Well, the Iron lady is no more. The very mention of Lady Thatcher's name brings about a level of conversation and debate that will never be seen again in this country.
She was reviled, hated, loved, hero worshipped, slanted, chastised moaned about yet admired immensely by World leaders she sat at the conference tables with, so what exactly did Maggie have and was she good for us or a disaster?
If you ask a Union member, she was the devil incarnate. She spawned the destruction of the likes of British Leyland and British Coal, she singularly and bloody mindedly took on the might of the Trade Unions and put them in their place, destroying their "strike first talk later" ability, however this all came at a price that some may say arguably began the disintegration of public companies like The Royal Mail, British Rail and British Coal as it was and even council services nationwide. She believed that competition was vital for a thriving economy, but her plan was flawed somewhat by her "one plan fits all" mentality.
The truth is towards the end of her term in office she became over confident and that has been the downfall of many world class leaders. She believed her game plan was the immaculate conception and the trouble with Maggie was that her word was law in the cabinet at that time, it was a measure of the woman that she led what is arguably one of the most experienced cabinets there has been since the days of Churchill, she was blessed with a fountain of experienced and at first very loyal ministers yet when they started to turn away from her one by one the outcome was always going to be inevitable.
Much of the far left in this Country will be unsurprisingly jumping for joy tonight at the loss of their Nemesis The Baroness Thatcher, but I for one have mixed emotions. first and foremost she was a Mother and a human being so her passing should first be a question of due dignity in death. Secondly, while she certainly put a free market in place that was to change the UK forever she was also instrumental in arranging a veto for the UK in Europe, something we have held on to in various guises since she was in power, she stood up for Britain against an ever expanding Eurozone and was defiant that a single monetary policy was pie in the sky, now that was the talk of a very switched on and very astute politician whatever your thoughts.
So, was she an Iron Lady?. I think the title was earned. This is in stark contrast to Tony Blair's "spin" and I know which one I would prefer, at least Thatcher gave it to you straight. I still hold Blair's handing over of No.10 to his sidekick as an act tantamount to treason as he then sold our Gold reserves for a pittance, that did far more damage to the UK economy in one underhanded fell swoop than the destruction of the coal fields or any amount of privatisation ever could.
Food for thought and food indeed for the ongoing debate that will carry on for years to come such was the controversy of this woman... but for sure she was a woman of her time and I think overall we would have been a lesser Nation without her ideas and influence.
She was reviled, hated, loved, hero worshipped, slanted, chastised moaned about yet admired immensely by World leaders she sat at the conference tables with, so what exactly did Maggie have and was she good for us or a disaster?
If you ask a Union member, she was the devil incarnate. She spawned the destruction of the likes of British Leyland and British Coal, she singularly and bloody mindedly took on the might of the Trade Unions and put them in their place, destroying their "strike first talk later" ability, however this all came at a price that some may say arguably began the disintegration of public companies like The Royal Mail, British Rail and British Coal as it was and even council services nationwide. She believed that competition was vital for a thriving economy, but her plan was flawed somewhat by her "one plan fits all" mentality.
The truth is towards the end of her term in office she became over confident and that has been the downfall of many world class leaders. She believed her game plan was the immaculate conception and the trouble with Maggie was that her word was law in the cabinet at that time, it was a measure of the woman that she led what is arguably one of the most experienced cabinets there has been since the days of Churchill, she was blessed with a fountain of experienced and at first very loyal ministers yet when they started to turn away from her one by one the outcome was always going to be inevitable.
Much of the far left in this Country will be unsurprisingly jumping for joy tonight at the loss of their Nemesis The Baroness Thatcher, but I for one have mixed emotions. first and foremost she was a Mother and a human being so her passing should first be a question of due dignity in death. Secondly, while she certainly put a free market in place that was to change the UK forever she was also instrumental in arranging a veto for the UK in Europe, something we have held on to in various guises since she was in power, she stood up for Britain against an ever expanding Eurozone and was defiant that a single monetary policy was pie in the sky, now that was the talk of a very switched on and very astute politician whatever your thoughts.
So, was she an Iron Lady?. I think the title was earned. This is in stark contrast to Tony Blair's "spin" and I know which one I would prefer, at least Thatcher gave it to you straight. I still hold Blair's handing over of No.10 to his sidekick as an act tantamount to treason as he then sold our Gold reserves for a pittance, that did far more damage to the UK economy in one underhanded fell swoop than the destruction of the coal fields or any amount of privatisation ever could.
Food for thought and food indeed for the ongoing debate that will carry on for years to come such was the controversy of this woman... but for sure she was a woman of her time and I think overall we would have been a lesser Nation without her ideas and influence.
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