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GV British Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher takes place at platform with other party officials.
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SCU & SV Thatcher speaking. (3 SHOTS)
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LV Newsmen in front of platform and Thatcher answering question.
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THATCHER: "I don't underestimate the problems that will face us when we return to power, the problems that will face us in turning around the whole economy from a government that's encouraged people to depend upon government for a solution for everything to a government which sets about tackling our problems through people, and stimulating them to do things which would together help to create greater prosperity and a greater cohesiveness in the nation, and enable them to do things for their own families themselves. We believe you get a society which is responsible when you get people who are responsible and that is our broad, general approach. It is very ironic that during the time we've had a Price Commissioner we've had the biggest and fastest increases in prices in out history for at least three hundred years. It is one of the ironies. If you look further on you'll see that we are going to review the work of the Price Commission, the Monopolies Commission and the Fair Trading. The essential thing to keep prices down is to get an effective competition policy. I think most people and most housewives would agree that where you have competition it's been more effective in keeping prices down than any mount of control by a Price Commission. There is another factor. We do need much better profits if we are to get better investments. We need better investment if we're to keep in step with our competitors overseas, and there are time when I think the Price Commission keeps profits lower and in that case it is in fact raising prices two years hence is to get the very best investment, equipment and machinery and to get your trade unions operating it. And if you don't do that this year, because you take the short term view, then in fact you are laying trouble in store for yourself in two years' time."



REPORTER: "Mr. Callaghan said that in the event of a future `hung' parliament he would be willing to work with other parties including the Liberals. Would you be equally willing if the alternative were Mr. Callaghan retaining the initiative in Parliament?"



THATCHER: "Look, I'm not aiming for a `hung' parliament and I don't anticipate one, and what we've seen over the past two or three years makes me say I hope we shall have a very clear majority. I think what happens, unless a party gets a clear majority, is that short term changes and the short term things always take precedence over the long term. What Britain needs is a steady change in the long term, a steady change in strategy and direction, so I am not contemplating a `hung' parliament or making any observations about it. I'm going flat out for a straight clear victory which will give us five years and preferably another five after that."



Mrs. Thatcher's manifesto promised to cut taxes and personal incomes, curb trade union power and toughen law and order measures. The latest opinion polls make Mrs. Thatcher the favourite to win the election and become Europe's first woman Prime Minister.




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Background: Britain's Conservative Party leader, Margaret Thatcher, has promised to carry out the biggest political shake-up in the nations's post-war history if she becomes Prime Minister next month. Launching her campaign at a news conference on Wednesday (11 April), she pledged she would Britain "in a wholly different direction".