THATCHER, Margaret Hilda (1923-2013). Cyclostyled Parliamentary Order Paper, issued on 22 March for the week of 26 March 1979, including, as a late amendment on a pasted slip, the 'Debate on the Opposition Motion of No Confidence in Her Majesty's Government' on 28 March, SIGNED by Thatcher, George Thomas (Speaker of the House of Commons), Tony Berry, Bernard Weatherill and nine others, two pages, 295 x 210 mm.; [and] cyclostyled Commons Divisions Results No.109, 28 March 1979, showing the voting on the motion with the result 'Opposition Majority 1', inscribed [by Bernard Weatherill] ‘To Margaret from her Whips 28.3.79’and signed by a further seven figures closely associated with the vote, one page, same size (both documents lightly browned and slightly faded at margins from old mounts).

Documents of high symbolic importance, marking the failure of the Labour government, and the rise to power of the first female British Prime Minister.

In early 1979, James Callaghan's Labour government was beset by a series of strikes and trade union unrest, representing a serious embarrassment to a government that prided itself on having a special relationship with the unions. The Labour pact with the Liberals that ensured a wafer-thin Labour majority in the House of Commons disappeared as a consequence, and the Conservatives, under Thatcher tabled a motion of No Confidence. The government lost this by a single vote -- if the Labour backbencher, Sir Alfred Broughton, mortally ill at home in Yorkshire, had attended, the Division would have been tied, with the Speaker casting his vote for the status quo, and ensuring the survival of Callaghan's government . As it was, Callaghan was forced to call a general election for 3 May, bringing Margaret Thatcher to power as Britain's first female Prime Minister, with a majority of 43 seats.

The significance of the Motion of No Confidence was perceived almost immediately, as testified by the signatures to the present documents. Besides Margaret Thatcher, the signatories are:
George Young (b. 1941). Conservative MP and Whip 1976-1979
Sir Peter Morrison (1944-1995). Conservative MP and Whip. PPS to Margaret Thatcher.
James A Douglas-Hamilton (b.1942). Conservative MP.
John MacGregor (b.1937). Conservative MP and Whip.
Carol Mather (1919-2006). Army Officer, Conservative MP and Whip.
Anthony G Berry (1925-1984). Conservative MP. Killed in the Brighton Hotel Bombing.
Bernard Weatherill (1920-1997). Conservative MP
John S Thomas (1925-1991). Conservative MP and Whip
Jim Lester (b.1932). Conservative MP and Whip
Michael Roberts (1927-1983). Conservative MP. Teller for the ‘Ayes’. Died on the floor of the House of Commons.
Sir Spencer Le Marchant (1931-1986). Conservative MP
George Thomas (1909-1997). Labour MP and Speaker of the House of Commons
John T Marling. House of Commons official in charge of Conservative Chief Whip’s messengers
F.N.U. Austin
J. Tharratt
Brian Shepherd
P. Greening
Dame Felicity Yonge (1921-1995). Private Secretary to Conservative Chief Whip
Pamela Stiles. Conservative politician and MP

The Order Paper, also known as the Order of Business, in the House of Commons is published each sitting day and lists the business of the House and business for sittings in Westminster Hall. It shows items such as questions, motions, business, notices of committees, announcements and lists of future business. The Commons Divisions Results is the typed list of voting results from 'Divisions,' where MPs cast their votes. Thatcher herself believed that she had lost the Motion of No Confidence, as she had forgotten to include the two Conservative tellers counting the votes.

Provenance: by descent to Sir Mark Thatcher, and presented to the current consignor.

Please note that this lot is the property of a private collector.