British reaction to Gorbachev speech on nuclear weapons

Title

British reaction to Gorbachev speech on nuclear weapons

Genre

News report; Interview

TX Date

7 Apr 1989

Year of production

1989

Play audio

To listen to the audio files, please log in.

Duration

00:02:28

Description

Paul Rowley reports on the British reaction to Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev’s speech on nuclear weapons. Labour leader Neil Kinnock talks about how the speech caught Margaret Thatcher off-foot, and how the image of the Soviets has changed. Liberal leader Paddy Ashdown talks about how the speech was well put and how his main point, on modernisation, went over the head of Margaret Thatcher. Trade Secretary, Lord Young talks about how the speech should be studied, and speculates on the feasibility of a nuclear-free world.

Contributors

Neil Kinnock; Paul Rowley; Paddy Ashdown; David Young

Keywords

Margaret Thatcher; UK; USSR; International relations; Speeches; Nuclear weapons; Heads of state; Defence policy; Europe; Mikhail Gorbachev

The copyright of audio recordings in the LBC / IRN Digitisation Archive is owned by Global Radio UK Ltd.