She had been Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and her
political demise came about because of her strong conviction that local
government should be supported through a “Community Charge” or “Poll Tax”. The Tax was widely unpopular but she remained
immoveable leading to her unceremonious removal from office by her nervous Conservative
colleagues. It was a high price to pay for
a strong and very determined woman. But
it was probably inevitable given her famous declaration that, when it came to tough decisions,
she was definitely “not for turning”.
Perhaps we need more “conviction” politicians like Margaret
Thatcher. At least, with people like
her, the populace know where they stand with those they have elected to high
office. And, they also know that, if their
politicians displease them seriously enough, there is always the option of
voting them out at the next election. It
is generally accepted that it was the only the more moderate policies of John
Major’s Government (on top of the economic gains brought about by previous Thatcherite
interventions) that stopped the Conservative Party being thrown out of power in
the General Election of 1992.
But even so, Margaret Thatcher’s legacy can still be found in a
Britain that is more economically secure than it was, more independent of
Europe than it would otherwise have been, and more accepted in powerful
international forums than it was when she took the helm. Who else could have worked so well with
the then President of the USA, Ronald Reagan, and the then President of the
USSR, Mikhael Gorbachev? Who else but
Margaret could have helped to bring down the Berlin Wall?
Yes, Baronness Thatcher, you upset a lot of people but, on balance, you
left your country (and indeed the world) a better place. And when all’s said and done, isn’t that the
true mark of greatness?
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