Tory minister reacts to Keir Starmer’s Margaret Thatcher comments
Sir Keir Starmer has been ridiculed by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins over his praise of Margaret Thatcher.
The Labour leader said the former Prime Minister “sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism”.
But Ms Atkins said the Iron Lady would have had three words for Sir Keir over his bid to woo Tory voters.
The Cabinet minister told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “I think the public will see this for what it is.
“Don’t forget, he wasn’t appealing to Margaret Thatcher’s entrepreneurial spirit when he was courting votes from the hard left.
“And I suspect the great lady herself would view a man that is trying to ride on the coattails of her success with the following words: ‘No, no, no’.”
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Ms Atkins was referencing a famous 1990 Commons response Mrs Thatcher gave to then European Commission boss Jacques Delors as he sought greater Brussels control.
Tory MPs also took to social media platform X to mock the Labour leader over his remarks.
Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson said: “A Thatcherite. Who knew?
“This will please Owen Jones and the hard-left MPs of Labour. Or is it just another cheap political tactic? Your guess is as good as mine.”
Fellow Tory Brendan Clarke-Smith shared a link to a Baroness Thatcher jumper in the Conservative Party shop, emblazed with her face and the words “no, no, no”.
He said: “Happy to send Sir Keir Starmer one of our new range of Conservatives Christmas jumpers.”
Redcar MP Jacob Young added: “Starmer has gone from wanting Corbyn to be PM, to pretending he likes Margaret Thatcher… There isn’t a fence he won’t sit on.”
Sir Keir has also infuriated some on the left of his party with the tribute, while Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said his comments were “an insult” to Scotland.
The Labour leader used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to name Baroness Thatcher alongside former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee.
Sir Keir said: “Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them.
“Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism.”
The Labour leader also said the Tories had “failed to realise the possibilities of Brexit” and “betrayed” voters on immigration.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: “Keir Starmer will say anything to get elected – this is yet another classic example of him saying what he thinks people want to hear, despite having a track record of doing exactly the opposite.”
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