This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38101020
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thatcher 'resisted' chancellor's new kitchen plea | Thatcher 'resisted' chancellor's new kitchen plea |
| (3 days later) | |
| Margaret Thatcher was reluctant to allow her first Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe to spend £4,150 on a new kitchen, newly released papers show. | Margaret Thatcher was reluctant to allow her first Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe to spend £4,150 on a new kitchen, newly released papers show. |
| The papers from 1979 show Edna Healey, wife of Sir Geoffrey's predecessor, warned of the "antediluvian" room at 11 Downing Street. | The papers from 1979 show Edna Healey, wife of Sir Geoffrey's predecessor, warned of the "antediluvian" room at 11 Downing Street. |
| Three calls were made to "nag" Mrs Thatcher to approve the refurbishment. | Three calls were made to "nag" Mrs Thatcher to approve the refurbishment. |
| Replies from a private secretary suggest the PM may have been wary of becoming involved amid spending cuts. | |
| The exchanges are revealed in the late chancellor's secret papers in the National Archives from 1979-83. | The exchanges are revealed in the late chancellor's secret papers in the National Archives from 1979-83. |
| They show his predecessor Denis Healey was the first person to contact Sir Geoffrey after he was appointed following the Conservative landslide general election win. | They show his predecessor Denis Healey was the first person to contact Sir Geoffrey after he was appointed following the Conservative landslide general election win. |
| But the new chancellor was said to be even more surprised to hear Mr Healey was passing on a message from his wife, Edna, to Sir Geoffrey's wife, Elspeth, warning her not to move into the flat at No 11 unless the kitchen was updated. | But the new chancellor was said to be even more surprised to hear Mr Healey was passing on a message from his wife, Edna, to Sir Geoffrey's wife, Elspeth, warning her not to move into the flat at No 11 unless the kitchen was updated. |
| 'Chancellor's discretion' | 'Chancellor's discretion' |
| An estimate for the work was submitted but it took three calls by Treasury officials over a three-month period to elicit a reply from Mrs Thatcher's staff. | An estimate for the work was submitted but it took three calls by Treasury officials over a three-month period to elicit a reply from Mrs Thatcher's staff. |
| In his reply, one of Mrs Thatcher's private secretaries, Colin Paterson, wrote: "I am very sorry that this has been so long outstanding. I was under the impression that the prime minister had had a word with the chancellor. | In his reply, one of Mrs Thatcher's private secretaries, Colin Paterson, wrote: "I am very sorry that this has been so long outstanding. I was under the impression that the prime minister had had a word with the chancellor. |
| "If not, I am sure that she would wish to leave this to the chancellor's discretion, keeping in mind how sensitive expenditure of this kind can be." | "If not, I am sure that she would wish to leave this to the chancellor's discretion, keeping in mind how sensitive expenditure of this kind can be." |
| You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
| Zeta-Jones shares 'better' bikini photos | Zeta-Jones shares 'better' bikini photos |
| Underwear 'hero' wins fans in Australia | Underwear 'hero' wins fans in Australia |
| Boxer dies after knockout punch | Boxer dies after knockout punch |
| Another document in the National Archives outlines radical plans to end universal free healthcare. | Another document in the National Archives outlines radical plans to end universal free healthcare. |
| The document stamped "secret" was called, in keeping with films and books of that era, "The Omega Project". | The document stamped "secret" was called, in keeping with films and books of that era, "The Omega Project". |
| Civil servants noted that "for the majority it would represent the abolition of the NHS". | Civil servants noted that "for the majority it would represent the abolition of the NHS". |
| But in spite of what was described as the nearest thing to a Cabinet riot in the history of the Thatcher administration, the prime minister secretly pressed ahead with the plans - later backing down. | But in spite of what was described as the nearest thing to a Cabinet riot in the history of the Thatcher administration, the prime minister secretly pressed ahead with the plans - later backing down. |