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.
Source: ABC News – Carr ‘astonished’ by Thatcher’s ‘racist’ commentsFormer 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.
Related articles
- Five ministers, three whips, parliamentary secretaries resign; Australian government in turmoil (craighill.net)
- Bob Carr recalls Margaret Thatcher’s ‘racist’ comments (australiantimes.co.uk)
- Carr ‘astonished’ by Thatcher’s ‘racist’ comments (abc.net.au)
- Margaret Thatcher was ‘unabashedly racist’, says Australian foreign minister Bob Car (oliverichardson.wordpress.com)
- Politician shocked when Thatcher told the truth (whitenewsnow.com)
- Margaret Thatcher accused of holding ‘unabashedly racist’ views (guardian.co.uk)
- Thatcher made ‘racist’ comments: Australian FM Carr (dailystar.com.lb)
- Aussie minister recalls Thatcher’s ‘unabashedly racist’ comment (nst.com.my)
- Margaret Thatcher accused of making “unabashedly racist” comments by Australian foreign minister (mirror.co.uk)
- Margaret Thatcher was ‘unabashedly racist’, says Australian foreign minister Bob Car (telegraph.co.uk)
- Bob Carr on Thatcher’s Fear of Asian Migration to Australia (redearthbluesky.wordpress.com)
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Craig Hill 
Reblogged this on GIANLUCA PASCA – oltre … la politica..
Because she was.
She was Anit-Scottish and Anti-Irish,
I am Scottish born with Irish family and friends.
There is a Billy Elliot play in London just now, been running for a year or two, it the play is a “Thank f*** Maggie Thatcher is dead” Song in it (Before she died this was sung) They decided to keep the song in.
There have been parties in My country and all over the UK since she died.
Nearer me, Glasgow (I am Edinburgh) They partied in the Town centre.
The hatred for this woman was and still is high….
Shaun
The British miners celebrated in style for the Old Cabal Bitch’s death 😀
I hope that she ROTS IN THE FIRES OF HELL for a remark as APPALLING as that. ;(
She was also homophobic and anti-feminist, which is a shame. For such a powerful woman, she could have helped women everywhere, not just in Great Britain.