Conservative Party Conference, Brighton 1982

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© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Conservative Party Conference, Brighton 1982

by Paul Brason
oil on canvas, 1982-1985
72 in. x 94 in. (1829 mm x 2388 mm)
Given by Stanton D. Loring, 1985
Primary Collection
NPG 5843

On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery

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  • Paul Brason (1952-), Portrait painter. Artist or producer of 3 portraits.

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This portrait depicts Margaret Thatcher giving a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton in 1982, at the time of the Falklands War. Originally titled The Falklands War Cabinet, 1982, the portrait was commissioned by the American collector Stanton D. Loring, who desired a painting which would emphasise the Prime Minister's qualities of leadership. The sitters are, from left to right: Sir Geoffrey Howe, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Party Chairman Cecil Parkinson, his wife Ann Mary, Margaret Thatcher, her husband Denis Thatcher and Foreign Secretary, Sir Francis Pym.

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Current affairs

Unemployment hits 3.6 million in the UK, with one in eight people out of work. The crisis came about as a result of industrial modernisation and restructuring. As a result those out of work were referred to as 'Maggie's millions'.
Charles and Diana have their first child, Prince William, who becomes the second in line for the throne.

Art and science

Richard Attenborough releases his biopic Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley as the lead. The film was an Anglo-Indian production, featuring a record-breaking 300,000 extras.
The Barbican Arts Centre is opened featuring a concert hall, theatres, cinema screens and an art gallery. In 2003 it was voted London's ugliest building in a BBC poll.
The Thames Barrier opens to protect London from floods due to rising sea levels.

International

Argentina occupies the Falkland Islands beginning the Falklands War. Britain retaliated, and after three months of fighting at sea and on land won back the islands. Following the British victory opposition grew in Argentina towards the military government, while in Britain a wave of patriotism helped Margaret Thatcher to win the general election the following year.

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