Chapter 9 Section 4 Finchley Road

Before that, I myself had rejoined the electoral fray. In February 1956 I wrote to Donald Keberry, the party's vice-president in charge of candidates: "Recently, the temptation to return to active politics has been powerful for me. When I first started my career as a lawyer, I wanted to devote myself to law, but a little experience in taxation and corporate matters did not make me Taking my attention away from politics has made me believe in the law more and pay closer attention to the legislature." A month later I went to visit Donald Keberry.Putting me on the shortlist was out of the question - and this time only in seats held by the Conservatives who were sure to win.I am even more pleased that Donald Keberry is a friendly and trustworthy friend who always gives good advice.That's no small thing for me as a hopeful candidate.

I was not so lucky with the selection committee, and in 1954 I tried to be Orpington's candidate. In 1957 and 1958, he tried to become the candidate of Beckham, Hemel Hempstead and Maidstone.The result is the same.I was put on a narrowed list of candidates, gave another speech that everyone thought was good, and started answering questions.The intent of most questions is the same.Ask me if I have enough time to work for my constituency because of my housework, do I realize that being an MP is a lot of time outside and very little time at home, and I'll try to get in in a year or two Is parliament better.Sometimes the question is more straightforward: do I really think I can take on the job of a councilor while fulfilling the duties of a mother caring for a child.

I feel like the selection committee has every right to ask these questions.I introduced my family and said that I already had a first-class nanny to help me.I also often explain that I think it is possible to be a working woman while being a mother if you manage your time well.But what annoys me is that I sense that some of the criticisms mean that the House of Commons is not a place for women.It is true that some of the gentlemen on the selection committee may have had this prejudice, but I have found, then and since, that it is women who express it almost openly.This proves the left's simplistic notion of "sexism" wrong again.

All this left me feeling hurt and disappointed.Their attack was not just me as a candidate, but a wife, a mother.But I will never hold back from it.I believe I can make a difference in politics.I know that many of the people I have met in my political career would have liked me to be in Parliament.In addition, the most important thing is that Dennis has no doubts about it.He always comforts me and supports me. In April 1958, I had a long conversation with Donald Keberry at Central Headquarters.He told me about the constituencies in which candidates would be selected.I have also been outspoken about the difficulties I have had as a woman from selection committees.Unfortunately, in such matters, even intelligent male friends can hardly offer very useful advice.Still, Donald Keberry had some advice for me.Dressing for such an extremely sensitive occasion should be smart, but not too flashy, he said.He looked me up and down and said he thought the black overcoat with brown trim that I was wearing would fit.His taste in dress will soon be tested, as the MP for Finchley, in north London, is no longer standing, a constituency the Conservatives are sure to win, and I have signed up for an interview in July.

Finchley was not particularly familiar, so like any other would-be candidate, I set out to find out everything I should know.I made up my mind to know Finchley as I knew Orpington's old name was Roxbottom, and to know Finchley better than anyone else.A city seat, especially a London seat, has an advantage.Because you know that the most typical local issues are closely related to the most important political issues in the country.This may not be the case for a rural or out-of-town seat.So the issue of rent control removal must be contentious in Finchley, as it is nationally.Immigration is also just starting to become a political flashpoint - just weeks after it sparked the first Notting Hill riots.In Finchley, as elsewhere, the state of the economy and which party is more likely to continue to raise living standards and improve services will certainly be the first concerns.On all of the above questions, I have my own definite opinions, and I know what I should say.

I was one of about 150 applicants.Some of them later became my colleagues in the House of Commons.I was one of those who took the initial test for the constituency selection committee.I know I have a lot of support, which is gratifying, but it doesn't seem to make me feel very confident.On such occasions, the best known man is sometimes not as good as the least enemy.With the weaker candidates eliminated, if their supporters switch over to your opponent, it is likely to be lost at the last hurdle, even before our horses are unleashed. According to the arrangement, the last four of us—three gentlemen and myself need to be selected by the executive board of the association.I know I'm going to meet a lot of friends, but I also know very well that there will be strong opposition and that this will be a battle worth fighting for.

I prepared as best as I could.I feel confident that I understand this constituency.I am sure that I can deal with even deep-rooted economic and foreign policy issues, and I have read in detail all the newspapers and related materials I can get my hands on.I carefully familiarized myself with the script until I could recite it word for word, and I had already mastered the technique of speaking without a script.It is also important that I be in the best mental state - confident but not conceited.I decided to follow Donald's lead and wear a black coat.There's no harm in taking a chance, so I donned my lucky pearl and a brooch given to me by Tory friends in Dartford.

