The revelations come from Tina Gaudoin’s book, The Incidental Feminist, which was discussed at the Cheltenham Literature Festival this week.
Gaudoin claims that Thatcher engaged in an affair early in her career as a Member of Parliament and possibly later with Sir Humphrey Atkins, a fellow Conservative politician. The author cites multiple sources, including novelist and former Conservative minister Jonathan Aitken, who indicated that rumors of Thatcher’s involvement with Atkins circulated during the period when he served as chief whip and later as secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
The book also discusses Thatcher’s “extracurricular friendship” with Lord Tim Bell, her former head of public relations, who reportedly touched her knee during private dinners. While sources told Gaudoin about these encounters, the claims rely largely on personal accounts, and there is no concrete evidence. Thatcher biographer Lord Moore dismissed the allegations as “vanishingly unlikely.”
Gaudoin emphasized that her work does not portray Thatcher as anti-feminist, arguing instead that the former prime minister helped normalize female power in politics. She also explores Denis Thatcher’s post-Downing Street friendship with Mandy Rice-Davies, the model and socialite linked to the 1963 Profumo affair, describing affectionate letters and shared holidays between the two.
The book portrays Thatcher as a woman whose personal charisma and presence drew attention from contemporaries, with anecdotes highlighting her appeal. Gaudoin described her as “far more sexy in person than she appeared to be,” while various political figures and journalists commented on her charm and attractiveness.
The Incidental Feminist, published last month, aims to present a more nuanced view of Thatcher, examining both her political achievements and the private dimensions of her life. According to reporting in the Japan Times, the book has sparked debate about the intersection of personal life and political legacy for one of Britain’s most iconic leaders.
