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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 was the longest-serving Prime Minister for over 150 years, and is widely regarded as being, together with Sir [[Winston Churchill]], one of the most important British leaders of the twentieth century, and arguably also one of the greatest.

'''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 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.  

Lady Thatcher's policies challenged the [[liberal]] consensus that had dominated British politics since the end of the [[Second World War]] (sometimes known as the "post-war consensus" or as "Butskellism"). She was strongly opposed to socialism and to the extensive powers wielded by the trade [[union]]s, who had been instrumental in bringing down the previous Conservative government in 1974. While in power, she dramatically cut taxes, returned many nationalised industries to private ownership, and restricted the powers of the unions (most notably in the coal industry, where she faced down a national strike in 1985-1986). The result was that the weakened British economy underwent a considerable revival, though unemployment was high at times and there was significant social upheaval. For these reasons, Lady Thatcher remains a highly polarising figure in the UK, arousing strong emotions both for and against the political ideology that she espoused.

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 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 three 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 was renowned for her tenacious and principled leadership style. She famously told her party conference that "The lady's not for turning". When the Soviet press dubbed her "The Iron Lady", her political ally Enoch Powell turned the intended insult into a badge of honour.

 

In foreign policy, Lady Thatcher was a strong anti-communist, a staunch ally of the [[United States of America]], and a personal friend of President [[Ronald Reagan]]. She led Britain to victory in the 1982 [[Falklands War]], which was precipitated by the unprovoked [[Argentina|Argentine]] invasion of those islands, whose inhabitants wished to remain under British rule.

 

Lady Thatcher won three general elections between 1979 and 1990: she was never rejected by the British electorate. The British parliamentary system, however, allowed her party colleagues, led by the more liberal [[Michael Heseltine]], to remove her in November 1990 and replace her with [[John Major]].

[[Time Magazine]] wrote of Lady Thatcher: ''"She was the catalyst who set in motion a series of interconnected events that gave a revolutionary twist to the century's last two decades and helped mankind end the millennium on a note of hope and confidence. The triumph of capitalism, the almost universal acceptance of the market as indispensable to prosperity, the collapse of Soviet imperialism, the downsizing of the state on nearly every continent and in almost every country in the world — Margaret Thatcher played a part in all those transformations, and it is not easy to see how any would have occurred without her. Champion of free minds and markets, she helped topple the welfare state and make the world safer for capitalism"'' [http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/thatcher.html]

[[Time Magazine]] wrote of Lady Thatcher: ''"She was the catalyst who set in motion a series of interconnected events that gave a revolutionary twist to the century's last two decades and helped mankind end the millennium on a note of hope and confidence. The triumph of capitalism, the almost universal acceptance of the market as indispensable to prosperity, the collapse of Soviet imperialism, the downsizing of the state on nearly every continent and in almost every country in the world — Margaret Thatcher played a part in all those transformations, and it is not easy to see how any would have occurred without her. Champion of free minds and markets, she helped topple the welfare state and make the world safer for capitalism"'' [http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/thatcher.html]

==Prime Ministership==

==Prime Ministership==

In 1987 she became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to win three consecutive general elections since [[Lord Liverpool]] (1812-1827). In the late 1980's Thatcher began to be concerned by environmental policy and in 1988 she made a major speech accepting the problems of global warming, ozone depletion and acid rain. More memorably, at Bruges, she made a speech in which she outlined her opposition to proposals from the European Communities for a federal structure and increasing centralisation of decision-making believing that the role of the EC should be limited to ensuring free trade and effective competition. She was specifically against Economic and Monetary Union, through which a single currency would replace national currencies, and for which the EC was making preparations. In 1989 the economy high interest rates were imposed to stop an unsustainable boom. At the Madrid European summit, Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe forced Thatcher to agree the circumstances in which she would join the Exchange Rate Mechanism, a preparation for monetary union. She took revenge on both by demoting Howe and listening more to her adviser Sir Alan Walters on economic matters. Lawson resigned that October and in November, a so-called ‘stalking horse candidate Sir Anthony Meyer challenged Thatcher for the leadership of the Conservative Party. In 1989 a new system of local government finance to replace the rates was introduced for Scotland in 1989 and for England and Wales in 1990. Called the 'Community Charge' but known as the Poll Tax was applied at the same amount to every individual resident with only limited discounts. Widespread opposition culminated in a huge demonstration in London on March 31 that turned into the largest outbreak of public disorder central London had seen in a century which was followed by millions of people refusing to pay the tax. This along with her government's handling of the economy, her perceived arrogance and a general feeling that she would never retire,  made her politically vulnerable. Geoffrey Howe resigned on November 1 and condemned Thatcher's policy on the European Communities then openly invited 'others to consider their own response'. Michael Heseltine's response was a leadership challenge which resulted in a narrow failure, by two votes, for Thatcher to win automatic re-election. After consulting with cabinet colleagues she found a vast majority thought that she could not win on the second ballot. On November 22nd Thatcher announced that she would not be a candidate in the second ballot. She supported John Major as her successor, and retired from Parliament at the 1992 election.  

