Mrs Thatcher's former chief press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham said he was completely unaware of any negotiations involving the prime minister.

BBC: Margaret Thatcher 'negotiated with IRA'

The wind power lobby points out that prominent nuclear power advocate, Sir Bernard Ingham is a supporter of the views of Country Guardian.

BBC: Blowing in the wind

It transpired that the scarcely believable message was not, in fact, to be believed: The sketch was written by her press secretary, Bernard Ingham.

CNN: Margaret Thatcher hijacked my TV show