Margaret Thatcher education. Biography of Margaret Thatcher - what was the "Iron Lady"

One can argue endlessly about Thatcher. And they never tire of remembering and admiring who she was for the whole world. The Iron Lady, who was feared by the entire political elite of the world and listened to by the most eminent men of the Earth. And, meanwhile, the beginning of her life in no way suggested that little Margaret would make the best Prime Minister of England of our time.

But everything is possible if you passionately desire it and build your career stubbornly, brick by brick, without stopping for a moment. This is the main reason for Thatcher's success. The daughter of a petty merchant all her childhood, having spent in poverty, she already then had an insane desire to invade the “camp of male power” and become the Prime Minister of Great Britain! It didn’t seem like the mental impudence of a woman from “nowhere” then, but she was able to do it so quickly and easily that no one had time to understand that the Iron Lady had come. The first and last female Prime Minister of England!

Thatcher immediately entered power so organically and beautifully, as if she had been there for decades. And she began her "unbending" work, which made Great Britain, for many years, a power, whose opinion was listened to unconditionally by everyone " powers of the world this." Even US presidents. And they could not resist the mind, intelligence and toughness, Thatcher. They "passed in" before her "Jesuit" cunning, like young guys, how she did it is still unclear.

Lady Thatcher left the brightest mark in the history of the world and influenced the way of thinking of the whole of Great Britain. And her greatest legacy: an example for women leaders, what is impossible, it can and should!

Margaret Thatcher biography briefly

Margaret Thatcher young

Margaret Thatcher young

Margaret Hilda Thatcher- British politician, Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1979 to 1990, leader of the British Conservative Party. Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to hold the post of Prime Minister (analogous to the president in other countries) of Great Britain.

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham, Lincolnshire) on October 13, 1925. Her father was the owner of two grocers and an active politician at the local level. After leaving school, Margaret studied at Oxford University, in 1947-1951. worked as a research chemist.

In 1953, Thatcher received a law degree, after which she practiced law (1954-1957). In 1959 she was elected Member of Parliament for Finchley. In 1970, Edward Heath appointed Thatcher Secretary of State for Education and Science.

In 1979, Thatcher won a landslide victory in the internal elections of the Conservative Party, becoming the leader of the opposition and the first woman to lead a major British political party.

In 1979, after winning the general election, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Since leaving the House of Commons, Thatcher has published two memoirs, The Downing Street Years and The Path to Power. In 1992, she was hired as a 'geopolitical consultant' for Philip Morris tobacco company.

Domestic politics of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher iron lady

Thatcher launched a series of political and economic projects designed to solve problems in Britain, such as incredibly high unemployment. Thatcher's political philosophy was based on the abolition of state control (in particular in the financial sector), the organization of flexible labor markets, the privatization of state-owned companies and the reduction of the influence of trade unions.

She associated her program to improve the UK economy with a reduction in government spending, the cessation of subsidies for unprofitable enterprises, the transfer to private ownership public corporations; regarded inflation as a greater danger than unemployment. Reducing the cost of local government.

Initially, Thatcher was very popular, but over time, this popularity began to fade - the people did not like the general financial instability and unemployment, which stubbornly did not want to be defeated. Hunger strikes in Ireland in 1981 and Thatcher's reaction to them further aggravated the already unstable situation in Northern Ireland; subsequently, IRA fighters even made an attempt on Thatcher's life. The Falklands War went to Thatcher exclusively in favor and helped her win the elections in 1983.

Firmness in defending one's views, rigidity in carrying out decisions taken secured the title of "Iron Lady" for Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher foreign policy brief

On January 19, 1976, Thatcher delivered a loud anti-Soviet speech in which she accused the USSR of striving for world domination and aggressiveness, and her country of an overly peaceful approach to solving international problems. Shortly thereafter, the Soviet newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda awarded Thatcher the nickname ‘Iron Lady’ – which, by the way, she accepted and approved with pleasure.

The foreign policy strategy of the government of M. Thatcher provided for the revival of the status of Great Britain as a great power, the inclusion in the orbit of British policy of a wide range of global and regional issues, including those that go beyond the immediate interests of the country.

The British side acted as the initiator and guarantor of the constitutional reform in Southern Rhodesia and the holding of general elections in that country. Already in 1980, the independent Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) became a member of the Commonwealth.

Great Britain managed in the late 80s - early 90s. significantly strengthen its economic and military-political presence in the traditional zones of influence.

Thatcher ordered a total invasion of the Falkland Islands, formerly a colony of England, but captured by Argentina. On May 21, after intensive artillery shelling from the sea and bombardment of Argentine positions from the air, detachments of British paratroopers were landed on the Falkland Islands. Hostilities ended on 15 June. When the white flag of surrender was thrown at Port Stanley, Thatcher went to Downing Street. “Today Britain is Britain again. This is the great justification for all that we have done.”

Thatcher's successes in foreign policy have significantly strengthened her authority within the country.

The Falklands crisis significantly strengthened the Anglo-American allied relations.

Thatcher strongly rejected the idea of ​​political integration of the member states of the European Community.

Margaret Thatcher personal life

Margaret Thatcher with her husband and children

Margaret Thatcher family, husband and children

In her youth, Margaret had an affair with a young and very wealthy earl. But the grocer's daughter did not please the young earl's parents.

The next time Margaret fell in love with a Scottish farmer. The farmer, caring for Margaret, suddenly took a closer look at her sister Muriel, a girl with little interest in politics, but well versed in cooking and home comfort.

Margaret Thatcher's only husband was Denis Thatcher, who was ten years older than her. For Denis, this marriage was the second. The marriage of Margaret and Denis is considered to be a marriage of convenience.

Thanks to her husband's money, the "iron lady" was able to get a law degree, practice law and pay for the election campaign for a seat in the House of Commons.

In 1953, Margaret Thatcher gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, Mark Thatcher and Carol Thatcher.

Height and weight of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher's height is 166 cm. Margaret Thatcher's weight is 64 kg (at the age of 53, when Margaret Thatcher took over as Prime Minister of Great Britain.)

The Iron Lady. Margaret Thatcher is the queen of politics. Brief information.

Margaret Hilda Thatcher (born 1925), British Prime Minister (1979-1990).

Born October 13, 1925 in the city of Grantem in the family of a grocer. After leaving school, she studied at Oxford University, in 1947-1951. worked as a research chemist.

In 1950, for the first time, she put forward her candidacy for parliamentary elections, but failed.

