Downing Street visitors’ books made public for the first time

Downing Street’s visitors’ books, signed by some of the most famous figures in recent history, have been made public for the first time.

Three red leather, gilt-tooled versions, being issued by the National Archives from 1970 to 2003, feature the names of world leaders and members of the royal family.

The names of visitors to Number 10 are not made public, so the books provide a valuable record of who had private conversations with prime ministers.

One of these volumes was offered for sale earlier this year by a London auction house, which said it had been rescued from a water-logged basement by a former civil servant, but the government halted the sale, saying Granted it is Crown property.

Dr Jack Brown, a lecturer at King’s College London, described the books as “wonderful…historical novelties”.

As the first resident researcher at Number 10, he explained that the book was not left on the table for everyone to sign, but was only offered to special guests.

Some left personal messages, notably for Margaret Thatcher, who spent more than a decade in Downing Street from 1979 to 1990.

In 1989, then US President George Bush wrote: “It means a lot with respect, friendship and gratitude for this relationship”.

Dr Brown said he was referring to the so-called special relationship between Britain and the US rather than a personal bond, but President Bush’s wife Barbara also signed on and said: “Me too.”

Relations with fellow EU leaders were not always so smooth.

In the same year French Prime Minister Michel Rocard wrote: “It is always an extraordinary occasion to have a confrontation with the Prime Minister, especially when we agree, even when we disagree. Thank you very much.”

“It was wonderful,” Dr Brown said, “I think you had a confrontation with Thatcher… especially if you were a socialist French prime minister, at the end of her term.”

The visitors’ book appears to have been introduced by the Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath, who was in office from 1970–1974.

Among the first to sign it were members of the royal family who left out their first names, including an entry in March 1971 that read the then Prince of Wales’s name was “Charles”, and 12 days later his mother wrote ” Signed “Elizabeth R.” ,

A fortnight later it was the turn of his sister, “Margaret”.

Several Asian and African leaders signed the first clause. A name dated 12 July 1971, written in uneven letters: “General I Amin Dada” – Idi Amin of Uganda.

Amin had taken power in a coup six months earlier, and the brutal nature of his rule was not yet apparent to Western governments. In 1971 he was invited to Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.

Just a year later, Amin expelled thousands of Ugandan Asians, giving them only 90 days to leave the country. Many held British passports and came to settle in Britain.

Among the world leaders – including Jimmy Carter, Ferdinand Marcos and Indira Gandhi – there is an anomaly, with four pages filled with the signatures of famous British women of 1978 – Anna Ford, Cleo Laine, Prue Leith and Janet Street-Porter.

The latter was a well-known face on TV, but Janet Street-Porter remembers being intimidated by the event, which was a reception celebrating 50 years of equal franchise.

She said, “I always seemed cocky and confident, but to be invited to Downing Street for something so historically important was quite a daunting experience for me.”

While there were many receptions at Downing Street, the book was brought out to very few publics – including one to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Downing Street in 1985.

The Queen and Prince Philip signed, as well as six other Prime Ministers, including the increasingly frail Harold Macmillan, Lord Stockton.

The book reflects the changing times: President Mikhail Gorbachev signed it in April 1989, when he was on a state visit with his wife Raisa.

Early the following year, leaders of newly independent Eastern European countries visited Number 10 – including Czechoslovakia’s Vaclav Havel, who added his trademark little heart.

The book appears to have been rarely used by John Major and Tony Blair, although it contains a shocking message from early 2002, a few months after the 9/11 attacks.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani wrote: “Mr. Prime Minister, we are forever grateful for your support for us at a time of great crisis; you will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of all New Yorkers and Americans.”

Despite being “a semi-random collection of autographs”, the book was “the story of Britain’s place in the world over time” told in these signatures, Dr Brown said.

Janet Street-Porter, who has visited Downing Street several times since 1978, thinks all guest lists should be published.

“Then you can see who is moving closer to the center of government and who is listening to the prime minister.”