Catalogue Number
NMLH.2024.70.4
Object Name
badge
Title
'Swamp Thatcher'
People
Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Party, Thaatchi and Thaatchi (artist)
Description
A small round badge with a cartoon sketch of Margaret Thatcher buried up to her neck in a green swamp. There are two pink alligators approaching her - one on either side, and the message 'Swamp Thatcher'.
This badge references an interview answer given by Margaret Thatcher in 1978, when she was asked about immigration levels. Her reply was, if immigration continued at its existing level, âby the end of the century, there would be four million people of the new Commonwealth or Pakistan here. Now, that is an awful lot and I think it means that people are really rather afraid that this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture.â This phrasing was viewed by anti-racist activists as a racist dog whistle, spoken at a time when racist violence was a prominent social issue. The idea of migrants being from a swamp in itself denotes a lack of civilisation, as well as suggesting that immigrants from other cultures could not fit into British society. This badge has a defiant tone, perhaps suggesting that anti-Thatcher activism will 'swamp' or overwhelm her out of power.
This badge was designed by a satirical artist who went by the name Thaatchi and Thaatchi when making art about Margaret Thatcher. This is a reference to the design company Saatchi and Saatchi. Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 election that came shortly after that interview, and remained in power as Prime Minister for 11 years.
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