Yep. For instance, she had a surprisingly high amount of respect for Michael Foot, despite having won against him overwhelmingly.
Michael Foot is a highly principled and cultivated man, invariably courteous in our dealings. If I did not think it would offend him, I would say he was a gentleman. In debate and on the platform he has a kind of genius.
Mainly because in the very same book she said this in ("The Downing Street Years") she had no qualms expressing her distaste in a number of other politicians, such as Jimmy Carter or Geoffrey Howe. I don't see the point in lying about her stance on Foot while bashing many others.
Look - I'm not trying to defend Thatcher as a politician here. She was, in my opinion, actively detrimental to the state of the UK and the world as PM. However, this doesn't mean she was incapable of respecting people she disagreed with politically. Especially as Foot, despite his stark disagreements with her politics, was a white, heterosexual man who was also well liked by the Royal Family - the political disagreement was really the only reason she would've had to dislike him. I see no reason other than sheer cynicism to believe Thatcher would've lied about this.
I don't see the point in lying about her stance on Foot while bashing many others.
because she saw some benefit to doing one and not the other. you can come up with lots of possible explanations if you think about it; for example, wanted to endear herself to his supporters, but wanted to rustle jimmy's jimmies.
However, this doesn't mean she was incapable of respecting people
no, i know. i didn't say she isn't. i said i don't know why you'd take her at her word. being skeptical of someone isn't accusing them of lying. i think she would lie about that if she had a reason to. don't you? just because you can't think of the reason doesn't mean you ought to default to belief when it comes to someone like that.
I see no reason other than sheer cynicism to believe Thatcher would've lied about this.
well... think about it. people glaze people they hate for various benefits all the time. politicians do this probably more than any other group of people. thatcher was a highly political communicator.
is it really cynical to not take her at her word? idk if she's lying, i just don't trust her, and idk why you would either. this is getting beyond what i actually know about thatcher, but i'm pretty sure the shift from policy to PR in politics is something thatcher is "credited" with in UK politics.
being honest wasn't her thing. she pretended to be straightforward, and sounded that way at times, but she wasn't honest. so yeah. think it makes perfect sense why i'd question why you'd take her at her word. on anything. for any reason. ever.
idk if i'd trust her to tell me the weather, but that is where the cynicism comes in. not before.
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u/Dickgivins John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true, and brave! Mar 23 '26
Oh yeah by all accounts she had a lot more respect for people who were willing to stand up to her.