In 1953, Thatcher received a law degree, after which she practiced law (1954-1957). In 1959 she was elected to parliament.

In 1961-1964 Thatcher served as Junior Minister for Pensions and Social Security from 1970-1974. - Post of Minister of Education and Science.

After the defeat of the Conservative Party in the elections (1974), Thatcher was elected its leader. In the elections in May 1979, the Conservatives won, and Thatcher received the post of Prime Minister.

She associated her program to improve the economy with a reduction in government spending, the cessation of subsidies for unprofitable enterprises, the transfer of state corporations to private ownership; regarded inflation as a greater danger than unemployment.

Firmness in defending her views, rigidity in implementing the decisions made secured the title of "Iron Lady" for Thatcher.

In 1982, she sent British troops to the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, captured by Argentina. In the elections of June 1983, after a landslide victory for the Conservatives, Thatcher retained her post and continued on her intended course.

In 1984-1985. she did not make concessions during the miners' strike, thereby preserving low prices for fuel and electricity. Inflation has fallen and labor productivity has risen. In the elections in June 1987, Thatcher for the first time in the history of modern Britain remained Prime Minister for a third term.

But the resistance to the integration of Great Britain into the European monetary system caused dissatisfaction of the conservatives with their leader.

After leaving the premiership, Thatcher was a member of the House of Commons for Finchley for two years. In 1992, at the age of 66, she decided to leave the British Parliament, which, in her opinion, gave her the opportunity to more openly express her opinion on certain events.

In February 2007, Thatcher became the first Prime Minister of Great Britain to have a monument erected in the British Parliament during his lifetime (the official opening took place on February 21, 2007 in the presence of former politician).

Margaret Hilda Thatcher (years of life October 13, 1925 - April 8, 2013) is a legendary figure, the first woman politician in history to become the first Prime Minister in the European space.

The "iron lady", who received such a nickname due to her strong-willed character and tough management methods, is remembered in different ways. But no matter how severely condemned by her contemporaries, Thatcher had to make decisions for the fate of Great Britain in difficult times (crisis, war, the fall of the Berlin Wall, etc.).

Childhood and youth

The biography of the now famous Baroness is of extraordinary interest among people. For 12 years, Thatcher held such a high position in the country and turned out to be the longest Prime Minister in the history of the twentieth century.

Childhood Margaret Roberts (maiden name) passed in the city of Grantham. There, Father Alfred Roberts ran a grocery store. After the label "daughter of a merchant" repeatedly interfered with her political career, but also helped to stand out among the crowd of officials.

In addition to Margaret, another girl named Muriel, the older sister, was brought up in the family. Alfred Roberts participated in local politics, helped in resolving issues of the religious community, was a member of the municipal council.

The girls in the Roberts family were brought up in strictness, which could not but affect their character, but their father was always their ideal. He was different profound knowledge in the field of economics and politics, read a lot and instilled a love of books in his children, visiting the local library with them. He took young Margaret to council meetings, which allowed her to learn eloquence and theatrics there.

Initially, the future Prime Minister studied at the city school on Huntingtower Road, but for her good academic performance she was awarded a scholarship to a special School for girls. Teachers considered the young lady a gifted, diligent student, but observed in her an ardent, arrogant disposition and a sharp tongue. Therefore, little Thatcher received a cheerful school nickname among her peers - "Maggie Toothpick".

Margaret devoted a lot of time to her studies, but at the same time she managed to play the piano and attend poetry courses. The girl loved to play field hockey and excelled in race walking.

In her final year of school, Maggie applied to Somerville College, Oxford University. Luck smiled at the girl, and she was admitted to the Faculty of Chemistry on a scholarship (1943). During her student years, Margaret worked in research laboratory, and after she also received a law degree at Oxford University.

Carier start

Margaret has shown interest in politics for a long time. In 1946, she was chairman of the University's Conservative Party Association. After graduating from high school, a young motivated girl moved to Colchester and joined the local association here.

Margaret kept in touch with friends from Oxford, one of them is the chairman of the Dartford Association in Kent. The team was looking for profitable candidates for the election, and Margaret received an offer to become one of the contenders. In January 1951, Thatcher received electoral status.

In honor of such an event, a dinner party was organized, at which Margaret Roberts met a man who radically changed the fate of a girl - businessman Denis Thatcher. The self-confident guy immediately drew attention to such an interesting person named Margaret and soon offered the girl a hand and heart, realizing that she would not work as a housewife wife.

During the run-up to the election, the Iron Lady lived in Dartford and worked for a supplement research company.

Elections 1950-1951 to Parliament left an imprint on Margaret's future political career. The press immediately drew attention to the young representative and the only lady among the participants.

Political career

Before the post of prime minister, she had to go through a series of tests, try her hand at various positions. In 1955, a woman became a candidate for the Conservative Party, and in 1959 she won, becoming a member of the House of Commons.

First public speech sounded like a challenge to the local authorities. Margaret demanded changes in the Laws, in the established principles of the Conservative Party.

Soon "Maggie Toothpick" gets the position of Parliamentary Undersecretary of Pensions, but after losing the game, he is involved in housing construction.

Two years later, Margaret reveals herself by criticizing the policies of the Labor Party, convincing the people and rulers that government control of prices and incomes is among the destructive methods for the UK economy. The woman caused resentment and shock among male officials, calling for voting for the legalization of abortion, the relaxation of certain points of divorce laws, tax cuts, the closure of unprofitable enterprises, and other harsh statements.

Thatcher admired the methods of US government, their principles and unique political philosophy. When, in 1967, she took a post at the US Embassy in London, new opportunities opened up for the future Prime Minister. Margaret met outstanding people, political players on the world stage and received another promotion.

In 1970, the Conservative Party again becomes "at the helm". As Minister of Education and Science, Thatcher had to learn some life lessons. The lady with an iron grip directed her efforts to save the state budget and became negatively famous among citizens by abolishing the rules on issuing milk to schoolchildren.

The media literally tore apart Thatcher, but this only strengthened her character. AT given period, thanks to Margaret's decisions, the closure of literacy schools began. And instead of them, a system of unified secondary education was introduced.

British Prime Minister

Despite her husband's health problems ( cancer), Margaret Thatcher continues to build her own career, not devoting time to her family. She has a new idea - to become the head of the Conservative Party, which lost in the 1974 elections. The woman promised that the changes in the party statutes would be radical and successful, and in 1979 she stood on a pedestal, taking the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The "Iron Lady" got control in difficult years for the country: economic crisis, inflation, strikes, unemployment, hostilities in the Falkland Islands. The process of reform was inevitable, and Thatcher had to make super tough decisions in order to achieve the prosperity of the state.

