Downing Road guests’ books made public for first time

Guests’ books from Downing Road signed by a few of the most well-known figures in current historical past have been made public for the primary time.

World leaders and members of the Royal Household are among the many names within the three purple leather-based, gilt-tooled volumes being launched by the Nationwide Archives, spanning 1970 to 2003.

The names of tourists to No 10 aren’t made public so the books present a beneficial report of who had non-public conversations with prime ministers.

One of many volumes was supplied on the market earlier this yr by a London public sale home who stated it had been rescued from a waterlogged basement by a former civil servant, however the authorities blocked the sale saying it was Crown property.

Dr Jack Brown, lecturer at King’s School London described the books as “great… historic novelties”.

As the primary resident researcher at No 10, he defined the e-book wasn’t left on a desk for everybody to signal, however solely supplied to particular visitors.

Some left non-public messages, particularly to Margaret Thatcher, who spent greater than a decade in Downing Road from 1979 to 1990.

In 1989, then US President George Bush wrote: “With Respect, Friendship and Gratitude for this Relationship meaning a lot”.

Dr Brown stated he was referring to the so-called particular relationship between Britain and the US, slightly than a private bond, however President Bush’s spouse Barbara additionally signed, including: “Me. Too.”

Relations with fellow EU leaders weren’t at all times so easy.

That very same yr the French Prime Minister Michel Rocard wrote: “It at all times is a unprecedented event to confront with the Prime Minister, particularly after we agree, even after we disagree. Thanks very, very a lot.”

“That was great,” stated Dr Brown, “I feel you probably did confront with Thatcher… significantly in the event you have been a socialist French prime minister, in the direction of the top of her time period.”

The guests’ e-book appears to have been launched by the Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath, who was in workplace from 1970-1974.

Among the many earliest to signal it have been members of the Royal Household, who left simply their first title, together with in March 1971 an entry which reads “Charles”, from the then Prince of Wales.

Many Asian and African leaders signed the primary quantity. One title from 12 July 1971, in uneven letters reads: “Normal I Amin Dada” – Idi Amin of Uganda.

Amin had taken energy in a coup six months earlier than, and the brutal nature of his regime wasn’t but clear to Western governments. In 1971 he was invited to Buckingham Palace, in addition to Downing Road.

Only a yr later, Amin expelled tens of hundreds of Ugandan Asians, giving them solely 90 days to depart the nation. Many held British passports and got here to settle within the UK.

Among the many world leaders – together with Jimmy Carter, Ferdinand Marcos and Indira Gandhi – is an anomaly, 4 pages full of signatures of well-known British girls of 1978 – Anna Ford, Cleo Laine, Prue Leith and Janet Road-Porter.

The latter was a widely known face on TV, however Janet Road-Porter remembers being intimidated by the occasion, a reception to mark 50 years of equal suffrage.

“I at all times appeared cocky and confident,” she stated, “however to be invited to Downing Road for one thing so traditionally necessary was fairly a formidable expertise for me.”

Whereas there have been many receptions in Downing Road, the e-book was introduced out for only a few – together with to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Downing Road in 1985.

The Queen and Prince Philip signed, as did six different prime ministers, together with the more and more frail Harold Macmillan, Lord Stockton.

The e-book captures the altering occasions: President Mikhail Gorbachev signed in April 1989, when he got here for a state go to together with his spouse, Raisa.

Early the next yr, the leaders of the newly unbiased Jap European nations visited No 10 – together with Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia, who added his trademark little coronary heart.

The e-book appears to have been not often utilized by John Main and Tony Blair, although there may be one putting message from early 2002, a number of months after the 9/11 assaults.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani wrote: “Mr. Prime Minister, we’re eternally grateful to your help for us at a time of nice peril, you’ll at all times maintain a particular place within the minds and hearts of all New Yorkers and Individuals.”

Dr Brown stated “regardless of being a seemingly semi-random assortment of autographs”, the e-book was a “story of Britain’s place on the planet” instructed in these signatures over time.

Janet Road-Porter, who has visited Downing Road a number of occasions since 1978, thinks all visitor lists must be revealed.

“Then you’ll be able to see who’s getting near the centre of presidency and who has the ear of the prime minister.”