Caution and ambition are the two reins of her passion. So far, it must be said, she has led her party and handled herself with great skill and circumspection. Ministers who go around saying that she is “Labour’s secret weapon” underestimate her as party leader and as a vote-snatcher. She has shown restraint especially in refraining from committing herself to policies. Her tactical objective, now that the election can be glimpsed over the horizon, is to remain as uncommitted as possible while deflecting as best she can accusations of Carter-like “fuzziness” on the issues.

The Guardian, Wednesday 25th May 1977