Thatcher takeover recounted

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 8

Thatcher takeover recounted

NZPA-AP London A former British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, whom Margaret Thatcher ousted as Conservative Party leader in 1975, felt both betrayed by the party and affronted at being beaten by a woman, according to a former Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Whitelaw. Lord Whitelaw said he was also “desperately upset” when Mrs Thatcher defeated Mr Heath, and doubted that a woman could lead a . political party or be Prime Minister. “That is a dreadful male chauvinist remark, but it had never happened before,” Lord Whitelaw said on a British Broadcasting Corporation programme about him, titled “The Power Behind The Throne,” that is due to be broadcast today. “So I had these, questions in my mind.

“Was the country ready to vote for a woman as a leader? Would she have the strength of purpose? ... would she be able to control a whole lot of men in a Cabinet?” Lord Whitelaw said. “That makes one laugh today, but it was true then.”

Mrs Thatcher ousted Mr. Heath after he had lost two elections in succession. She became Prime Minister when the Conservative Party won power again in 1979. Ijt the leadership contest-, Mrs Thatcher out-

polled Mr Heath in a first ballot among Conservative members of Parliament. Mr Heath withdrew, Lord Whitelaw joined the contest in the second ballot, and she defeated him too. Lord Whitelaw, aged 70, became - a trusted

Thatcher supporter, served in her Cabinets and was made a peer in 1983. He was Deputy Prime Minister until he retired after suffering a stroke last year. In contrast, Mr Heath, aged 72, is an embittered rank-and-file legislator who periodically attacks Mrs Thatcher publicly. Lord Whitelaw described Mr Heath’s attitude as “strange and sad.” “But I think Ted felt desperately and totally betrayed by the party,” said Lord Whitelaw, adding that Mr Heath, a bachelor, had no wife to say, “What’s the good of feeling so bitter about it?” “So this rather shy, rather withdrawn man, felt deeply affronted,” Lord Whitelaw said. “Certainly he would mind more than most people who had been beaten by a woman. ”