In 1987 she became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to win three consecutive general elections since [[Lord Liverpool]] (1812-1827). In the late 1980's Thatcher began to be concerned by environmental policy and in 1988 she made a major speech accepting the problems of global warming, ozone depletion and acid rain. More memorably, at Bruges, she made a speech in which she outlined her opposition to proposals from the European Communities for a federal structure and increasing centralisation of decision-making believing that the role of the EC should be limited to ensuring free trade and effective competition. She was specifically against Economic and Monetary Union, through which a single currency would replace national currencies, and for which the EC was making preparations. In 1989 the economy high interest rates were imposed to stop an unsustainable boom. At the Madrid European summit, Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe forced Thatcher to agree the circumstances in which she would join the Exchange Rate Mechanism, a preparation for monetary union. She took revenge on both by demoting Howe and listening more to her adviser Sir Alan Walters on economic matters. Lawson resigned that October and in November, a so-called ‘stalking horse candidate Sir Anthony Meyer challenged Thatcher for the leadership of the Conservative Party. In 1989 a new system of local government finance to replace the rates was introduced for Scotland in 1989 and for England and Wales in 1990. Called the 'Community Charge' but known as the Poll Tax was applied at the same amount to every individual resident with only limited discounts. Widespread opposition culminated in a huge demonstration in London on March 31 that turned into the largest outbreak of public disorder central London had seen in a century which was followed by millions of people refusing to pay the tax. This along with her government's handling of the economy, her perceived arrogance and a general feeling that she would never retire,  made her politically vulnerable. Geoffrey Howe resigned on November 1 and condemned Thatcher's policy on the European Communities then openly invited 'others to consider their own response'. Michael Heseltine's response was a leadership challenge which resulted in a narrow failure, by two votes, for Thatcher to win automatic re-election. After consulting with cabinet colleagues she found a vast majority thought that she could not win on the second ballot. On November 22nd Thatcher announced that she would not be a candidate in the second ballot. She supported John Major as her successor, and retired from Parliament at the 1992 election.  

After leaving the House of Commons,  she was created Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven and entered the House of Lords and more controversially, Denis Thatcher was given a Baronetcy which ensured that their son, Mark, would inherit the title. Leaving power rather depressed her,  and aside from writing her memoirs,  her role as 'backseat driver' in the Major administration was not well received. She publicly endorsed William Hague for the Conservative leadership in 1997.  She made many speaking engagements around the world including very vocal support of former dictator General Pinochet that the new Labour administration extradited to Spain on charges of torturing political opponents. In March 2002 she suffered a mild stroke, and she was told by her doctors to make no more public speeches on health grounds, nevertheless she insisted on attending the funeral of her old friend and political soulmate, Ronald Reagan, in 2004 against her Doctor's orders. Baroness Thatcher is still seen at Tory party gatherings and has endorsed party leaders such as William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith.

After leaving the House of Commons,  she was created '''Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven''' and entered the House of Lords and more controversially, Denis Thatcher was given a Baronetcy which ensured that their son, Mark, would inherit the title. Leaving power rather depressed her,  and aside from writing her memoirs,  her role as 'backseat driver' in the Major administration was not well received. She publicly endorsed William Hague for the Conservative leadership in 1997.  She made many speaking engagements around the world including very vocal support of former dictator General Pinochet that the new Labour administration extradited to Spain on charges of torturing political opponents. In March 2002 she suffered a mild stroke, and she was told by her doctors to make no more public speeches on health grounds, nevertheless she insisted on attending the funeral of her old friend and political soulmate, Ronald Reagan, in 2004 against her Doctor's orders. Baroness Thatcher is still seen at Tory party gatherings and has endorsed party leaders such as William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith.

[http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/thatcher.html][http://www.fandmpublications.co.uk/pages/margaretbiography1.htm][http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page126.asp]

[http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/thatcher.html][http://www.fandmpublications.co.uk/pages/margaretbiography1.htm][http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page126.asp]