Australia’s Foreign Minister brands Margaret Thatcher racist

Margaret Thatcher

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher made “unabashedly racist” comments during a conversation with Bob Carr, the Foreign Affairs Minister has told Lateline.

Thatcher died on Monday morning (UK time) at the age of 87 and will be accorded a ceremonial funeral at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral next week.

Senator Carr says he was “astonished” when Thatcher, dubbed the ‘Iron Lady’ during her time in 10 Downing Street, told him that Australia would end up like Fiji if it continued to allow Asian migrants in.

Senator Carr’s Malaysian-born wife Helena was in the room at the time.

“I was astonished,” Senator Carr told Lateline last night.

“Helena, fortunately, was out of ear shot.

“I remember one thing she said as part of that conversation, she said: ‘You will end up like Fiji.’

“She said, ‘I like Sydney but you can’t allow the migrants’ – and in context she meant Asian migration – ‘to take over, otherwise you will end up like Fiji where the Indian migrants have taken over.’

“I was so astonished I don’t think I could think of an appropriate reply. I think we moved on to other subjects pretty quickly.

“It reminded me that despite, yes, her greatness on those big questions, the role of the state, the evil nature of Communist totalitarianism, there was an old-fashioned quality to her that was entirely out of touch and probably explained why her party removed her in the early 90s.

“But I don’t say that in any way to diminish the respect I felt for her because of the boldness of her political leadership. She deserves credit for that, and that should be uppermost in our thoughts today.”

The conversation happened after Thatcher’s retirement from politics.

Opposition’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop has demanded Senator Carr apologise for his comments.

Ms Bishop says it was a graceless and cowardly attack on Lady Thatcher’s reputation just hours after she died.

She says Senator Carr showed a complete lack of sensitivity and must immediately apologise to the Thatcher family.

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher made “unabashedly racist” comments during a conversation with Bob Carr, the Foreign Affairs Minister has told Lateline.

Thatcher died on Monday morning (UK time) at the age of 87 and will be accorded a ceremonial funeral at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral next week.

Senator Carr says he was “astonished” when Thatcher, dubbed the ‘Iron Lady’ during her time in 10 Downing Street, told him that Australia would end up like Fiji if it continued to allow Asian migrants in.

Senator Carr’s Malaysian-born wife Helena was in the room at the time.

“I was astonished,” Senator Carr told Lateline last night.

“Helena, fortunately, was out of ear shot.

“I remember one thing she said as part of that conversation, she said: ‘You will end up like Fiji.’

“She said, ‘I like Sydney but you can’t allow the migrants’ – and in context she meant Asian migration – ‘to take over, otherwise you will end up like Fiji where the Indian migrants have taken over.’

“I was so astonished I don’t think I could think of an appropriate reply. I think we moved on to other subjects pretty quickly.

“It reminded me that despite, yes, her greatness on those big questions, the role of the state, the evil nature of Communist totalitarianism, there was an old-fashioned quality to her that was entirely out of touch and probably explained why her party removed her in the early 90s.

“But I don’t say that in any way to diminish the respect I felt for her because of the boldness of her political leadership. She deserves credit for that, and that should be uppermost in our thoughts today.”

The conversation happened after Thatcher’s retirement from politics.

Opposition’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop has demanded Senator Carr apologise for his comments.

Ms Bishop says it was a graceless and cowardly attack on Lady Thatcher’s reputation just hours after she died.

She says Senator Carr showed a complete lack of sensitivity and must immediately apologise to the Thatcher family.

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