The Prime Minister made a profitable bet by establishing relations with the British colonies in Africa, and strengthened the country's position in the region.

In 1984, an assassination attempt was organized by the Irish Republican Army on a powerful politician. As a result, five innocent people died, and Thatcher and her husband managed to escape.

Thatcher on Russia

Margaret Thatcher paid special attention to the foreign policy of her native state. She believed that Great Britain should be at the head of solving global issues among other countries, having received the status of a great power.

Occupying a high position, Thatcher spoke negatively about the principles of the behavior of the Soviet Union, accusing the Russians of wanting to dominate the world, taking into account the cost of arming their country.

Margaret was one of those politicians who wanted to "destroy" the mighty Soviet Union. She helped me find someone who could do the job. They became, whom Thatcher experts described as a careless and ambitious person.

Even before Gorbachev's appointment Secretary General he was invited to the UK, arranging a "royal ball" there. Lady Premier different ways sought the location of Michael for selfish purposes.

After Thatcher provided undisguised support, placing a bet on him. When the Chairman of the Supreme Council was elected, the signing of a declaration on the sovereignty of Russia took place almost immediately.

Resignation

Thatcher made a significant contribution to the history of the country, holding the post of Prime Minister, but at the same time she had a low level of trust and support of the British. However, Thatcher did not care much about ratings and popular polls. The "Iron Lady" also ignored the positions and opinions of her party colleagues.

This approach to people led to disagreements in the team, which subsequently wished to oust Margaret from her position. And in 1990, the majestic lady was forced to retire. Came in her place new person- John Major.

Two more years after the resignation of Thatcher was a member of the House, but after that she decided to leave Parliament altogether. She was then 66 years old.

A woman with a big name found herself in writing, published several books, memoirs, but it was difficult to call her a calm pensioner. Margaret never hid her beliefs, continued to criticize the authorities, the government and accuse some politicians of inaction.

Personal life

Margaret married in 1951. Marriage with Denis Thatcher was considered prudent by acquaintances, because the businessman helped her in promoting her career as a politician. But, despite the envious statements of people, the couple lived a long family life, raising two children in marriage - Mark and Carol.

Denis understood the costs of the profession and remained a good friend and faithful husband to Margaret. In 2003, the woman buried her husband, after which her health deteriorated.

Death

In 2012, the former leader of the Conservative Party faced a serious illness, underwent surgery, her health deteriorated every day. Margaret periodically visited a psychiatrist, because. Before her death, she suffered from hallucinations and insanity.

On April 8, 2013, the great political personality died. She was buried next to her husband in a cemetery in the city of Chelsea.

1. In 1992, Margaret Thatcher was honored with the title of baroness, granted to her by the Queen of Great Britain.
2. Margaret's style of government is marked in history as a period of "Thatcherism".
3. Released in 2009 Feature Film"Margaret" about the life of a famous politician, and in 2011 - "The Iron Lady", which won the "Oscar".
4. Margaret was inspired to pursue a political career by the book The Road to Slavery by the writer Friedrich von Hayek.
5. In 2007, Thatcher installed a monument (bronze sculpture) in the British Parliament.

Quotes

"Everything in my life I owe to my father, and this is extremely interesting, because the things that I learned in a small town, in a very modest family - these are the very things that, I think, helped me win the election."

"The European Union cannot in principle be a 'democratic' structure: attempts to achieve this illusory goal actually lead to further infringement of poor countries..."

"It doesn't matter how much my ministers talk, as long as they do what I say."

"Europe was made by history. America by philosophy."

"If you want to discuss something - go to a man, if you really want to do something - go to a woman."

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher(English) Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher; nee Roberts; October 13, 1925, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England - April 8, 2013, London, England) - 71st Prime Minister of Great Britain (Conservative Party of Great Britain) in 1979-1990, Baroness since 1992. The first and so far the only woman to hold this post, as well as the first woman to become the prime minister of a European state. Thatcher's premiership was the longest in the 20th century. Nicknamed the "iron lady" for her sharp criticism of the Soviet leadership, she implemented a series of conservative measures that became part of the policy of the so-called "Thatcherism".

Educated as a chemist, she became a lawyer, and in 1959 was elected Member of Parliament for Finchley. In 1970 she was appointed Minister of Education and Science in the Conservative government of Edward Heath. In 1975, Thatcher defeated Heath in the election of the new head of the Conservative Party and became the head of the parliamentary opposition, as well as the first woman to lead one of the main parties in Britain. After the victory of the Conservative Party in the 1979 general election, Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.

As head of government, Thatcher introduced political and economic reforms to reverse what she saw as the country's decline. Its political philosophy and economic policy were based on the deregulation of the financial system in particular, the provision of a flexible labor market, the privatization of state-owned companies and the reduction of the influence of trade unions. Thatcher's high popularity during the early years of her reign waned due to recession and high unemployment, but increased again during the 1982 Falklands War and economic growth, which led to her re-election in 1983.

Thatcher was re-elected for a third time in 1987, but the proposed poll tax and views on Britain's role in the European Union were unpopular with members of her government. After Michael Heseltine challenged her leadership of the party, Thatcher was forced to resign as head of the party and prime minister.

Thatcher is a life member of the House of Lords.

Early life and education

The house in Grantham, where M. Thatcher was born.

Memorial plaque on the house where M. Thatcher was born

Margaret Roberts was born October 13, 1925. Father - Alfred Roberts is from Northamptonshire, mother - Beatrice Itel (nee Stephenson) is from Lincolnshire. She spent her childhood in the city of Grantham, where her father owned two grocers. Together with her older sister, Muriel was raised in an apartment above one of her father's grocers, located near railway. Margaret's father was actively involved in local politics and the life of the religious community, being a member of the municipal council and a Methodist pastor. For this reason, his daughters were brought up by him in strict Methodist traditions. Alfred himself was born into a family of liberal views, however, as was then customary in local governments, he was non-partisan. Between 1945 and 1946 he was mayor of Grantham, and in 1952, after a convincing victory of the Labor Party in municipal elections 1950, which resulted in the party gaining a majority on Grantham Council for the first time, ceased to be an alderman.

Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School, then received a scholarship to study at the Kesteven and Grantham School for Girls. Margaret's academic records show diligence and permanent job students on self-improvement. She took extracurricular classes in piano, field hockey, swimming and race walking, and poetry classes. In 1942-1943 she was a senior student. In her senior year at university preparatory school, she applied for a scholarship to study chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford University. Although initially refused, after the refusal of another applicant, Margaret still managed to get a scholarship. In 1943 she came to Oxford and in 1947 after four years studying chemistry received a diploma of the second degree, becoming a bachelor natural sciences. In her senior year, she worked in X-ray diffraction analysis under Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin.

In 1946, Roberts became chairman of the Oxford University Conservative Party Association. The greatest influence on her Political Views while studying at the university, she had the work of Friedrich von Hayek "The Road to Slavery" (1944), in which government intervention in the country's economy was seen as a forerunner of an authoritarian state.

After graduation, Roberts moved to Colchester in the English county of Essex, where she worked as a research chemist for the company BX Plastics. At the same time, she joined the local association of the Conservative Party and took part in the party conference in Llandudno in 1948 as a representative of the Conservative Alumni Association of the University. One of Margaret's Oxford friends was also a friend of the chairman of the Dartford Conservative Party Association in Kent, which was looking for candidates for the election. The chairmen of the association were so impressed with Margaret that they persuaded her to take part in the elections, although she herself was not included in the approved list of candidates from the Conservative Party: Margaret was elected a candidate only in January 1951 and included in the electoral list. At a celebratory dinner organized after her official confirmation as a Conservative Party candidate in Dartford in February 1951, Roberts met the successful and wealthy divorced businessman Denis Thatcher. In preparation for the election, she moved to Dartford, where she took a job as a research chemist with J. Lyons and Co. developing emulsifiers for use in ice cream.

The beginning of a political career

In the general elections of February 1950 and October 1951, Roberts took part in the elections for the Dartford constituency, where Labor traditionally won. As the youngest candidate and the only woman to run, she attracted the attention of the press. Despite losing on both occasions to Norman Dodds, Margaret managed to reduce Labor's support among the electorate, first by 6,000 votes and then by another 1,000 votes. During the election campaign, she was supported by her parents, as well as Denis Thatcher, whom she married in December 1951. Denis also helped his wife become a member of the bar association; in 1953 she became a barrister with a specialization in taxation.

In the same year, twins were born in the family - daughter Carol and son Mark.

Member of parliament

In the mid-1950s, Thatcher resumed her struggle for a seat in Parliament. In 1955, she failed to become a Conservative Party candidate in the Orpington constituency, but in April 1958 she became a candidate in the Finchley constituency. In the 1959 elections, Thatcher, during a difficult election campaign, nevertheless won, becoming a member of the House of Commons. In her first speech as a parliamentarian, she spoke in support of the Law on government bodies, demanding from local councils the publicity of their meetings, and in 1961 refused to support official position the Conservative Party, having voted for the restoration of the punishment of flogging.

In October 1961, Thatcher was nominated to the position of Parliamentary Deputy Minister of Pensions and Public social insurance in the office of Harold Macmillan. After the defeat of the Conservative Party in the 1964 parliamentary elections, she became the party's spokesperson for housing and land ownership, defending the right of tenants to buy council housing. In 1966, Thatcher became a member of the Treasury's shadow team and, as a delegate, opposed Labor's proposed mandatory price and income controls, arguing that it would backfire and destroy the country's economy.

At the 1966 Conservative Party Conference, she criticized the high taxation policy pursued by the Labor government. In her opinion, it was "not just a step towards socialism, but a step towards communism". Thatcher stressed the need to keep taxes low as an incentive to work hard. She was also one of the few members of the House of Commons who supported the decriminalization of homosexuals and voted for the legalization of abortion and the ban on hunting a hare with greyhounds "by sight".

In addition, Thatcher supported the retention of the death penalty and voted against the weakening of the law on the procedure for dissolution of marriage.

In 1967, she was selected by the US Embassy in London to participate in the International Visitors Program, which gave Thatcher the unique opportunity to visit cities in the United States for six weeks on a professional exchange program, meet with various political figures and visit such international organizations like the IMF. A year later, Margaret became a member of the Shadow Cabinet of the official opposition, overseeing issues related to the fuel sector. Shortly before the 1970 general election, she was involved in transportation and then education.

Minister of Education and Science (1970-1974)

From 1970-1974, Margaret Thatcher was Minister of Education and Science in the cabinet of Edward Heath.

The 1970 parliamentary elections were won by the Conservative Party under the leadership of Edward Heath. In the new government, Thatcher was appointed Minister of Education and Science. In her first months in office, Margaret gained public attention for her attempt to cut costs in this area. She prioritized academic needs in schools and lowered spending on state system education, as a result of which the free distribution of milk to schoolchildren between the ages of seven and eleven was abolished. At the same time, one-third of a pint of milk was given to younger children. Thatcher's policies caused a flurry of criticism from the Labor Party and the media, who called Margaret "Margaret Thatcher, Milk Snatcher"(translated from in English - "Margaret Thatcher, the milk thief"). In her autobiography, Thatcher subsequently wrote: “I learned a valuable lesson. Incurred the maximum political hatred for the minimum political benefit..

The period of Thatcher's tenure as Minister of Education and Science was also marked by proposals for a more active closure of literacy schools by local education authorities and the introduction of a unified secondary education. Overall, despite Margaret's intention to keep the literacy schools, the proportion of students attending integrated secondary schools rose from 32 percent to 62 percent.

Leader of the Opposition (1975-1979)

Margaret Thatcher (1975)

After a series of difficulties faced by the Heath government during 1973 (oil crisis, union demands for higher wages), the Conservative Party was defeated by Labor in the February 1974 parliamentary elections. In the next general election, held in October 1974, the result of the conservatives was even worse. Against the background of declining support for the party among the population, Thatcher entered the struggle for the post of chairman of the Conservative Party. Promising party reforms, she enlisted the support of the so-called 1922 Committee of the Conservative members of Parliament. In 1975, in the election of party chairman, Thatcher defeated Heath in the first round of voting, who was forced to resign. In the second round, she defeated William Whitelaw, who was considered the most preferred successor to Heath, and already on February 11, 1975, she officially became the chairman of the Conservative Party, appointing Whitelaw as her deputy.

