Margaret Thatcher The Iron Lady

Early Life Thatcher’s father was a grocer, preacher, and local mayor. He was active in Conservative politics. Young Margaret studied chemistry at Oxford. She also studied law and eventually became a barrister.

Noblesse Oblige Class has been the biggest CLEAVAGE or division in British society / politics. Most of the British PM’s have come from prestigious schools like Oxford and Cambridge. Noblesse Oblige is the concept that the upper classes (wealthy) must look out for the lower classes (poor). Welfare State Era of Collective Consensus

BackBencher First elected to Parliament in 1959 she slowly rose through the ranks. PM’s who do not have much actual power are often referred to as Backbenchers. She entered the Shadow Government in 1967 which means she was becoming more influential in her own party BUT that her party (Conservatives) did not hold a majority. She took control of the Conservative Party from Edward Heath in 1974.

1979 – First term as Prime Minister Head of Government Britain’s economy was in a poor state. End of Collective Consensus Era and the beginnings of PRIVATIZATION or THATCHERISM. Stripped away government regulations and subsidies. Many accused her of being a “union buster”. Unemployment rose and inflation went up.

NHS The National Health Service is a popular BUT somewhat controversial program in Great Britain. PM Thatcher proposed “scrapping” the whole program but she faced strong resistance even from her own party.

Second Term The Conservatives won a large majority in the General Election of This continued the Tories control of government throughout most of the 21 st century. Thatcher was divisive but generally popular in the UK. She often skewered the Labour Party or the “Looney Left”. She forged a strong bond with Ronald Reagan against the “evils” of Communism and the Soviet Union.

Cold Warriors

Euroskeptic PM Thatcher was not a fan of full integration with the rest of Europe. In particular she did not want to tie the UK to a common monetary policy (Euro). Felt that the Parliament would lose sovereignty. During her tenure the UK did not fully integrate wit the rest of Europe.

The End Thatcher won a 3 rd term of office in However her party had become deeply divided over the EU and the Conservatives had almost no support in the inner cities. With the economy worsening in 1989 she was basically forced to resign under pressure from fellow Conservatives. She died in London in 2013.