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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 4h

Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 5h

And he’d insist on lecturing you about the quality of the wine instead of just drinking it.
Regret to say it, but he’s a wine bore.

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Reposted by Dr Nigel Fletcher

Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

Some more #Thatcher100 from the Fletcher archive: In 2007 I organised an exhibition in Parliament to mark 30 years since Mrs Thatcher was the first Leader of the Opposition to use the current Shadow Cabinet Room. It was quite the event - with all the (then) Conservative Leaders of the Opposition.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

(Devastatingly, we missed the chance to get a photo of three Tory Prime Ministers together, including the first and second female PMs, because no-one thought to include Theresa May - then only the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons - in the group pictures).

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

The office was then being used by Theresa May, and there were papers strewn on her desk. David Cameron asked "has it changed much since your day, Lady T? Was it a bit tidier?". Thatcher looked around and said. "Hmm. A little." Then to Theresa: "But it's a lovely room, and you deserve it, dear."

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

At the event, I escorted Lady Thatcher around, with David Cameron - and was treated to over an hour of her memories of politics. It was slightly unreal, and quite touching. We took her into her old office as Leader of the Opposition, where she met Ronald Reagan in 1978. #Thatcher100

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

Some more #Thatcher100 from the Fletcher archive: In 2007 I organised an exhibition in Parliament to mark 30 years since Mrs Thatcher was the first Leader of the Opposition to use the current Shadow Cabinet Room. It was quite the event - with all the (then) Conservative Leaders of the Opposition.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

UPDATE: I have dug my photos out of the Fletcher archive… the full Margaret Thatcher circus at the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth, 1998.
#Thatcher100

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

It was the bane of my life as education adviser in opposition- trying to stop shadow teams defaulting to “put it on the curriculum” whenever they couldn’t think of anything else to announce.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

She pointed up at the speech extract, fixed me with a stare that could curdle milk, and announced: “What you have to REMEMBER when you are negotiating in EUROPE is that at some point in their history we have DEFEATED them all. THEY have never forgotten it, and nor should WE!”
And she swept off.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

I was pinned to the side of the “Conservative Way Forward” stand by the crush of photographers, next to a large printed extract of one of her Europe speeches. The person she was talking to said something about lots of young people joining the group. She wheeled round and saw me, a young person…

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

One of the first times I met Thatcher was at the 1998 Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth. She swept around the conference with a media scrum in tow, committing news as she went. I was minding my own business talking to a friend at an exhibition stand when the circus descended…

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 2d

As today is the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, I think it’s obligatory to treat you to a succession of anecdotes about her.
Here goes:
#Thatcher100

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 5d

Latest episode of the pod is out- find out what Sarah and I got up to at the Conservative Party conference…
It’s a good one- do give it a listen and leave a good review!

The Centre for Opposition Studies @oppositionstudies.bsky.social · 5d

Tories, tax and Coco Pops! The latest #OppositionCast features our report from the Conservative Party conference - speaking to Kemi Badenoch about what lessons she’s learnt from Thatcher in opposition, and discussing whether her speech this week will change the narrative: pod.link/oppositionca...

Nigel Fletcher and Sarah Southern smile at the camera as they stand by a photo of Margaret Thatcher at a party during the Conservative Party conference.

Kemi Badenoch at the lectern making her conference speech at the Conservative Party Conference.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 5d

In my part of north Kent,
Trottiscliffe is near Wrotham and Meopham.
Try getting the pronunciation of all those right without looking them up.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 6d

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 6d

The Conservative conference has been wrapped up- and so have Margaret Thatcher’s outfits…
Punchy speech from Kemi Badenoch, with some genuine policy rabbits from the hat, received enthusiastically in the hall. But will it change the political weather?
🎩 🐇 👏 #CPC25

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 6d

Did a last broadcast interview for Times Radio before leaving the Conference- and am now heading back home, after stopping for some rather apt refreshment en route…
#cpc25

Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 7d

Well, that was great fun, if a bit surreal- joining Lord Willetts and Salma Shah in talking to @mattchorley.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social about Margaret Thatcher and whether I want to smell like Coco Pops…
(Just listen back, it’ll make sense. Probably.) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 8d

Delighted to catch up with Peter Just (@expremiers.bsky.social)
during the book signing for his fascinating new book “Margaret Thatcher- life after Downing Street” here at #CPC25 in Manchester. The conference has a strong Thatcher theme, marking the centenary of the former PM’s birth this month.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 9d

Team #OppositionCast has assembled! For the first time on my autumn political safari I’ve been joined by my co-host: @sarahsouthern.bsky.social and I hit the party circuit at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, where we spoke to a former Prime Minister at a party celebrating another…

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 10d

Back on the party conference road trip again - having been to Birmingham for Reform and Bournemouth for the Lib Dems, I skipped Labour in Liverpool this year, but am now on my way to Manchester for the Conservatives. Challenging times for them, but fascinating times to be studying opposition!

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 10d

Lovely #Parkrun this morning for my local one’s superhero-themed 10th anniversary. Including a guest appearance from Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt! The sun shone, the wind didn’t blow us into the lake, and there was cake at the finish. A perfect morning.

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 12d

Whilst Hyacinth was her most beloved role, there was so much more to her talent. For me, Hetty Wainthropp was her masterpiece- warmth of character tempered by northern grit, she got to show the real depth of her acting. She loved it too:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Remembers... - Dame Patricia Routledge Remembers... Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

Dame Patricia explains what attracted her to playing the woman who discovers a talent for sleuthing in her sixties, and why such roles are so vital in an industry that places such a focus on youth.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 12d

The sadness at losing the great Patricia Routledge is mixed with the joy of seeing so much love and appreciation for all her work. Having an excuse to watch clips like this will put a smile on your face amid all the gloom.
youtu.be/wisQQueMPxM?...

Kitty 2 - With Patricia Routledge - BBC

YouTube video by maxinebendix

youtu.be

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Dr Nigel Fletcher @nigelfletcher.bsky.social · 12d

Oh no! 😢
Farewell Kitty, Hyacinth and Hetty.
An absolute legend.

Callum May @callummay.co.uk · 12d

PA: Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, best known for TV show Keeping Up Appearances, has died aged 96, her agent said.

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