O Dear to Mrs. T

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O dear to Mrs. T. Farewell your Magnificence, Mrs. T. For the nursery, only orderly liberation, with no debate. We'll fight till we die. Quintessential englishman, and woman to boot. with Nanny still the boss, And die we did in the action replay. From name through background to job and future, distinction 'tween boss and leader lost. And who was the referee? T, shopkeeper, leader of shopkeepers to vice-regent? The handbagger handbagged, the biter bit, Nothing more english than this career. English, too, in Foreign Affairs: the death of English chivalry? (Please leave Dear Ronnie out of this!) Or maturity of women's liberty? English, too, in simplicity of policy: Continental Europeans there to be fought, A chemical cross housewife view of the economy: get our £billion back from Brussel sprouts, Sighs of relief: now no penalty shoot-out to stop inflation: stop adding money, manage our own money, ignore ERM jerks, (nasty continental habit - not what it's about) defend the Thatcher coin, despise German engineering and money-technic gasps of fear at retirement, - you know it's in your pocket - Krauts, the lady not for turning: turned. hard, brassy and thinks it's a sovereign. Jaguars for us, not BMWs or Mercs. Tory stalwarts face cold turkey, Fiscal spending fixed to zero PSBR, As for tin-pot South American or Arabian dictators - their drug withdrawn, their prophet burned. so sell the family silver. teach them a lesson, too, on historic English manners. Deregulation was a Thatcherite cry Victory in '83, thanks to Galtierri. Time for Major change, a new shepHurd? - more product at a lower price. Did he invade, or was he pushed? or just Heseltime? Pity about the City, Will it take three to make up for one? where more money at lower price What drove this mighty political beast? Three in one or one in three? fanned the embers of inflation. Guilt or gilt is good enough for most, Divinity, fate or fluky? 11 years and three election victories but not for Mrs. T. Classic English enigma - accident or divine intervention? Right of Centre? Right against Wrong? with variations in the key of T. but with the opposition out to lunch, or just and simply right? there was no alternative. 'appen that's enough, so long as others agree. And now - will it be Viscount T? But if not - what then? Britannia? Concord? might be better. English, too, in paradoxical blinkered view: Carry on as before, eliminate dissent, Airboss is a term that's fitter. In local councils and unions, intent on democracy hector and lecture till idiots see sense, And what of Thatcherless UK? but in Cabinet and Parliament? Over our dead body! and ignore them if they don't. Will the pound be worth what it used to be? Poll tax for council responsibility: Howe long could this go on? Will kids still learn their ABC? why not PR? Who's kidding who? Will good health still be there and free? Deny and diffuse our authority? One final rant and rave too much: Will there still be a job for me? Proportional Representation or Public Relations? some dead sheep, some brass neck! And is there honey still for T? Neither cuts any ice with Nanny. Owzat went the cry. Not out, but In-gham, Percy Park, Nov. 1990.

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