Margaret Thatcher at 90

Controversial. Dividing. These are the words that come to mind when analysing people's reaction to Margaret Thatcher. Many people adore her, many despise her, but what is unquestionable is that the Iron Lady changed Britain for forever, as she restored the British pride. As Maggie would turn 90 years old on tuesday, we look back at the legacy of the only female Prime Minister.

Margaret Thatcher is a hero. She was also a great Prime Minister. Perhaps the best Prime Minister that Britain had in the 20th Century, certainly if you exclude Churchill. After all, there is a reason why Thatcherism exists. It was because of her economic achievements and the grand effects she had on society. And not because she was a dictator.

Margaret Thatcher economically transferred this country. First however; she saved it. In the 1970's, Britain was in turmoil. The economy was bad, and strikes were crippling the cities. Britain lost its power, and the glory days of the Empire were over. The whole system was about to collapse, but Maggie put the country back on track. Her economic policy was very liberal, and it is a known fact that she would always carry John Maynard Keynes' work around with her.

She decreased unemployment, and lowered several taxes. But more importantly she effectively ended unions as they were known in this country. The unions were crippling business and making everyday life hard for normal people. Of course they should have rights and good wages, but they were abusing their powers and they had to be stopped. She also increased competition and privatised a lot of companies, creating even more jobs. British Transportation, Housing and services exceptionally improved under her reign.

Through these measures, she transformed the British society. In mostly good ways, but alienated some of the publuc. Inequality also grew under her time in office, as more people were dependant on welfare and the state. By privatising and de-industrialising, she alienated a lot of Scottish and Welsh people, as many industries were located there. She also made the north a deep Labour territory. Many attribute the rise of SNP and Scottish nationalism to her, and the deep distrust of the Tories by the Welsh countryside people, especially the miners.

While she had great economic achievements, she had even great foreign relations success. She didn't give into the bully of Argentina, and she went and fought for the Falklands Islands. And what a victory it was! She reignited British nationalism, and the glory days of the Empire started to come back. Britain was feared again, and it was cool to be British once more. This success also had lasting effects on the culture and media, which peaked in the 90's as the Cool Britannia phase, and was a period of renewed optimism.

She also had a very close relationship with President Reagan, and the two are credited with bringing the Soviet Union down and ending the Cold War. Even to this day she is a hero in Eastern and Central Europe, and was widely recognised for her humanitarian, freedom and peace impacts in the region. Back home too she faced the evil. The IRA. And they tried killing her in Brighton in 1984. They failed, but they got several of her friends during her office time. But by the end of her rule, tensions there too decreased.

Thatcher also had a key role in Britain's role in Europe. She was pro-Europe, especially early on, but she was also always a big sceptic of it. She saw the failings of the Union early on, and held Britain back from relying too much on this frail coalition. But she liked the idea, and supported a united Europe. However, she kept her Britishness and was very nationalistic. She is credited with keeping the pound in Britain, and not joining the Euro system. 

And time only proves her right. Very few of her actions have been tried to be undone.

Her fight against the single currency also lead to her downfall among the poll tax and accusations of rudeness. Eventually she managed to alienate some key members of the party, and a revolt started. Eventually it all ended after 11 and a half years, when her cabinet had enough too. Geoffrey Howe* was a loyal friend and supporter of Thatcher. But his resignation speech in 1990, is widely regarded as the tipping point in the fight to dethrone her. 

*Geoffrey Howe passed away last night at the age of 88, due to a heart attack.

Her legacy also shaped the Queen and Labour. The Queen publicly disclosed her friendship with Baroness Thatcher. The Monarchy and Westminster have rarely been closer, then under Thatcher. When Mrs. Thatcher died in 2013, the Queen was visibly distraught, and was in mourning. Very few Prime Ministers get that sort of respect from the Palace.

The Labour Party was transformed too. Due to her and Major, they were out of office for almost 20 years. During that time they rebranded and embraced the market forces that Thatcher created. Many accredit the creation and rise of New Labour to Thatcher, and Tony Blair's time in office was hugely affected by Thatcher's persona too. Blair even embraced her vision.

The Iron Lady's legacy lives on, and boy it sure is more positive than negative.

This is an original material of Finchley 1959.