Leading Conservatives speak out about Thatcher’s portrayal on The Crown television drama

ByMarsha Hemmings (World News)

Nov 18, 2020 Leading Conservatives speak out about Thatcher's portrayal on The Crown television drama

Conservative MP’s have criticised Netflix for their portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the TV series The Crown.

Leading Conservatives speak out about Thatcher’s portrayal: They have voiced their concerns regarding the portayal, which shows Thatcher as Prime Minister during the troubles in the 1970’s. And her handling of the Falklands War. Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson, comes across as a “hateful” character they said.

One Tory activist, Tim Montgomerie, took to social media site Twitter to say that. “I can’t bear to watch any more of The Crown and its absurd, hateful portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. Such a shame.” Another, back bencher Andrew Bridgen, said that depicting her decision on going to war with Argentina. Just because her son Mark was lost in 1982 was “utterly ludicrous”.

He told MailOnline that it was “Utter rubbish. If there was ever a just war it was the Falklands War.” He went on to say “They are painting a picture of Mrs Thatcher and that period for a generation who don’t remember what it was like to live through the horrors perpetrated by these terrorists.

People lived in fear, especially in cities like Birmingham. Where people were frightened to go out after so many people were murdered by the brutal IRA in the pub bombings.” It comes after the creator of The Crown, Peter Morgan, was accused of making up the story line where Lord Mountbatten sends Charles a letter. Regarding his pursuit of Camilla, even after she had got married.

Although no such letter has ever come to light. Morgan said that he believes the interaction did actually happen.

Speaking on the shows podcast Morgan said. “What we know is that Mountbatten was really responsible for taking Charles to one side at precisely this point and saying. ‘Look, you know, enough already with playing the field, it’s time you got married and it’s time you provided an heir’. As the heir I think there was some concern that he should settle down. Marry the appropriate person and get on with it.”

Many have criticised the show for its made up storylines however Morgan was quick to defend his right to creative freedom. Saying “In my own head I thought that would have even greater impact on Charles if it were to come post-mortem, as it were. I think everything that’s in that letter that Mountbatten writes to Charles is what I really believe. Based on everything I’ve read and people I’ve spoken to, that represents his view.

We will never know if it was put into a letter. And we will never know if Charles got that letter before or after Mountbatten’s death. But in this particular drama, this is how I decided to deal with it.”