After her election, Thatcher began to regularly attend formal dinners at the Institute for Economic Relations, a think tank founded by tycoon Anthony Fischer, a student of Friedrich von Hayek. Participation in these meetings significantly influenced her views, now formed under the influence of the ideas of Ralph Harris and Arthur Seldon. As a result, Thatcher became the face of an ideological movement opposed to the idea of ​​a welfare state. The institute's pamphlets offered the following recipe for the recovery of the British economy: less government intervention in the economy, lower taxes and more freedom for businesses and consumers.

The Russians are set on world domination, and they are rapidly acquiring the means necessary to become the most powerful imperial state the world has ever seen. The men in the Soviet Politburo don't have to worry about quick shifts. public opinion. They chose guns over butter, while for us almost everything else is more important than guns.

In response, the newspaper of the USSR Ministry of Defense "Red Star" called Thatcher "iron lady". Soon the translation of this nickname in the English newspaper "The Sunday Times" as "The Iron Lady" firmly entrenched in Margaret.

Despite the recovery of the British economy in the late 1970s, the Labor government was faced with the problem of public anxiety about the future course of the country, as well as a series of strikes in the winter of 1978-1979 (this page in British history became known as the "Winter of Dissent"). The Conservatives, in turn, staged regular attacks on Labor, primarily blaming them for record unemployment. After the government of James Callaghan received a vote of no confidence in early 1979, snap parliamentary elections were announced in the UK.

The Conservatives built their campaign promises around economic issues arguing the need for privatization and liberal reforms. They promised to fight inflation and work to weaken the unions, since the strikes they organized caused significant damage to the economy.

Domestic politics

According to the results of the elections on May 3, 1979, the Conservatives confidently won, receiving 43.9% of the vote and 339 seats in the House of Commons (Labor received 36.9% of the vote and 269 seats in the House of Commons), and on May 4, Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister Great Britain. In this position, Thatcher launched a vigorous effort to reform the British economy and society as a whole.

In the parliamentary elections of 1983, the Thatcher-led Conservatives received the support of 42.43% of the voters, while the Labor Party received only 27.57% of the vote. This was also facilitated by the crisis in the Labor Party, which proposed a further increase in public spending, the restoration of the public sector in the previous volume and an increase in taxes for the rich. In addition, a split occurred in the party, and an influential part of the Laborites (“gang of four”) founded the Social Democratic Party, which came out in these elections together with the Liberal Party. Finally, factors such as the aggressiveness of neo-liberal ideology, populism of Thatcherism, radicalization of trade unions, as well as the Falklands War, played against the Laborites.

In the 1987 parliamentary elections, the Conservatives again won, receiving 42.3% of the vote against 30.83% for the Laborites. This was due to the fact that Thatcher, thanks to her tough and unpopular measures in the economy and the social sphere, managed to achieve stable economic growth. Foreign investments that began to actively flow into the UK contributed to the modernization of production and an increase in the competitiveness of manufactured products. At the same time, the Thatcher government managed to keep inflation at a very low level for a long time. In addition, by the end of the 1980s, thanks to the measures taken, the unemployment rate was significantly reduced.

Particular attention from the media was paid to the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Queen, with whom meetings were held weekly to discuss current political issues. In July 1986, a British newspaper Sunday Times published an article in which the author claimed that there was a disagreement between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on "a wide range of issues relating to domestic and foreign policy".

In response to this article, the Queen's representatives issued an official denial, rejecting any possibility constitutional crisis in Britain. After Thatcher's departure from the post of prime minister, the entourage of Elizabeth II continued to call "nonsense" any allegations that the queen and the prime minister were in conflict with each other. Subsequently, the former prime minister wrote: “I have always considered the attitude of the Queen to the work of the Government to be absolutely correct ... stories about the contradictions between“ two powerful women“were too good not to invent them”.

Economics and taxation

The ideas of monetarism and the work of such economists as Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek had a significant impact on Thatcher's economic policy. Together with Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe, Thatcher pursued a policy aimed at reducing direct taxes on income and raising indirect taxes, including value added tax. In order to reduce inflation and money supply, the discount rate was increased. In turn, extremely unpopular measures were taken to combat the budget deficit: subsidies were cut to the remaining state enterprises, reduced assistance to depressed regions, reduced spending on social sphere(education and housing and communal services). Cutting costs for higher education led to the fact that Thatcher became the first post-war Prime Minister of Great Britain who graduated from Oxford University, who did not receive the status of an honorary doctorate from the university (not only students opposed this, but the governing council voted). The urban technology colleges she created were not very successful. To control education spending by opening and closing schools, the Consolidated Schools Agency was established, which the Social Market Fund said used "unusually dictatorial powers".

Some members of the Conservative Party from the supporters of Edward Heath, who were members of the Cabinet, did not share Thatcher's policy. After the British riots of 1981 in British media openly spoke about the need for fundamental changes in the economic course of the country. However, at the 1980 Conservative Party Conference, Thatcher openly stated: “Turn around if you want. Lady doesn't turn!"

In December 1980, Thatcher's approval rating dropped to 23%, the lowest ever for a British prime minister. After the worsening of the situation in the economy and the deepening of the recession in the early 1980s, Thatcher, despite the worries of leading economists, raised taxes.

By 1982, there were positive developments in the UK economy, indicating its recovery - the inflation rate fell from 18% to 8.6%. Nevertheless, for the first time since the 1930s, the number of unemployed was over 3 million people. By 1983, economic growth accelerated, and inflation and mortgage lending rates were at their lowest levels since 1970. Despite this, the volume of production compared with 1970 fell by 30%, and the number of unemployed reached its peak in 1984 - 3.3 million people.

By 1987, the country's unemployment rate had fallen, the economy had stabilized, and inflation was relatively low. An important role in supporting the UK economy was played by the revenues from the 90% tax on North Sea oil, which were also actively used to implement reforms during the 1980s.

According to public opinion polls, the Conservative Party enjoyed the greatest support among the population, and the successful results of local council elections for the Conservatives prompted Thatcher to call parliamentary elections for June 11, although the deadline for holding them was only 12 months later. According to the election results, Margaret retained the post of British Prime Minister for a third term.

During her third premier term, Thatcher introduced a reform of taxation, the proceeds of which went to the budgets of local governments: instead of a tax based on the nominal rental value of a house, the so-called “communal tax” (poll tax) was introduced, which at the same rate was supposed to pay each adult resident of the house.

