1979: News - Thatcher Begins Conservative Party Campaign
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Margaret Thatcher opens the Conservative Party campaign at a press conference with the launch of a manifesto focusing on monetary policy. The election campaign is the subject of much curiosity among foreign journalists, mainly due to the prospect of Britain having a female prime minister.
The Conservative Party election campaign was delayed by the murder of Airey Neave, shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, in a car bomb explosion on 30 March 1979. Mr Neave was a steadfast supporter of Margaret Thatcher and was known for his tough line on terrorism in Northern Ireland.
Originally broadcast 11 April 1979.