Doorstep Interview – 27 November 1990

Below is Mr Major’s interview with journalists at the doorstep of 10 Downing Street on 27th November 1990.

PRIME MINISTER:

I’d like firstly if I may, to thank my many Parliamentary colleagues for the tremendous support they’ve given me today. It’s an enormous encouragement to know that so many people in the Parliamentary Party are prepared to entrust me with the leadership of the Conservative Party and I will endeavour to discharge those responsibilities to the best of my ability.

If I may, I do think this particular election has enhanced the democratic process quite substantially, it has been a very clean election, an election based on substance and not personality and an election that has dealt very constructively with the issues and I would like to offer my grateful thanks to Douglas Hurd and to Michael Heseltine, both for the way they conducted the election and also for the very gracious way in which they have conceded that they will not stand on the third ballot.

It is a very exciting thing to become leader of the Conservative Party and particularly exciting I think, to follow one of the most remarkable leaders that the Conservative Party has ever had. I believe as time proceeds and Margaret Thatcher’s period as Prime Minister is seen in a proper perspective, it will be seen that she has been a very great Prime Minister indeed.

Our job now I think is quite clear, we’re going to unite, we’re going to unite totally and absolutely and we’re going to win the next General Election. Thank you all very much indeed. Thank you all very much.

REPORTER:

What’s your first task?

JOHN MAJOR:

My first task, immediately….

REPORTER:

How do you feel, Mrs Major?

MRS NORMA MAJOR:

Delighted.

JOHN MAJOR:

My first task, immediately, is to go and thank the enormous number of my Parliamentary colleagues, friends and others, who have been working in this campaign.