In 1989 this type of tax was introduced in Scotland, and in 1990 in England and Wales. The reform of the taxation system became one of the most unpopular measures during Thatcher's premiership. On March 31, 1990, public discontent resulted in large demonstrations in London, in which about 70,000 people took part. Demonstrations on trafalgar square, eventually turned into riots, during which 113 people were injured and 340 people were arrested. Extreme popular dissatisfaction with the tax led Thatcher's successor, John Major, to cancel it.

Foreign policy

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, Camp David, 1986

In foreign policy, Thatcher was guided by the United States and supported the initiatives of Ronald Reagan in relation to the USSR, to which both politicians treated with distrust. During her first term as prime minister, she came out in support of NATO's decision to deploy to Western Europe BGM-109G ground-launched missiles and Pershing-1A short-range missiles, and also allowed the US military, starting November 14, 1983, to deploy more than 160 cruise missiles at the US Air Force Base Greenham Common, located in the English Berkshire, which caused massive protests from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. In addition, Great Britain under Thatcher bought more than £12 billion (in 1996-1997 prices) of Trident missiles to be installed on its SSBNs, which were supposed to replace the Polaris missiles. As a result, the country's nuclear forces have tripled.

Thus, in matters of defense, the British government relied entirely on the United States. In January 1986, the Westland Affair received significant publicity. Thatcher went out of her way to ensure that Westland, the national helicopter manufacturer, refused a merger offer from the Italian company Agusta in favor of an offer from the American company Sikorsky Aircraft. Subsequently, British Secretary of State for Defense Michael Heseltine, who supported the Agusta deal, resigned.

On April 2, 1982, Argentine troops, on the orders of the ruling military junta, landed on the British Falkland Islands, provoking the start of the Falklands War. The onset of the crisis, as history has shown, has become key event during the premiership. At the suggestion of Harold Macmillan and Robert Armstrong, Thatcher became the founder and chairman of the War Cabinet, which by 5-6 April tasked the British Navy with regaining control of the islands.

On June 14, the Argentine military surrendered, and the military operation ended in success for the British side, although 255 British soldiers and 3 residents of the Falkland Islands were killed during the conflict. The Argentine side lost 649 people (of which 323 people died as a result of the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano by the British nuclear submarine). During the conflict, Thatcher was criticized for neglecting the defense of the Falkland Islands, as well as for the decision to sink the General Belgrano.

Nevertheless, Thatcher was able to use all military and diplomatic options to restore British sovereignty over the islands. This policy was welcomed by the British, which markedly strengthened the faltering position of the Conservatives and Thatcher's leadership in the party before the 1983 parliamentary elections. Thanks to the "Falklands factor", the economic recovery of early 1982 and the divisions among the Labor Party, the Conservative Party, led by Thatcher, managed to win the election.

Thatcher, unlike many conservatives, was cool about the idea of ​​further deepening European integration. In 1988, in a speech in Bruges, she opposed the initiatives of the EEC to increase the centralization of decision-making and the creation of federal structures. Although in general Thatcher advocated the membership of Great Britain in the integration association, she believed that the role of the organization should be limited to issues of ensuring free trade and effective competition. Despite the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson and Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe,

Margaret strongly opposed the country's participation in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the predecessor of the European Monetary Union, believing that this would impose restrictions on the British economy. However, John Major managed to convince Thatcher, and in October 1990 the UK became a member of the mechanism.

The role of the British Commonwealth has diminished under Thatcher. Thatcher's disappointment in this organization was explained by the increased, from her point of view, interest of the Commonwealth in resolving the situation in southern Africa on terms that did not meet the requirements of the British conservatives. Thatcher saw the Commonwealth only as a useful structure for negotiations of little value.

Thatcher was one of the first Western politicians to positively assess the reformist sentiments of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Back in November 1988 - a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Eastern European socialist regimes - she announced the end of the Cold War openly for the first time: "Now we are not in a cold war", as "the new relationship is broader than ever". In 1985, Thatcher visited the Soviet Union and met with Mikhail Gorbachev and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Nikolai Ryzhkov. Initially, she opposed the possible unification of Germany. According to her, this “will lead to a change in post-war borders, and we cannot allow this, since such a development of events will call into question the stability of the entire international situation and may threaten our security”. In addition, Thatcher feared that a united Germany would cooperate more with the USSR, relegating NATO to the background. At the same time, the Prime Minister spoke out in support of the independence of Croatia and Slovenia.

Resignation

Thatcher in 1990

During the election of the chairman of the Conservative Party, held in 1989, Thatcher's rival was a little-known member of the House of Commons, Anthony Mayer. Of the 374 members of parliament who were members of the Conservative Party and had the right to vote, 314 people voted for Thatcher, while 33 people voted for Mayer. Her party supporters considered the result a success and dismissed any claims that there were divisions within the party.

During her premiership, Thatcher had the second lowest average level of support among the population (about 40%) of all post-war Prime Ministers of Great Britain. Opinion polls indicated that her popularity was below that of the Conservative Party. However, the self-confident Thatcher always insisted that she had little interest in various ratings, pointing to record support during the parliamentary elections.

According to public opinion polls conducted in September 1990, Labor's rating was 14% higher than that of the Conservatives, and by November the Conservatives were already 18% behind Labor. The above ratings, as well as Thatcher's militant personality and her disregard for the opinions of her colleagues, have become a cause of controversy within the Conservative Party. As a result, it was the party that was the first to get rid of Margaret Thatcher.

On November 1, 1990, Geoffrey Howe, the last of the first Thatcher Cabinet in 1979, left the post of Deputy Prime Minister after Thatcher refused to agree on a timetable for Britain to join the European single currency.

The next day, Michael Heseltine announced his desire to lead the Conservative Party. According to public opinion polls, it was his personality that could help the Conservatives overtake Labor. Although Thatcher managed to take first place in the first round of voting, Heseltine secured enough votes (152 votes) for a second round. Margaret initially intended to continue the fight to a victorious end in the second round, but after consultation with the Cabinet, she decided to withdraw from the election. After an audience with the Queen and her final speech in the House of Commons, Thatcher resigned as prime minister. She considered her removal from office a betrayal.

The post of Prime Minister of Great Britain and chairman of the Conservative Party passed to John Major, at the head of which the Conservative Party managed to win the 1992 parliamentary elections.

After resignation

After leaving the premiership, Thatcher was a member of the House of Commons for Finchley for two years. In 1992, at the age of 66, she decided to leave the British Parliament, which, in her opinion, gave her the opportunity to more openly express her opinion on certain events.

