Letters from Margaret Thatcher to Harold Wilson on his use of an official car. by THATCHER, Margaret; Harold Wilson - 16 June to 6 September 1983

16 June to 6 September 1983. From one prime minister to another Margaret Thatcher, as prime minister, corresponds with her predecessor Harold Wilson, over his concerns for the change in his provision of an official car, and for his security, as his Special Branch protection requirements are downgraded. In February 1975, Wilson introduced the allowance for former prime ministers to use the Government Car Service for journeys in and around London, a decision emphasising the status and dignity of the prime minister's role. Official engagements and parliamentary business were free, and other business was charged at a mileage rate. In 1983 Wilson's security classification was downgraded. The letters demonstrate his concern over this security reduction in the run up to the 1983 election, where Wilson had engagements, and as he feared this would restrict his use of the official car. Implicit in the letters is Wilson's worry that his status as a former prime minister was diminishing, given that his 1975 car policy was intended to entrench the special status of former prime ministers. Comprising: i) 16 June 1983. Typed letter signed from Robin Butler, the head of the British Civil Service, to Harold Wilson's political secretary Marcia Falkender, 1 page on Downing Street letterhead. "Dear Marcia, Many thanks for your letter of 16 June, enclosing one to the Prime Minister. I will, of course, make sure that she sees it immediately. Yours ever, Robin." ii) 15 July 1983. Typed letter signed from Margaret Thatcher to Marcia Falkender, Harold Wilson's political secretary, 2 pages on Downing Street letterhead. "Dear Lady Falkender, Thank you for your letter of 16 June, and for your earlier personal and confidential letter of 7 June, about Sir Harold Wilson. In view of the urgency I asked Robin Butler to telephone you immediately on 7 June to assure you that Sir Harold Wilson would continue to receive protection for his election engagements. Since then I have looked further into the points raised in that letter and in your subsequent one. As regards personal protection, I am glad to say that the Special Branch assessment is that there is no longer a threat to Sir Harold which requires, or justifies, protection. The police have discussed the position with Sir Harold and believe that he is satisfied with it. As regards the provision of a car, Sir Harold will continue to have the use of a Government car on the basis which he introduced for former Prime Ministers in 1975 and which I propose to extend in two respects, as described below". Thatcher sets out the arrangements for use of an official car for engagements as a former prime minister, and that it is for Wilson to exercise his judgement on which engagements are official. Thatcher proposes two extensions to the 1975 arrangements - to extend the provision to a reasonable distance of London (such as 50 miles), and to provide use of the Government car pool for transport to railway stations and airports on his engagements. "I hope that these arrangements will achieve the purpose which Sir Harold intended for others when he introduced them, by enabling him to continue to carry out his engagements in comfort and dignity. I have asked the Government Car Service to do their utmost to operate them so as to help Sir Harold with the minimum of the fuss. For obvious reasons the protection arrangements for Sir Harold should not become known, and so I have classified this letter 'Confidential'. Yours sincerely, Margaret Thatcher". iii) 15 July 1983. Copy of typed letter signed from Margaret Thatcher to Harold Wilson, 2 pages on Downing Street letterhead. The letter was sent to the other former prime ministers also, and sets out the two extensions noted in the above letter. iv) 6 September 1983. Typed letter signed from Margaret Thatcher to Harold Wilson, 1 page on Downing Street letterhead. "Dear Sir Harold, Thank you for your recent further letter concerning the provision of official cars for former Prime Ministers. The arrangements for former Prime Ministers to have the use of Government cars do not provide the service of an allocated car and arrangements should be made with the Government Car Service ad hoc for each journey. However, the Government Car Service will do their best to arrange a priority service for a former Prime Minister who is making regular use of the pool for Parliamentary purposes - for example, by arranging that so far as possible he always has the same driver. As you will continue to have extensive Parliamentary commitments, this priority service will be available to you, on the same basis as for Mr. Heath and Mr. Callaghan. Yours sincerely Margaret Thatcher". Provenance: Harold Wilson, given to Lady Falkender, acquired from her family following her death. 2 typed letters signed from Thatcher (across 3 pages), 1 typed letter signed from Robin Butler, 1 copy of letter from Thatcher. Slight handling creasing, else very good.