But there was one unfortunate thing.On the day of the meeting with the executive board—Monday, July 14—it was impossible for Dennis to accompany me.In fact, the whole selection process went so fast that Dennis didn't know it.He travels abroad for about a month every year to promote his company's products.At this time, his destination is only "somewhere in Africa".All other candidates are accompanied by their spouses.So when I entered the already packed conference room on that hot July night and took a seat next to the president of the association, I felt lonely. But as soon as I stood up and spoke, all tension disappeared.As usual, I quickly focus on presenting my main points and stop worrying about what others will think.The applause that erupted when I sat down seemed warm and genuine.Unsurprisingly, the trouble starts with asking questions.

Can a mother with a young child really represent Finchley effectively?How about putting pressure on family life?As usual, I speak my mind.As always, there will always be a portion of the audience that will be hard to convince.No doubt it was easier for them not to believe me in the absence of poor Dennis.Actually, I don't need Dennis to be with me all the time, but I do wish he was there. After the questions, I sat down with the other candidates and their wives.Little things of little importance were discussed with excessive civility--it always seemed to be the case on such occasions.After the last of us performed, it seemed like an endless wait.Then, a staff member came to us and told us the result.He was speaking to me.There is no time to feel relaxed and happy, or even tired.Now, I have to go back inside to be congratulated by the Executive Council.

I didn't know the exact result until later.In the first round of voting, I got 35 and my closest opponent got 34.Two other candidates withdrew from the second round of voting.In this round, I and my opponent got 46 and 43 cards respectively.Normally, the next step would be for show, or to show that there is no malice, that the Executive Council should vote me unanimously as a candidate.But unfortunately some of the people who opposed my candidacy just didn't want to do it.So what I've inherited is an association that needs to bring them together.That means I'm trying to win over people who don't hide their displeasure with me.