After leaving the House of Commons

After leaving the House of Commons, Thatcher became the first former British Prime Minister to establish a foundation. It was closed in 2005 due to financial difficulties. Thatcher wrote two volumes of memoirs: "The Downing Street Years"(1993) and "The Path to Power" (1995).

In July 1992, Margaret was hired by a tobacco company "Philip Morris" as "geopolitical consultant" with an official salary of $250,000 and an annual contribution of $250,000 to her foundation. In addition, for each public performance, she received $50,000.

In August 1992, Thatcher called on NATO to stop the Serb massacres in the Bosnian cities of Gorazde and Sarajevo, putting an end to the ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian War period. She compared the situation in Bosnia to "the worst extremes of the Nazis", stating that the situation in the region could become a new Holocaust. Thatcher also spoke in the House of Lords with criticism of the Maastricht Treaty, which, according to her, "she would never sign".

Against the backdrop of growing interest in Western oil companies in the energy resources of the Caspian Sea in September 1992, Thatcher visited Baku, where she took part in the signing of an agreement on the appraisal development of the Chirag and Shah Deniz fields between the Government of Azerbaijan and British British Petroleum and Norwegian Statoil.

Thatcher with Gorbachev (left) and Mulroney (center) at Reagan's funeral

In the period from 1993 to 2000, Thatcher was the honorary rector of the College of William and Mary in the US state of Virginia, and from 1992 to 1999 - the honorary rector of the University of Buckingham (the first private university in the UK, established by her in 1975).

After the election of Tony Blair as Chairman of the Labor Party in 1994, Thatcher called him "the most dangerous Labor leader since Hugh Gaitskell".

In 1998, after the arrest by Spanish authorities of the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was to stand trial for massive violations of human rights, Thatcher called for his release, citing his support for Britain during the Falklands conflict. In 1999, she visited a former politician who was under house arrest in a suburb of London. Pinochet was released by decision of Home Secretary Jack Strow in March 2000 for medical reasons.

During the 2001 parliamentary elections, Thatcher supported the Conservatives, although she did not approve the candidacy of Ian Duncan Smith for the post of leader of the Conservative Party, as was the case with John Major and William Hague. Nevertheless, immediately after the election, she favored Duncan Smith over Kenneth Clark.

In March 2002, Thatcher published a book "The Art of Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World", which she dedicated to Ronald Reagan (the book was also published in Russian). In it, Margaret expressed her position on a number of international political events and processes. She argued that there would be no peace in the Middle East until Saddam Hussein was overthrown; wrote about the need for Israel to sacrifice territory in exchange for peace, utopianism European Union. In her opinion, Britain needs to reconsider the terms of its membership in the EU or even leave the integration entity by joining NAFTA.

After 2002

On June 11, 2004, Thatcher attended the funeral of Ronald Reagan. Due to health problems, a video recording of her funeral speech was made in advance. Then Thatcher, along with Reagan's entourage, went to California, where she attended a memorial service and burial ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Thatcher at a memorial service in honor of the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Right - Dick Cheney and his wife

Margaret celebrated her 80th birthday on October 13, 2005 at a London hotel. Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Among the guests were Elizabeth II, Duke of Edinburgh, Alexandra of Kent and Tony Blair. Geoffrey Howe, who also attended the celebrations, stated that "her real triumph transformed not only one but both parties, so when Labor returned to power, much of the principles of Thatcherism were taken for granted".

In 2006, Thatcher, as a guest of Dick Cheney, attended an official memorial service in Washington to commemorate the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. During the visit, Margaret met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In February 2007, Thatcher became the first British Prime Minister to have a monument erected in the British Parliament during his lifetime (the official opening took place on February 21, 2007 in the presence of a former politician). A bronze statue with an outstretched right arm is located opposite the statue of Thatcher's political idol - Winston Churchill. Thatcher gave a short speech in the House of Commons, declaring that “I would rather have an iron statue, but bronze will do too ... It will not rust”.

At the end of November 2009, Thatcher briefly returned to 10 Downing Street to present her official portrait to the public by artist Richard Stone (who also painted portraits of Elizabeth II and her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon). This event was a manifestation of special respect for the former prime minister, who was still alive.

In 2002, Thatcher experienced several minor strokes, after which the doctor advised her to refuse to participate in public events and move away from public and political activity. After collapsing during a dinner in the House of Commons on 7 March 2008, she was taken to St Thomas' Hospital in central London. In June 2009, she was hospitalized due to a broken arm. Until the end of her life she suffered from dementia (senile dementia).

At the 2010 Conservative Party Conference, the country's new prime minister, David Cameron, announced that he would once again invite Thatcher to 10 Downing Street on the occasion of her 85th birthday, which would be marked by celebrations with the participation of former and current ministers. However, Margaret ruled out any celebrations, citing the flu.

April 29, 2011 Thatcher was invited to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, but did not attend the ceremony due to poor health.

Margaret Thatcher passed away on April 8, 2013 at the age of 87. The cause of death was a stroke (according to other sources - a heart attack).

Heritage

For Thatcher's supporters, she remains a political figure who was able to restore the British economy, deal a significant blow to trade unions and restore Britain's image as a world power. During her premiership, the number of British residents who owned shares increased from 7 to 25%; more than a million families have purchased houses formerly owned by municipal councils, increasing the number of homeowners from 55% to 67%. Overall personal wealth increased by 80%. Victory in the Falklands War and a close alliance with the United States are also considered one of her most important achievements.

At the same time, Thatcher's premiership was marked by high unemployment and regular strikes. In the issue of unemployment, most critics blame her economic policy, which was heavily influenced by the ideas of monetarism]. This problem, in turn, has led to the spread of drug addiction and family divorce. Speaking in Scotland in April 2009, on the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of her election as prime minister, Thatcher insisted that she had no regrets about her actions during the premiership, including the issue of imposing a poll tax and refusing subsidies. "an outdated industry whose markets were in decline".

Thatcher's premiership was the longest in the 20th century since Salisbury (1885, 1886-1892 and 1895-1902) and the longest continuous tenure since Lord Liverpool (1812-1827).

In response to Margaret Thatcher's criticism of the Soviet Union, the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper called her "the iron lady". The translation of this expression into English sounded like "iron lady". Since then, this nickname has been firmly entrenched in the prime minister.

