Margaret Thatcher

Who was Margaret Thatcher?

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG OM PC FRS was a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century and is the only woman to have held the office. A Soviet journalist called her the "Iron Lady", a nickname that became associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership style. As Prime Minister, she implemented policies that have come to be known as Thatcherism.

Originally a research chemist before becoming a barrister, Thatcher was elected Member of Parliament for Finchley in 1959. Edward Heath appointed her Secretary of State for Education and Science in his 1970 government. In 1975, Thatcher defeated Heath in the Conservative Party leadership election to become Leader of the Opposition and became the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom. She became Prime Minister after winning the 1979 general election.

Upon moving into 10 Downing Street, Thatcher introduced a series of political and economic initiatives intended to reverse high unemployment and Britain's struggles in the wake of the Winter of Discontent and an ongoing recession. Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation, flexible labour markets, the privatisation of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions. Thatcher's popularity during her first years in office waned amid recession and high unemployment until the 1982 Falklands War brought a resurgence of support, resulting in her re-election in 1983.

Famous Quotes:

• I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.
• No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions. He had money as well.
• This lady is not for turning.
• People think that at the top there isn't much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.
• The battle for women's rights has been largely won.
• There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.
• I don't mind how much my ministers talk -- as long as they do what I say.
• I owe nothing to Women's Lib.
• I've got a woman's ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it.
• Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.