HOW TO GIVE A BETTER SPEECH THAN OBAMA and change your world - (The Iron Lady under pressure) Darren Kelly, Kellcomm, Blog - Day 35

Hi,

On November 13, 1990 a former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary in Margaret Thatcher's government delivered a speech in The House of Commons that rocked 'The Iron Lady'. Geoffrey Howe was a former barrister who Thatcher demoted in 1989 from Foreign Secretary to Leader of The House of Commons.

Howe highlighted his reasons for resigning from 'The Iron Lady's' government despite sharing 700 meetings over 18 years and 400 hours at 30 international summit meetings. Howe was upset by Thatcher's negative views about joining a single European currency, and he felt that he had no choice but to resign. The speech mirrored the style of Mark Anthony's speech in Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’. Howe started his speech with a respectful tone, and he built it towards a crescendo of disappointment and disagreement that encouraged other people to turn on 'The Iron Lady'.

Just like Mark Anthony described Brutus and Cassius as “honourable men,” Howe paid tribute to the character and successes of his leader. Like Mark Anthony, he delivered his words in a tone that suggested more concern for what was right, than concern for revenge. He spoke about ‘The Iron Lady’s’ intransigence over the single currency issue by using words like “damage,” “ tragedy,” “ a serious error,” “very serious,” “worst possible outcome,” “ tragic,” “ serious risks,” “very real tragedy,” “ sadness” and “dismay.” He supported his words by quoting Harold McMillan and Winston Churchill's support for a more unified Europe. Howe made it clear that his views were born of the "true interests of the nation." ‘The Iron Lady’ responded to Howe’s words by saying her feelings lay "more in sorrow than in anger" However, Howe’s words helped topple a leader, who had brought the party three consecutive electoral victories.

Meryl Streep described the movie ‘The Iron Lady’ as “King Lear for Girls.” Just like Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’, the movie deals with the truth that power eventually diminishes in all its aspects. It also highlights the fact that it is the words of those closest to us that wound the most. Howe’s words rocked ‘The Iron Lady’ and proved that behind every image is a human being with the frailties that we all possess.

Tomorrow, I will discuss how ‘The Iron Lady’ compares to America’s 'First Lady', Michelle Obama.

Take care,

Darren



PS: 'HOW TO GIVE A BETTER SPEECH THAN OBAMA and change your world' - is available on iTunes and Amazon NOW!
Audio Version only.
Text version in January 2012.

Kellcomm, Princes Exchange, Princes Square, Leeds,LS1 4HY, United Kingdom