Grocer's daughter

Margaret Hilda Roberts was indeed born into a small merchant family on October 13, 1925. Surprisingly hardworking, already at school, Margaret received scholarships for diligence. It is not surprising that she studied at Oxford for free and graduated from this prestigious institution with honors, immediately receiving degree in chemistry. At the same time, Thatcher became interested in politics, dealing with the affairs of the then unfashionable Conservative Party.

Subsequently, Margaret will say that she owes her professional and personal qualities to the family, especially to her father. He not only worked in a shop, but also was an assistant to the mayor, a member of the city council. “From childhood, we were instilled with a sense of duty in relation to the family, to the church, to the neighbors. It gave me a vital basis,” said Margaret.

Businessman's wife, mother of twins and... politician

At 26 (in 1951), Margaret married wealthy businessman Denis Thatcher and quickly gave birth to twins: Mark and Carol. However, his academic career was replaced by a passion for politics. Later, Margaret Thatcher will emphasize that it was just a hobby, and not a desire to advance, no matter what.

Although, perhaps, it was precisely the fact that politics was originally a hobby for her, to which she gave herself with all her passion, and became the basis of her fantastic success.

Taking care of family and children, Margaret simultaneously received another education - law. She liked to emphasize that the fact that her husband Denis was a wealthy man helped her in this, thanks to which she could calmly study to be a lawyer without thinking about earning.

The only female prime minister

In 1959, 34-year-old Thatcher became a member of the House of Commons from the Conservative Party in London and for the next twenty years moved up the party ladder, holding a number of high positions. In 1979, she decides to challenge fellow Conservative Edward Heath, who led the party. And takes his place. And when the Conservatives win the general parliamentary election, Thatcher almost automatically becomes Prime Minister. First and so far the only woman in the history of the UK holding this post. Yes, and her premiership was truly a record: for almost 12 years, Margaret Thatcher, the “elected dictator,” as she was once called, remains in this post, entering the political history of not only Great Britain, but the whole world.

Frankly speaking, Mrs. Thatcher got a troublesome, by European standards, ruined economy. Inflation was over 20%, which was simply indecent for a respectable country.

By the way, at one time (in the early 90s) Russia found itself in the same situation. At the same time, proposals were heard, though not entirely serious - to invite Lady Thatcher to run our government. Too bad it's not serious.

Iron hand in a lace glove

Thatcher, as we would say, "a convinced marketer." She denationalized several major industries, reduced social spending, which, in her opinion, simply produced idlers, curtailed the rights of trade unions - in a word, she carried out everything that was called “Thatcherism” and “anti-people policy of the Tories” in the USSR. After that, inflation fell to an acceptable 4-5% per year (what we can now dream of), unemployment ceased to be a national problem, and the economy firmly embarked on tracks, if not rapid, then steady growth.

With England again began to be considered. M. Thatcher's diplomatic gift was fully manifested when, in 1986-87, by implementing a "shuttle" policy between the USA and the USSR, or, better, between Reagan and Gorbachev, she made the reconciliation of the irreconcilable real.

Reasons for Thatcher's success

It is difficult to say what a woman's success in politics is. Maybe it's the ability to play male games. But after that, who will say that politics is not a woman's business?! Among the secrets of Margaret Thatcher's success, one can probably name the following:

Unusual political instinct and great will - she clearly knew what she wanted, saw the prospect and went to the desired goal without turning off.

Margaret was able to make frankly unpopular decisions and calmly listen to reproaches.

She was invariably firm in carrying out the decisions she made, and in times of crisis she knew how to rally like-minded people around her.

She deftly answered tricky questions in the way she needed, conveying to the listener only what she wanted to say, and not what they were eager to hear from her.

In her own family, where, besides Margaret, Muriel's sister grew up, there were strict rules - the girls were instilled with clear concepts of honesty, decency and other positive qualities. Thatcher brought them into her politics.

Margaret has a wonderful rear behind her - good family, a caring husband, well-mannered children who did not give her trouble with some inappropriate antics.

Well, undoubtedly one of the important success factors is that Margaret Thatcher is just a beautiful woman.

Professional workaholic

Margaret often said: "I was born to work." Among the reasons for her success, Thatcher herself cites good natural health, belief in human rights and the belief that management must be skillful. Not particularly embarrassed, she says that she is well versed in people - as soon as she sees a person, she already knows who is in front of her, and she is never mistaken. Irreconcilable was in relation to corruption. Margaret Thatcher is practically the only major political leader, addressed to which never there was not a single accusation of dishonesty.

Now the 86-year-old lady is rarely in public (age and illness make themselves felt), but her every appearance is an event. Margaret lists walking and attending classical music concerts and festivals as her favorite pastimes.

Margaret Thatcher did not like the film "Iron Lady", but she appreciated the game of Meryl Streep (pictured)

... By the way, Thatcher herself did not like the film "Iron Lady" that was released on the screens in principle - "an unnecessary undertaking." But about the brilliant game of Meryl Streep (the Hollywood star played the role of the Prime Minister), she responded with praise. As always, carefully, politely, but frankly.

The mechanism for taking office as prime minister in England is very peculiar. By morning, when the results of the elections become known, the sleepy, exhausted winner comes to the residence of the monarch and, on bended knee, informs Her Majesty about the fait accompli. And the reigning person has no choice but to offer the winner to accept the post of prime minister and form a government. As a rule, this offer is not refused.

For all her firmness, with regard to unprincipled details, Margaret Thatcher is capable of an active compromise. Although, as she says, this is her least favorite word. Listening to the advice of image makers, Margaret somewhat softened the intonation of her statements, changed her hairstyle, began to wear more feminine suits (she rarely wears dresses at all), shorter skirts and wear jewelry more often. And on this change of image, she achieved incredible success! From a tough parliamentary fighter, she turned into a kind of "mother of the nation", the second queen.

Thatcher has few jewels and most of them are her husband's gifts for family holidays. Margaret's favorite jewelry is natural pearls. “Pearl earrings light up the face in a special way,” she says. Her favorite color is turquoise, but she rarely wears it, preferring navy blue and gray, preferring natural wool and silk.

Margaret is the second wife of Denis Thatcher. His first wife was also named Margaret. The fact that she is the second Margaret Thatcher seemed to never bother the head of the British government, but she did not like to talk about it.

With the retirement of the "grocer's daughter" it was planned to bestow a noble rank and title. At first they thought that she would be made the Countess of Grantham - after the name of the place where she was born. However, Margaret Thatcher was granted the title of Baroness Kestvin. By the way, her pension is 17.5 thousand pounds a year.