Margaret Thatcher ‘had two affairs’ explosive new book claims | Politics | News
Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had two extramarital affairs during her long marriage to Dennis, a sensational new book has claimed. Mrs Thatcher’s personal life is coming under new scrutiny for the first time as conservatives mark the 100th anniversary of her birth in 1925.
Despite a loving marriage to husband Dennis for more than 50 years, a new book claims the Iron Lady was involved in two affairs during her life. The Accidental Feminist claims the future Prime Minister enjoyed relations with advertising and PR expert Tim Bell, best known for his role as Mrs Thatcher’s “favourite gossip doctor and confidant”. The book, written by Tina Gaudoin, claims Lord Bell touched Mrs Thatcher on the knee during dinners and later claimed he had an “extra-curricular friendship” with the union-busting Tory leader.
He described under-the-table antics as “one of his favorite things”, along with “other things” that took place secretly during dinners.
The second person alleged to have had an overly familiar relationship with Britons’ favorite Prime Minister was Sir Humphrey Atkins, the Conservative MP for Spelthorne who served in several senior Cabinet roles.
Former Conservative minister Jonathan Aitken, who spoke to Ms Gaudoin for the book, told the author: “There were educated rumors to that effect at the time. His good looks might have appealed to her, but his political brains were hopeless.”
Another politician said: “The joke about Atkins was that someone who wasn’t very good kept getting promoted. So why did this happen?”.
Ms. Gaudoin notes with Lord Bell that “it is unlikely that the Americans will ever reach what he sensitively calls ‘third base’ (or even first or second).”
But Lord Moore, who wrote Mrs Thatcher’s official biography in three volumes, insists: “I have heard the Atkins rumor in the past but have seen no evidence to support it.
“In my opinion, the odds are slim to none. I’ve never heard the Tim Bell rumor before. Again, the odds are slim to none.”
The book also explores Denis Thatcher’s unlikely friendship with Mandy Rice-Davies, a former model embroiled in the Profumo affair that brought down Mrs Thatcher’s predecessor, Harold Macmillan.
After the couple left No 10 in 1990, Mr Thatcher reportedly struck up a close relationship with her, writing her love letters and even holidaying together.
The author said: “Many people I spoke to said she was much sexier than she actually looked… Many people said there was a definite excitement when she walked into the room.”
