Demonstrators Jeer Thatcher on Joblessness
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, on her first day of campaigning outside London for the June 11 general election, was jeered today by demonstrators protesting her government’s unemployment record.
On a visit to the northwest industrial region whose traditional textile and heavy industries have been hard-hit by recession and joblessness, Thatcher was jeered by a group of mostly young demonstrators waving banners reading “Thatcher Out, What About the Unemployed?” and “Tory Scum.”
Unemployment in Britain has tripled since Thatcher took over in 1979 to just over 3 million, or 10.9% of the work force. However, in the northwest region it is nearly 14%.
Thatcher visited Hazelgrove, near Manchester, one of a dozen marginal seats for which her ruling Conservatives face some of their toughest battles.
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