But that's for tomorrow.First, I must report the good news to my family in Grantham.Dennis is completely unreachable.He therefore was utterly ignorant of all that I was at Finchley, which would please him.Not long ago, I left him a letter about my prospects as a candidate, but he never got that letter.A few days later, on his way from Johannesburg to Lagos via Kano in northern Nigeria, he picked up an abandoned London Evening Standard while connecting planes.He discovered this surprising news while flipping through the editions.His wife has been picked as a candidate for MP in the Conservative electorate of Finchley.I always seem to surprise him. The meeting that formalized my candidacy early the following month was my first opportunity to present myself before the entire Finchley constituency association.This time I wore a solid black coat again with a black hat.I was introduced by Constituency Chairman Bertie Brach, who, I later learned, was so full of praise that it was almost embarrassing.She later became a strong supporter and protector for me. (Bertie owned the most important local paper, the Finchley Gazette, which was then and has been an advantage to me).When I entered the conference hall, everyone applauded enthusiastically.I took this opportunity to talk about international and domestic affairs in more detail.I did my best because I knew that while I would be the only candidate elected at this meeting, it was not a formality as it usually is.There are still some people who are staunchly opposed to my candidacy, chiefly a woman and her gang.They want candidates re-selected: and I am determined to reverse this difficult situation.I had no trouble answering the three questions asked by the people in the hall.As is the usual practice of the Conservative Party on such occasions, the welcome they gave me was unspoken.But contrary to newspaper reports, several people still refused to vote to formally elect me as a candidate.So I passed by a landslide, not that magic word: unanimous.So I left the meeting knowing that I had secured my candidacy and that the overwhelming majority of the Association would support me, but also well aware that some were determined to make things difficult for me. I wrote to Ted Heath, who was then the Conservative Parliamentary Supervisor, and told him about the problems I was facing.He was a candidate for MP in the neighboring constituency of Dartford.Partly because of his help, partly because I used my personal connections, after I was formally elected as a candidate and before the parliamentary elections, I invited some famous people to speak for me, among them Ian Macleod, Kean Joseph, Peter Thornycroft, John Boyd-Carpenter.My future political career is closely related to these people.Dennis' participation in my campaign also helped me in a special way, and he made me happy even though he was late.Bertie Brach has been a tremendous support to me. In the past, there was a gentlemanly detachment about Finchley's election campaign.This was neither my style nor the political reality of the time.I want to work hard, run as hard as Finchley is an unlikely electorate, and expect others to work as hard as I do.From then on, I went to the constituency two or three times a week, often going to each section of the constituency to lobby for support, and then meet some Conservative activists at a local pub or someone's house for a few drinks. By the time I ran as Finchley's candidate, Finchley's Liberals were already campaigning hard, which worried many Conservatives.The Liberals have always been good at campaigning, and they work even more powerfully in local government elections.A few years ago there was a scandal in Finchley because Jews were not allowed into the local golf club.Several Conservatives were involved in the scandal.The Liberals took every opportunity to bring this up to people.I've never thought of anti-Semitism myself, and I'm deeply disturbed that our party's reputation has been tarnished by this scandal.At the same time, I also thought that because of this incident, our party failed to get all the people who might support the Conservative Party to vote for us.So I made it clear from the outset that we welcome new party members, especially Jews, into our grassroots organization, not thinking at the time, some of the Jews who would later become my closest political friends and colleagues, when we failed to adequately enlist the potential The Conservative electorate's vote is all too clear.Therefore, strengthening the grassroots is crucial, no matter how much displeasure it may cause.I made a huge effort to strengthen the work of Conservative youth organizations in my constituency: because I am convinced that only by attracting energetic young people can we be sure of meeting the challenge of a very active Liberal Party.By the time the September 1959 elections were approaching, party organization in the constituencies had improved considerably, and I began to feel more at ease. I also have a hunch that the Conservative Party will win the general election. In local elections in May, the Conservative Party achieved major victories.The tide appears to be increasingly favoring an electoral victory for the Conservatives.At Finchley we are making final preparations.In fact, Dennis and I were on holiday on the Isle of Wight with our twins when the general election was announced.We hurried back to London at once.While the Suez problem and the removal of rent control will still run into the campaign, the main question in the campaign is which party is more likely to achieve and maintain prosperity.This has been a major topic of debate between me and the other candidates in the church and synagogue in Finchley.This is an area that works to our advantage.Because, as we claim, life is better when the Conservatives are in power.This is true at Finchley and elsewhere.In addition to the sense of prosperity, everyone also realized that Harold Macmillan was a statesman who could play an outstanding role on the international stage, whether it was the United States, the Soviet Union or the European continent. The first polling day I attended in Finchley, October 1959, began.I did much the same for the nine voting days that followed in Finchley.Soon after the polls opened I voted first in my home constituency, Orpington in 1959, then Chelsea, Westminster.Then, drive to Finchley with Dennis.I visit every polling place and committee office.Noon probably with Bertie.Brac or others have lunch at a hotel.I pay my bills without any flexibility to avoid being accused of "entertaining" voters.The dire consequences of doing so have been instilled in all candidates by Conservative Party Central Headquarters. After 5 o'clock, I will not visit the committee office anymore, because the committee will send staff to call our supporters to vote, I just show up at one or two polling stations.After the polls closed, Dennis and I went to Brac’s house for a bite to eat, visited the constituency’s offices, got some latest anecdotes, and watched the vote count live.This counting took place at Christ College, and the nine subsequent counts have all taken place at Barnet Town Hall. Each candidate is assigned a room in the school.Each candidate gets something to eat and drink with some of the supporters who have votes and can enter the counting site.In every room is a miracle of contemporary political life - a television.This is the first time television has played a major role in an election campaign.The televised tally tells us how the Conservative Party is faring nationally.I alternated between being in the counting hall watching the ballots pile up for each candidate on the long table, and slipping back to my room to track the results from across the country.National election results were equally pleasing. At around half past one in the morning, I was informed that the Finchley election results would be announced and I was asked to take a seat on the stage with the ballot reporter along with the other candidates.I don’t feel confident, even complacent, when someone else is running for a seat that is sure to win and knows the Conservatives are about to win nationally.In every period I've been in politics, whether it's because of a sixth sense -- who knows -- or superstition.I always associate this mentality with the impending disaster.So, when I stood next to Dennis, I put on a serious face and tried not to let anyone see what I was feeling. The ballot reporter begins to announce: "Diggins Eric Petro: 13,437 votes." (Labour cheers.) "Spens Henry Iwan: 12,701 votes." (Liberal cheers.) Finally, we hear: "Thatcher Margaret Hilda: 29,697 votes." Nearly 3,500 more tickets.The Conservatives cheer too, but our cheering is always more restrained than that of the Liberals or the Socialists.I made a short message accepting the election results and thanking all our wonderful supporters.Dennis hugged me warmly, and I stepped off the stage - elected MP for Finchley. Shortly after I was elected as Finchley's candidate, I casually told my twins that once I became an MP they could go to the House of Commons for tea.From then on, their simple request was: "Aren't you an MP? Mommy, it's been too long." I felt the same way.It seems to me that the road to Parliament is long, but I now know that in a few weeks I will be sitting on a green leather chair in the House of Commons. This is the first step.