The Iron Lady’s Rise to Power
Margaret Thatcher was a force to be reckoned with. Born Margaret Hilda Roberts in Grantham, England in 1925, she went on to become the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom. Her career was nothing short of impressive; an Oxford-educated lawyer and chemist, Thatcher quickly rose through the ranks within the Conservative Party.
In 1950, she ran for Parliament in Dartford and later became a mother of twins after marrying businessman Denis Thatcher. In 1959, Thatcher was elected as a Conservative for Finchley, a north London district. During the decade of 1960s, she joined the shadow cabinet sitting in opposition to Harold Wilson’s ruling Labor cabinet.
With Edward Heath’s victory in 1970 elections under Conservative Party banner,Thatcher became secretary of state for education and science before becoming Britain’s prime minister for almost twelve years between 1979 and1990.
The Iron Lady Moniker
Thatcher earned her nickname “the Iron Lady” because she believed that being strong is essential when it comes to leadership. She moved economic policy significantly towards right-wing policies during her tenure as Prime Minister which helped set international trends during the1980s.
Her policies included cutting direct taxes while controlling public expenditure growth aiming at reducing national income spent by state sector thus making Britain more attractive destination for foreign investment in Europe.However not everything went according to plan – unemployment rates rose sharply during her first government reaching over three million people by1981 which did not begin falling until halfway through her term.
Falklands War Victory
Thatcher might have lost reelection had it not been for Falklands War (March-June1982), where Argentine invasion dramatically shifted U.K.’s national mood.She played an important part creating new era détente with Soviets dealing Mikhail Gorbachev.Her relationshipSponsored Product with President Ronald Reagan placed her at center resolution Cold War issues.
Terrorist Attack
Thatcher’s premiership was not without its challenges. In 1984, a terrorist bombing at Conservative Party conference in Brighton nearly killed her and several senior members of the government.
Political Differences
As Thatcher’s premiership progressed, personal and political differences within leadership proved fatal to her career.In November1990, Michael Heseltine triggered a contest following resignation of Sir Geoffrey Howe over European policy.Thatcher won majority vote but under party rules it was insufficient to avoid second ballot. Faced with possibility of defeat and discovering she lacked full-hearted support from cabinet colleagues,Thatcher resigned as party leader and prime minister.
Legacy
Thatcher remained in Parliament until 1992 before entering largely ceremonial House of Lords in retirement.She wrote successful memoirs including “The Downing Street Years”and campaigned energetically on behalf Margaret Thatcher Foundation which aimed at promoting education about free societies that promote individual liberty, limited government, rule of law,and strong national defense.
Margaret Thatcher passed away on April8th2013 after suffering stroke leaving behind legacy as one most influential leaders modern times.
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