Margaret Thatcher popularly known as “Iron Lady” was a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She served in that position from 1979 to 1990. She also served as the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990.
7 Interesting facts about Margaret Thatcher :
Prime Minister
Thatcher was the first woman to serve as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She is also the longest serving PM of the 20th century. During her term of office, she introduced the policies that later became Thatcherism. She served from 1979 to 1990.
Scientific Career and Rejection by ICI
Thatcher started a career as a research chemist at BX Plastics in Manningtree. She later applied for a position at ICI in 1948. However, after an assessment by the personnel department, she was rejected. She was described by the personnel as a “headstrong, obstinate and dangerously self-opinionated”. She later became a barrister in 1953.
Political Career
Thatcher first sought to contest for a parliamentary seat in 1954 on the ticket of the Conservative Party for Orpington. However, she was not selected. In 1958, she was selected by the party to contest as a candidate for Finchley. She was able to win the seat during the 1959 election to become a Member of Parliament.
The Iron Lady
As resilient as she is, Thatcher delivered a speech in 1976, where she attacked the Soviet Union for planning to attain world dominance. A Soviet Journalist, Yuri Gavrilov in a rebutter by the red star journal also covered by the Sunday Times, titled a piece “Iron Lady Raises Fears”. With this Thatcher was nicknamed the Iron Lady.
Resignation
Margaret Thatcher resigned as the Prime Minister in 1990. This was after her popularity waned and ratings went down. There were also discontent among her party and her support dwindled after her deputy prime minister. Geoffrey Howe resigned. After holding a talk with the Queen, she announced her resignation.
Thatcherism
Thatcher’s decisive and bold policies became known as Thatcherism. These were policies agreed upon by the major political parties during the post-war consensus. They agreed on the central them of Keynesianism which included the welfare state, close regulation of the economy and nationalised industry.
Honours
In 1970, Thatcher became the Secretary of State for Education and Science and she was appointed a Privy Councillor. In 1975, she also became the first woman to have a full membership right as an honorary member of the Carlton Club. She was also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.
