Extract A

Speaking on the day she passed Asquith's record as the longest serving Prime Minister last century, Mrs Thatcher said that in 1979 the nation was known for suffering the British disease, but now the world was coming to Britain for a cure. «There is so much more to do», she said on the steps of Number Ten before going on to describe in self-consciously historic terms «the great programme of legislation that lies ahead».

Singled out in that programme were the intentions to extend op­portunity in housing, education and local authority finance. Mrs Thatcher saw herself playing a foremost part in world peace-making and in restoring traditional British standards. «Britain's reputation», she said, «used to be based on fairness, honesty and courtesy towards others. Young people are longing for that to be restored».

However, Mrs Thatcher's celebrations were soured by news of some critical assessments from former colleagues and supposed allies. The criticisms - which were balanced by praise for Mrs Thatcher from President Reagan - came in a BBC programme which did little to ease the strained relations between Downing Street and the BBC.

The fiercest critic emerged as Sir John Nott, whose assessment jarred with the image of courtesy and fairness conveyed by the Prime Minister at Number Ten. Sir John said: «Some of those around her, some of those that served in the Heath government, provided very necessary restraint. The Prime Minister was capable of going over the top and she needed people around her who restrained her from going over the top». Asked for examples, Sir John said 'No, because the number of times she would have possibly gone over the top with­out the restraint of her colleagues are too numerous to mention.' He also said the government was becoming more centralist and authori­tarian. Asked to comment on Sir John's assessment, Mrs Thatcher said: «I have no idea what he said. John Nott was a very vivid and vi­tal member of me Cabinet and so full of new ideas».

Lord Havers also admitted to the Prime Minister's famous ruthlessness. «If you are going to talk about disposing of ministers, to use a neutral word, yes, she is. If she thinks a minister is no longer up to it then he is out. When you are sitting near to her you think, my God, I have really got to be on top of this one, she knows it all». Sir John Hoskyns recalls: «She was deliberately unreasonable, emotional and excitable - instead of being calm and consensus-seeking. She used the fact that she was a woman very powerfully to get her way».

(Patrick Wintour, The Guardian)