THATCHEROPHOBIA

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This week's The Record: Europe featured a section recalling the wonderful events of 1989. Presenter Shirin Wheeler began the section with a 'canter through the events' of that year, from Hungary in May to Romania in December. Ah, I remember it well. Happy, hopeful days!
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The report was going swimmingly when this happened: "But there was caution from some unexpected quarters about what was happening in the East and where it would lead, worry about the reunification of Germany and changes to the world order - not least from the British prime minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher." After a short, context-free clip the earlier mood of celebration resumed. Now I do remember Mrs Thatcher's caution over German reunification, though I certainly don't recall her being anything other than delighted at the events in Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Baltic States. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tt0f
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Anyhow, I was going to let that pass. Then the studio discussion began.
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Again all was going well, with a question each to the three guests (a German Liberal Alexandra Thein, the British Conservative Charles Tannock and the Polish centre-right MP (for Civil Platform) Jacek Saryucz-Wolski (yes, 2 centre-right guests to one liberal - and a pro-business German Liberal at that!!). Then came question 4, asked to the attactive Alexandra: "And we assume everyone was delighted at this prospect, and yet the reality was sometimes a little different. I mean we heard Margaret Thatcher there sounding a little cautious. But even in Germany there were West Germans who were worried about the whole idea of suddenly taking in all these new people." Back to Mrs Thatcher! Oh, the strange workings of the left-wing mind!!
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You would have thought that would have been the last mention of the hated Mrs T. - but no, the next question, put to Mr Tannock, was this: "I mean Margaret Thatcher there, Charles Tannock, when you hear that sort of sentiment, how do you feel?" Mr Tannock responded well, and talked of Mrs Thatcher "being at the forefront of rejoicing" (which I remember she was!). For this misdeed he got himself well and truly interrupted by the lovely Shirin: "But the real worry was about a unified Germany and an overdominant Germany." Please watch the programme on the BBC i-player (as linked to above) and see the icy look of disapproval on Shirin's face as Mr Tannock finishes his defence of Mrs Thatcher. It's a sight well worth seeing.
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So three questions in a row fixated on Mrs Thatcher. Surely when she asked her eighth question, to Mr Saryucz-Wolski, there couldn't be another? Think again: "I mean, Mr Saryucz-Wolski, it's true, isn't it, it wasn't just Margaret Thatcher who was worried about an overdominant Germany? I mean Mitterand as well. You know, Helmut Kohl has a big job getting that past them." Of a grand total of 9 questions, 4 were fixated on Mrs Thatcher - 3 mentioning her by name. Isn't that extraordinary? Well, not really. The undying hatred of some on the Left for the Iron Lady is just a fact of life. As I say, it's just the strange workings of the left-wing mind!!