James Callaghan Quote

Now, now, little lady, you don't want to believe all those things you read in the newspaper about crisis and upheavals, and the end of civilization as we know it. Dearie me, not at all.


This example of Callaghan's patronizing style when dealing, as Prime Minister, with the then Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher, was quoted in all seriousness by Newsweek Magazine. It was, in fact, a parody written by John O'Sullivan that had appeared in The Daily Telegraph (10 June 1976).


Now, now, little lady, you don't want to believe all those things you read in the newspaper about crisis and upheavals, and the end of civilization...

Now, now, little lady, you don't want to believe all those things you read in the newspaper about crisis and upheavals, and the end of civilization...

Now, now, little lady, you don't want to believe all those things you read in the newspaper about crisis and upheavals, and the end of civilization...

Now, now, little lady, you don't want to believe all those things you read in the newspaper about crisis and upheavals, and the end of civilization...