When Margaret Thatcher, who was born hundred years ago today, came to visit my school I was in the midst of my stroppy-leftie phase. To my shame, I remember announcing that all Tories, let alone Thatcher – the notorious kiddies’ milk-snatcher – should be put up against a wall and shot.

When Margaret Thatcher, who was born hundred years ago today, came to visit my school I was in the midst of my stroppy-leftie phase

‘That’s not exactly civilised,’ my friend Owen Paterson, who became a Tory MP later in his life, retorted. ‘What makes you think we’re civilised?’ I said. ‘I didn’t say we are,’ said Owen. ‘But we can at least try to be.’ He had me there. I retired from the debate, silently watching the visitors’ black car crunching up the long front driveway towards us.

It was July 1973, the

See Full Page