Margaret Thatcher The Honorary Jew: How Britain's Jews Helped Shape the Iron Lady and Her Beliefs

by Robert Philpot

Overview

Journalist Robert Philpot explores the relationship between Margaret Thatcher and Britain’s Jewish community, demonstrating that her regard did not come simply from representing a constituency with more Jewish voters than any other, but one that stretched back to her childhood. She saw her own philosophical beliefs expressed in the values of Judaism, seeing elements reflected in the Methodist teachings of her beloved father.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785901317
Publisher:	Biteback Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.20(d)

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

Chapter 1 In the Beginning 15

Chapter 2 Finchley and Beyond 29

Chapter 3 The Junior Partner 67

Chapter 4 The Senior Partner 107

Chapter 5 Changing the Equation: The ‘Jewish Vote’ and the Shift

to the Right 135

Chapter 6 David Becomes Goliath: How the Left Turned on Israel 155

Chapter 7 Comrades in Arms: Jews and the Thatcher Revolution 177

Chapter 8 Holy Wars: Margaret Thatcher, the Bishops and the

Chief Rabbi 229

Chapter 9 Israel’s Friend in Downing Street: Mrs Thatcher and the

Jewish State 259

Epilogue Last Days: Soviet Jewry and Nazi War Crimes 291

Notes 295

Bibliography 339

Acknowledgements 349

Index 353

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This is an excellent, well-researched and very readable book. Margaret Thatcher had a unique relationship with the Jewish community which influenced her beliefs and actions. That relationship was a part of the history of those years. Malcolm Rifkind, former Cabinet minister (1986-1997)

Meticulously researched and skilfully written, this book delivers something that is very difficult to do these days, namely to provide a genuinely fresh perspective on one of Britain’s, indeed the world’s, most talked-about political icons. Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London

We all think we know about Maggie, and especially her relationship with the Jewish community and Israel. Robert Philpot’s brilliantly readable book shows just how superficial the received wisdom is. Anyone who wants to understand what made Baroness Thatcher tick needs to read this. Stephen Pollard, Editor of the Jewish Chronicle