Thatcher Denies Leaking Memo, but Offers Regrets : Shouts to Be Heard Over Jeers

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fighting in Parliament today for her political life, insisted she did not authorize the leaking of a confidential government letter in a crisis that led to the resignations of two Cabinet ministers, but said she regretted the disclosure.

Thatcher often had to shout to make herself heard above jeers as she told the House of Commons that she did not know former Trade Secretary Leon Brittan was responsible for leaking a damaging government letter to the media until 16 days afterward.

However, she said that one day after the Jan. 6 news leak, made with the consent of two of her aides, she was told “in general terms of contacts between my office and the Department of Trade and Industry.”

She Suggested Letter

She also acknowledged for the first time that she suggested to Solicitor Gen. Patrick Mayhew that he write the letter, which accused former Defense Secretary Michael Heseltine of “material inaccuracies” in his campaign to promote a European consortium’s bid to rescue an ailing British helicopter company, Westland PLC.

The governing Conservative Party, which has a 143-seat majority in the 650-member Commons, won a 379-219 vote to adjourn the debate after three hours but opposition leaders--charging Thatcher still was trying to cover up her role in the crisis--vowed not to let the matter drop.

Brittan and Heseltine both have resigned over the Westland issue, but Heseltine in a surprise move rallied to Thatcher’s defense during the debate and promised to vote for the government in order to “keep the Tory Party in power and keep the opposition out.”

Actions ‘Inconceivable’

During the debate, Social Democratic Party leader David Owen told the House, “It is inconceivable that the prime minister did not ask the attitude of the trade secretary--almost as inconceivable that he did not tell her what his attitude was.”

Other opposition members also said it was unbelievable that Thatcher should not have been told details of the leak by Brittan or her own aides for more than two weeks.

Thatcher said she deeply regretted that the letter was leaked without Mayhew’s permission.

“This was one, and doubtless one of a number of matters, that could have been handled better and that, too, I regret,” she said.

Misunderstanding Cited

“There was a genuine difference in understanding between officials as to exactly what was being sought and what was being given,” Thatcher said of what she described as “cover” given by her two aides for the leak.

Thatcher has charged that Heseltine caused the entire crisis by refusing to accept collective Cabinet responsibility to maintain neutrality in the Westland affair. Heseltine actively promoted the European bid to rescue Westland, in opposition to a bid from the U.S. company Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies.

When he resigned Jan. 9, Heseltine accused Thatcher and Brittan of trying to discredit him and said the prime minister was trying to stifle legitimate Cabinet debate.

Release Was Cleared

Thatcher acknowledged last Thursday in Commons that her office had cleared release of the Mayhew letter to the media, but said she was not personally consulted. At that time, she refused to say when she first knew Brittan was responsible for the leak.

Brittan resigned last Friday.

Today, Thatcher told Parliament she learned of the leak “some hours” after it happened and got the “general background” the following day. She said she then ordered an inquiry but remained in ignorance of Brittan’s role until receiving a report on the inquiry last Wednesday.