Valery Giscard gets Margaret Thatcher's first 'handbagging'
EUROPEAN leaders were given an early taste of Margaret Thatcher’s no-holds-barred negotiating style.
Among the first to receive a “handbagging” was French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, according to papers released yesterday.
On June 5, 1979, a month after she became Prime Minister, she had her first meeting with him in Paris.
Mrs Thatcher assured him of her “committed Europeanism” before telling him she had a major problem with our £1billion net contribution to the European budget, which was far higher than other states.
He tried to placate her by suggesting meetings to discuss the matter. She forcibly told him – and other leaders later – the facts were already established.
She persisted and finally achieved her aim. A £350million rebate offer was later increased.