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Margaret Thatcher Foundation
UK News

'Enemy within' from Thatcher's Methodist roots

A historian says it is likely the former prime minister saw the term in a hymn written by Charles Wesley.

According to The Telegraph, Chris Collins, a historian at the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, said the hymn was a "more plausible and personal source" than the Enoch Powell speech that was previously credited with the phrase.

He added: "It is a phrase which would have been deep-rooted in her from her youth."

The hymn's lyrics include the phrase: "But worse than all my foes I find, the enemy within".

Baroness Thatcher used the term 'enemy within' in reference to trade unions.

It is claimed that she knew many hymns by heart.

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