Tony Blair has called in Lady Thatcher to advise him on the Kosovo conflict and how to keep Nato united against Slobodan Milosevic. Her support is believed to have been a key factor in Mr Blair's hawkish stance on Kosovo at the Washington Nato summit this weekend.
Lady Thatcher has discussed war strategy with the Prime Minister in a series of telephone calls, some lasting as long as 30 minutes, all of which were initiated by Downing Street. She emphasised the importance of Britain taking a lead and of "stiffening the spine" of the Americans, in a similar fashion to the moment in the Gulf war when she chided George Bush for going "wobbly". Mr Blair's official spokesman last night confirmed that there had been contact with Lady Thatcher, saying she had told the Prime Minister that it was "important to do the right thing".
The employment of the Falklands War leader as an unofficial Downing Street adviser has been a feature of Mr Blair's premiership. He has previously expressed his admiration for her leadership on the world stage.
Lady Thatcher was invited into Downing Street for one-on-one talks with Mr Blair within weeks of Labour's election victory in May 1997. She was also consulted in November of that year, shortly before the Government became involved in military action for the first time when it ordered an aircraft carrier to the Gulf.
[end of excerpt]
Carl Remick