Baroness Thatcher, RIP

It is our sad duty to record the death this morning, following a stroke, of Baroness Thatcher at the age of 87. If Winston Churchill was the best wartime Prime Minister we could have had, Margaret Thatcher was assuredly the greatest peacetime Prime Minister of the last century. She was Britain's first – and to date – only woman Prime Minister and the first to win three General Elections in a row.


These achievements appear all the more considerable when we pause to consider her humble origins. A middle class, grammar school educated girl from the Lincolnshire market town of Grantham, she belonged to that inter-war generation which knew hardship first hand and embraced thrift as a practical necessity, something which would stand her in good stead when greatness was thrust upon her.


Although her achievements were considerable and she played a major part in making not just Britain but the modern world what is, she was a conviction politician rather than a consensus one and, given the context in which she came to power, it could hardly have been otherwise thus. Such was her nature that Margaret Thatcher was always likelier to divide public opinion than unite it and that much must be conceded to her critics. Whether history's judgement of her is a fair one remains to be seen.


What can scarcely be disputed is that Margaret Thatcher was elected at a time when there was no electable alternative. Britain had endured the bitterest winter of discontent it had known for a generation with public sector unions striking at the drop of a hat and, economically, it was in a mess. A weak Labour Government, shored up by the Liberals and in thrall to the unions, had effectively quit governing. Little did anyone realise it, but a generation would grow up before Labour formed a Government again. A country which had once ruled a third of the globe was reduced to a laughing stock and its economy was spiralling out of control.


Such was the mess which Margaret Thatcher inherited and had to deal with. It is a matter of great credit to her that deal with it she did. Her economic policies were tough but they worked and laid the foundations for future prosperity. When the Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982, Thatcher had no hesitation in despatching British Forces to deal with the invasion and recapture them, albeit at great cost to the brave men of our armed forces. She rescued industry from the grip of militant trade unions and rebalanced power in the workplace. For the first time ever council house tenants earned the right to buy their own houses – and at very good prices too.


Her privatisation of nationalised industries was certainly controversial if it was anything. However it placed opportunities for share ownership in the hands of the many where before it had been the preserve of the few. New opportunities opened up for those willing and able to take them.


Eurosceptic by nature she wasn't greatly admired by those at the centre of the European Union. However both in America and Russia she found presidents with whom she could do business very effectively. Closer to home her policy on Northern Ireland wasn't universally admired but she took the view, quite correctly, that most of the Ulster population considered themselves to be as British as she was.


One of Thatcher's most notable achievements was a significant reduction in rates of direct taxation, shifting much of the burden to indirect taxes. Whatever the reality, this at least gave people the feeling that they had more money in their pockets and helped to get the economy moving.


Any Prime Minister – and indeed any Government – is invariably hostage to fate and factors which cannot easily be controlled. True of any leader, it was true of Thatcher. Also, politicians make honest mistakes (including believing themselves to be invincible) and Prime Ministers are invariably vulnerable to attack from colleagues with a taste for power. It would be true to say that Thatcher's premiership was brought to an end by the latter. What 'did for her' politically though was the Community Charge or 'Poll Tax' as it became popularly known. That was her one fatal mistake and it is a matter of some sadness that she didn't see it coming.


Margaret Thatcher was a remarkable woman who deserves to be remembered with respect and gratitude. It is perhaps fitting that next week she will have a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral. Our thoughts and prayers must naturally be with her family, especially Mark and Carol at this time. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

Comments

Given the void of leadership that we had in America at the time she came to power, her accomplishments were front and center for the world to see and to judge. Clearly, she will be remembered well by history. May she rest in peace.
 

Blog entry information

Author
Adrian69702006
Read time
3 min read
Views
278
Comments
3
Last update

More entries in General

More entries from Adrian69702006

Share this entry