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'''Margaret Hilda Thatcher''', now Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven (born October 13, 1925), was the Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1979 to 1990. She led the British [[Conservative Party]] to victory in three general elections, and served as Prime Minister for longer than any other British politician since Lord Liverpool in the early nineteenth century.

'''Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher''' (born October 13, 1925) became the leader of the Conservatives in [[The United Kingdom]] in February 1975. She was opposed to socialism out the of control union power that had brought down the previous Conservative government in 1974 and ran on these issues, resulting in her being elected as Prime Minister in May 1975 with the Conservatives sweeping into power. She sold many of the nationalized industries back to private investors and made tax cuts. Thatcher stood up against the powerful Labour Party unions, thus encouraging the British coal and newspaper industries by breaking the power of the corrupt unions who had a stranglehold over these industries. Due to her strong standards and her leadership style, she became known as the "Iron Lady," a term originally coined as an insult by the communist [[Soviet Union]], but one she adopted with glee. Another famous statement of hers is that "the lady is not for turning" Thatcher was always a strong supporter of the the [[United States of America]], and was a good friend of their President [[Ronald Reagan]], uniting with him in actions against the Communists. She led Britain to victory against [[Argentina]] in a 1982 war over ownership of the [[Falkland Islands]], and though the United States were allies of both countries and did initially try to wager a negotiated settlement, when that failed the Americans supported Britain and not Argentina with vital intelligence information. Thatcher won 3 elections between 1979 and her ousting from power by her own party in 1990. Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving Prime Minister for more than 150 years, and alongside Winston Churchill, many consider her to be one of the two most important British political leaders of the twentieth century.

 

Lady Thatcher's policies were characterised by strong opposition to the [[liberal]] consensus that had held sway in British politics since the end of the [[Second World War]]. While in office, Thatcher pursued rigorously conservative economic policies: taxes were cut dramatically, the extensive powers of the [[union]]s were curbed, and nationalised industries were returned to private ownership. Thatcher's policies led to a strong revival of the weakened British economy, though there were periods of high unemployment and considerable social upheaval. Lady Thatcher remains a highly divisive figure in the UK, and mention of her name in conversation often arouses strong emotions, both positive and negative.

 

In foreign policy, Lady Thatcher was a dedicated anti-[[communist]], a staunch ally of the [[United States of America]], and a personal friend of President [[Ronald Reagan]]. The Soviet press gave her the nickname "The Iron Lady" - an epithet that was turned by the conservative politician Enoch Powell into a badge of honour. Thatcher famously led Britain to victory in the 1982 [[Falklands War]], which broke out when [[Argentina]] invaded and seized control of the [[Falkland Islands]], a British territory whose inhabitants wished to remain under British sovereignty.

Lady Thatcher was never defeated in a general election. Her term of office ended abruptly in November 1990 when members of her own party, led by the relatively liberal Michael Heseltine, voted her out of the party leadership and replaced her with [[John Major]].

Lady Thatcher was never defeated in a general election. Her term of office ended abruptly in November 1990 when members of her own party, led by the relatively liberal Michael Heseltine, voted her out of the party leadership and replaced her with [[John Major]].