Love her or loathe her, but did she make it possible for us to have our cars today?

TR75 · 19th April 2013, 11:22

I know this is a contentious issue and by no means do I want it to start a heated debate.

However, I stumbled across this article which argues that we have Margaret Thatcher (a so called strong Rover supporter) to thank for the bailing out of British Leyland in the 1980s. Although, later down the line the government got fed up with lining the pockets of the fraught British car manufacturer, with BL later becoming the Rover Group and then MG Rover - have we not got Maggie to thank for our cars being in existence today?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/indus...h-car-industry

wraymond · 19th April 2013, 18:10

Funny, that. A largely complimentary view of her, factual rather than inherited rubbish, with over fifty visits on here, and not one reply? Now that's what I call a studied silence!

Banjo · 19th April 2013, 20:29

Didn't the Conservatives insist that it was privatised into the hands of British Aerospace, who, as soon as they could rushed about the world trying to find a buyer ? When Honda stated that they wished to continue with a partnership, rather than buy Rover Group, the BA boys took the next flight to Munich. Arguably this meant that the 75 came into existence. But we could also say that it spelt the end of the company as a mass producer in all sectors of the market.

TR75 · 19th April 2013, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by wraymond

Funny, that. A largely complimentary view of her, factual rather than inherited rubbish, with over fifty visits on here, and not one reply? Now that's what I call a studied silence!

An interesting view and very true - the negative can often completely overshadow the positives that were achieved during this time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

Didn't the Conservatives insist that it was privatised into the hands of British Aerospace, who, as soon as they could rushed about the world trying to find a buyer ? When Honda stated that they wished to continue with a partnership, rather than buy Rover Group, the BA boys took the next flight to Munich. Arguably this meant that the 75 came into existence. But we could also say that it spelt the end of the company as a mass producer in all sectors of the market.

In the end one could argue it may have been the privatisation that killed the company. Although if the Conservatives had not poured all that money into BL in the early 80s there would have been no marque to kill come the 2000s. Also, if they hadn't become privatised and taken over by BMW would they have had the funds and the free reign to produce the 75 and ZT? Ver unlikely!

Banjo · 19th April 2013, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR75

An interesting view and very true - the negative can often completely overshadow the positives that were achieved during this time.

In the end one could argue it may have been the privatisation that killed the company. Although if the Conservatives had not poured all that money into BL in the early 80s there would have been no marque to kill come the 2000s. Also, if they hadn't become privatised and taken over by BMW would they have had the funds and the free reign to produce the 75 and ZT?

You are right, had the co-operation with Honda continued it is unlikely that the 75 / ZT as we know it would have been buillt. I would have preferred that the Government had seen the value of a national car company, as the French did with Regie Renault. They continued to support the company, while de- nationalising it gradually. Who knows if it would have worked, but it has for Renault. The failure of many British companies has often been due to our obsession with short term results. Other countries, Germany in particular, take a long view. This critisism is not just aimed at Mrs Thatcher or her party, but to all of our governments, and not least the banks.

FLYER · 19th April 2013, 20:44

Finding reasons to thank thatcher for anything except liberating the Falklands is a hard task frankly.

Brigus · 20th April 2013, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYER

Finding reasons to thank thatcher for anything except liberating the Falklands is a hard task frankly.

Completely agree with you.

mh007 · 20th April 2013, 08:59

I can see this becoming another debate & there are bound to be people that disliked Margaret Thatcher.
I for one, think she was the best Prime Minister since Winston Churchill & we may never see that again.
She made a decision & that was final, no pussyfooting around like it is nowadays.
Unlike Mr Blair etc, she didn't kiss *****.
Whilst I don't agree with all her policies, I am grateful she did a lot for this country.
There seems to be lot mentioned about the negatives but there were many more positives when she was in power.
In answer to the OP's question.............yes, I thank her very much indeed !!

Simondi · 20th April 2013, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYER

Finding reasons to thank thatcher for anything except liberating the Falklands is a hard task frankly.

Would totally agree.

ianinfrance · 20th April 2013, 11:19

Pluses and minuses it is true, I think that she was the last politician I have seen who wanted to make a difference, change something rather than see it as a job, career, nestegg whatever you like. I lost my job in the same year she came to power and had to retrain so no love lost but she broke the awful decline we were in and then sadly nearly broke the NHS as well!

Never get a balance do we?

19th April 2013, 11:22	#1
TR75 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Auto Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Launceston Posts: 1,567 Thanks: 169 Thanked 166 Times in 134 Posts	Love her or loathe her, but did she make it possible for us to have our cars today? I know this is a contentious issue and by no means do I want it to start a heated debate. However, I stumbled across this article which argues that we have Margaret Thatcher (a so called strong Rover supporter) to thank for the bailing out of British Leyland in the 1980s. Although, later down the line the government got fed up with lining the pockets of the fraught British car manufacturer, with BL later becoming the Rover Group and then MG Rover - have we not got Maggie to thank for our cars being in existence today? http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/indus...h-car-industry __________________ You've just been ROVERtaken Last edited by TR75; 19th April 2013 at 11:24..

19th April 2013, 18:10	#2
wraymond This is my second home 75 Auto 2.5 SE Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Westcliff on Sea Posts: 5,195 Thanks: 423 Thanked 1,680 Times in 1,014 Posts	Funny, that. A largely complimentary view of her, factual rather than inherited rubbish, with over fifty visits on here, and not one reply? Now that's what I call a studied silence! __________________ member no. 235

20th April 2013, 08:59	#8
mh007 This is my second home MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Keynsham, Bristol Posts: 4,211 Thanks: 65 Thanked 635 Times in 499 Posts	I can see this becoming another debate & there are bound to be people that disliked Margaret Thatcher. I for one, think she was the best Prime Minister since Winston Churchill & we may never see that again. She made a decision & that was final, no pussyfooting around like it is nowadays. Unlike Mr Blair etc, she didn't kiss ****. Whilst I don't agree with all her policies, I am grateful she did a lot for this country. There seems to be lot mentioned about the negatives but there were many more positives when she was in power. In answer to the OP's question.............yes, I thank her very much indeed !! Last edited by Dragrad; 20th April 2013 at 10:14.. Reason: Contravention of Club Rules - FAQ Rule 2*

19th April 2013, 20:29	#3
Banjo Posted a thing or two MG6 Magnette 1.8 Tci SE Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Shrewsbury Posts: 1,300 Thanks: 19 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	Didn't the Conservatives insist that it was privatised into the hands of British Aerospace, who, as soon as they could rushed about the world trying to find a buyer ? When Honda stated that they wished to continue with a partnership, rather than buy Rover Group, the BA boys took the next flight to Munich. Arguably this meant that the 75 came into existence. But we could also say that it spelt the end of the company as a mass producer in all sectors of the market.

19th April 2013, 20:44	#6
FLYER Banned rover75 cdti AUTO TOURER 160 bhp. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 35,346 Thanks: 2,985 Thanked 3,685 Times in 2,463 Posts	Finding reasons to thank thatcher for anything except liberating the Falklands is a hard task frankly.

20th April 2013, 11:19	#10
ianinfrance Gets stuck in Triumph TR7 2.0 dhc + ford ranger XLT+ VW Passat 2.5 V6 Tdi Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cazes Mondenard Posts: 635 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Pluses and minuses it is true, I think that she was the last politician I have seen who wanted to make a difference, change something rather than see it as a job, career, nestegg whatever you like. I lost my job in the same year she came to power and had to retrain so no love lost but she broke the awful decline we were in and then sadly nearly broke the NHS as well! Never get a balance do we?