Downing Street when she became Prime Minister in May 1979 – it seems she had planned to talk of the ‘song’ of St. Francis, perhaps because she herself was uneasy with the idea of a prayer.  The text from which she delivered her ‘Not for turning’ speech at the Oct 1980 Conservative Party Conference.  Many other personal papers on the Falklands, most of which have already been released within the archive – including Lord Carrington’s letter explaining his decision to resign as Foreign Secretary; her handwritten notes on conversations with , US Secretary of State Al Haig; reports from the Chief Whip on Conservative backbench doubts about the war.  Her engagement diaries for 1952-59, 1961-62 & 1964. In addition there is a quantity of personal and political papers she collected between 1979 and 1990. Access to the papers accepted will follow existing arrangements for the core collection of Thatcher papers held by the Churchill Archives Centre. The papers already donated by Margaret Thatcher are generally being opened in parallel with official material held at the UK’s National Archives. Currently the majority of papers up to the end of 1984 are available, subject only to occasional closures recommended by the Cabinet Secretary for sensitive official material and any closures necessary to comply with the Data Protection Act. Certain of the papers accepted (generally those dated before 1985) are already available at the Archives Centre and online on Thatcher Foundation’s website. Further materials will continue to be added to the website on their release.

Later materials accepted are still being sorted and catalogued but include significant materials relating to the 1990 Conservative Leadership election. Churchill College is delighted that this material will be housed in the Churchill Archives Centre in perpetuity as part of her personal archive. The Centre is open to researchers five days a week for about fifty weeks each year. The Centre provides free access for all potential visitors, subject only to prior booking of a space in its reading room.

The acceptance of Margaret Thatcher’s papers settled £1,013,250 of tax.

The relevant papers will be freely available at Churchill Archives Centre with selections online at www.margaretthatcher.org, the website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation from tomorrow, Friday 19th June 2015.

Notes to editors The three Thatcher memoirs will be published at www.margaretthatcher.org in full, free of access, with transcripts alongside original texts, and commentary. [There will also be a podcast of extracts from the Falklands memoir]. Digital copies of the memoirs and individual high resolution images for publication will be available from Cambridge University immediately today (Thursday 18th June).

The Acceptance in Lieu scheme is administered by Arts Council England. The Acceptance in Lieu Panel, Chaired by Edward Harley, advises on whether property accepted in lieu is of suitable importance and offered at a value which is fair to both nation and taxpayer. AIL enables taxpayers to pay inheritance tax by transferring important works of art and other important heritage objects into public ownership. The taxpayer is given the full open market value of the item, which then becomes the property of a public museum, archive or library. In the last five years (2010 -14) the scheme has bought objects to the value of £150m into public collections - See more at: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-museums/cultural- property/tax-incentives/acceptance-lieu/

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2015 and 2018, we plan to invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Churchill Archives Centre was purpose built in 1973 to house Sir ’s papers. The Churchill Papers served as the inspiration and the starting- point for a larger endeavour - the creation of a wide-ranging archive of the Churchill era and beyond. With the generous support of Lady Thatcher, the Centre expanded significantly in 2002 after the construction of a large new wing designed to house her archive as well as providing much needed future expansion space. Today the Centre holds the papers of almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures from across the political spectrum. The Centre is open to researchers five days a week for about fifty weeks each year, providing free access for all potential visitors, subject only to prior booking of a space in its reading room. See: https://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/.

The website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation is the largest contemporary history site of its kind. It offers free access to thousands of historical documents relating to the Thatcher period, see: http://www.margaretthatcher.org. -ends-

Contact information

Alison Millar Media Relations Officer Arts Council England 0207 268 9648 / [email protected]

Stuart Roberts Office of External Affairs & Communications University of Cambridge 07766 05485 / [email protected]