.
1976-2007: James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony
Blair.
On the left: A photo of her Majesty, the Queen Elizabeth and her five living Prime Ministers Tony Blair, the Baroness Thatcher, Edward Heath, the Lord Callaghan and John Major, taken in May 2002 at Downing Street, 10.
The 70´s were a difficult time, obviously,
as
both parties had problems forming governments that hit the nerve of the
countrymen, or even its own voters. At least Harold Wilson, later knighted
"Baron Wilson of Rievaulx", wasn´t forced out of office by the
voters, he just felt the desire to retire after his 60th birthday and left
the work to the elder James Callaghan (1912-2005, PM 1976-79), who became
"Baron Callaghan of Cardiff" in 1987; unlike other "Lords" before him, he
kept on signing with his full civil name.
The general elections of 1979 brought one of the worst results for Labour.
The defeat of one party was the victory of the other, and so the Tories formed
the government again, headed by "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher (*1925, PM
1979-90), who became the most important (also considering World politics)
and significant PM after Churchill. She was the first woman to head
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and she was also the longest reigning
PM of the 20th century. Controversials within her own conservative party
made
her step back in favour of John Major (*1943, PM 1990-97), who was a more
moderate conservative than his former first Lady, who became "Baroness Thatcher
of Kesteven" in 1992; still, like Callaghan, she signs using her "civil"
name.
On the left (how ironic) you can see a photo with a preprinted
signature
of the "Iron Lady", below this, signed bookplates for her two books (she
is the toughest signer);on the right a signed photo sent out by John Major
after he left office.
The general elections on 1st May 1997 brought a landslide victory for Tony
Blair (*1953, PM
1997-2007)
and his "New" Labour Party. Blair seemed to be the most radical reformer
since Attlee 50 years before him. He was the first Prime Minister who lead
Great Britain into a new millennium, or, at least, what´s left from
Great Britain. After giving Northern Ireland, Scottland, and Wales (almost
successful) their own governments, he was the last Prime Minister of
the entire "United Kingdom". After years of a more or less successful leadership,
he was much criticized for the way in which he became a "junior"-partner
of the USA and President George W. Bush and his crusade against Iraq president
Saddam Hussein. The war in March 2004 was begun on weak reasons, Blair never
regained the popularity he enjoyed for such a long time.
On 27th June 2007, he retired in favour of his political companion for so many years, Gordon Brown.
This First Day Cover, honouring Sir Winston Churchill, was signed by his widow Clementine Spencer-Churchill (1885-1977) and the following nine Prime Ministers: Anthony Eden (top, as "Avon"), Harold Macmillan (at the bottom), Earl Home (as "Alec Douglas-Home", very faded unfortunately, above Macmillan), Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.
Addresses:
You can reach the living Prime Ministers at the following addresses:
c/o House of Lords; London SW1A 0PW; England
(the Baroness Thatcher), or
c/o House of Commons; London SW1 0AA; England
(John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown)
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