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Thatcher offered to buy ironing board and linen due to expenses fears

Margaret Thatcher

was already known as the Iron Lady for her hardline policy, but now official National Archives papers suggest the name also fit on a much more domestic level.

The 30-year-old files, made public for the first time on Friday, show the former prime minister insisted on buying her own ironing board and bedding over concerns that the government was spending too much money on her Downing Street flat.

It is revealed that government officials and Baroness Thatcher criticised costs of revamping her Downing Street residence – and even insisted on buying a £19 ironing board during a period of economic hardship in Britain.

[Related story: Thatcher 'shaken' by UK rioting]


In 1979, a breakdown of spend for each of the government departments was published without consulting the Prime Minister’s office and Thatcher had a lot to say on driving down the £1,836 bill for refurbishing her flat at 10 Downing Street.

At that time, the prime minister was concerned about the risk of criticism of expenditure on ministerial accommodation in which she had previously faced a number of questions about it at the House of Commons.

Such costs prepared by the now-defunct Property Services Agency, included £527 for carpet cleaning, £123 for repolishing furniture, £464 on replacing linen and pillows and £209 for replacing crockery.

Documents suggest that officials in Thatcher’s office appeared sceptical of these alleged costs for refurbishing Number 10 - stating they thought the figures were inaccurate.

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Thatcher vehemently agrees by writing: “So do I!” She also notes that her and husband used one

bedroom only, already had crockery and scrawls: “I will pay for the ironing board.”

While Downing Street was being refurbished, a handwritten note dated 25 June 1979, on the inventory reads: “I will pay for the ironing boards and other things, like sufficient linen for the one bedroom we use. The rest can go back into stock. MT”

On 28 January, 1981, the Welsh secretary Nicholas Edwards wrote to the prime minister asking for her agreement to build a flatlet consisting of one one-room/bathroom and kitchenette at his office in Cathays Park, Cardiff.

In his letter to Baroness Thatcher, he wrote: “I am told that the provision of a flatlet would cost up to £20,000 and a bathroom alone £6,000. I appreciate that expenditure of this kind always invites criticism but I have no doubt that the provision of basic facilities of this kind is long overdue, is a real need and in no sense a luxury, and I should therefore be grateful if you felt able to approve the necessary work.”

Fiery Mrs Thatcher responded: “It is a good idea but not [twice underlined] at that price. I just don’t believe that a one-room + bathroom + kitchenette can cost £26,000. Get some other estimates.”