Thatcher's snub to Cameron

Margaret Thatcher dealt a devastating snub to David Cameron by asking for TV cameras to record her meeting with Gordon Brown.

The Downing Street visit was originally intended to be unpublicised with her smuggled in by the back door.

The Prime Minister was happy to go along with that... but 48 hours before Thursday's visit the former Premier's aide called to say she now wanted the meeting to be in the full glare of the cameras.

The astonishing U-turn by the woman famed for "handbagging" foes was intended to cause maximum embarrassment for Cameron, who she believes has swung her party to the Left. It wrecked the launch of his green agenda.

Panicking Mr Cameron is now trying to persuade Mrs Thatcher to support HIM at this month's Tory conference in Blackpool, though he previously had not invited her. The photo-call, when she was warmly greeted by a beaming Mr Brown and wife Sarah, took the Tory leader and his team by surprise as they unveiled proposals to save the planet. Mrs Thatcher was delighted two weeks ago when the PM claimed that he, rather than Mr Cameron, was her true successor as a "conviction politician".

A Whitehall source said: "The PM wrote to Lady Thatcher soon after he came into office, inviting her to come back to No10 and see the staff. He said he would appreciate her counsel. Her office wrote back saying she would be delighted to accept, but thought it would be better if it was a private meeting. The aides even suggested Lady Thatcher should come in via the back entrance. This week they rang and said Lady Thatcher now felt the meeting should be public. She requested that cameras be present."

The insider added: "We nearly fell off our seats. Tory Central Office seem to have been completely unaware of the plan. Imagine the look on David Cameron's face when Lady Thatcher arrived."

A Tory source said: "They are desperately trying to persuade her to make the long journey to Blackpool. They are in mad panic mode. This destroyed the green policy, knocked foot and mouth off the agenda and even the McCanns had to take a back seat - all because a little old lady turned up at No 10 for a cup of tea."

Tories accused Mr Brown of exploiting Mrs Thatcher. But her office said she had been "fully aware" of the ramifications of the meeting.

vincent.moss@mgn.co.uk