09/04/13…..Thame’s MP pays tribute to Margaret Thatcher

THAME’S Member of Parliament, John Howell, has this morning paid his own, personal tribute to the late Margaret Thatcher, who died yesterday, following a stroke.

John said: “I was immensely saddened by the news of the death of Margaret Thatcher. Our thoughts must firstmost be with her family and friends. A lot has been written about the contribution she made to this country and in particular the optimism she created. I remember her time as Prime Minister very clearly; it was when my own political ambitions were born and I proudly assisted in one of her projects ? the Know How Fund.

“I remember particularly the contribution she made to the freeing up of central and eastern Europe. Her creation of the Know How Fund as the principal means of distributing assistance to the region as it struggled out of communism was far-sighted. With relatively little money it made a massive contribution to the transformation of the area and I happily joined Margaret Thatcher as a post-Cold War warrior seeking to instill the notions of democracy and of a market economy. These objectives were central to her philosophy and which saw the end of communism as a dominant player on the greater European stage.

“Over the last few days, I have received emails from many people each sharing a particular reflection of Margaret Thatcher. Some talked of her compassion. Others talked of her iron will. All of them shared her affection for this country. Their thoughts have been touching and sincere. This is a lady whose influence will be sorely missed.”

John Howell OBE MP
Member of Parliament for Henley

PHOTO: Courtesy of theconservatives.co.uk