Margaret Thatcher was the only woman to become a prime minister of the United Kingdom, and also the longest serving prime minister of the country in the 20th century, being in office since 1979 until 1990. Because of her leadership style and uncompromising politics, she was called by a Soviet journalist as the “Iron Lady,” a nickname that since, has been attributed to great women in politics (for example, chancellor of Germany — Angela Merkel).
Photo Credit: ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER
Thatcher, born Robins was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Her father was Mayor of Graham in 1945-56. Despite the fact that he was coming from a Liberal family, he stood as an Independent (it was then customary in local government). Serving as an alderman and local preacher at the local Methodist church, Alfred Roberts raised his daughter as a strict Methodist. Margaret Robins graduated from Oxford in 1946, with Second Class Honours in the four-year Chemistry Bachelor of Science degree.
Also, in 1946, she became the President of the Oxford University Conservative Association. She was influenced by political works such as “The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich von Hayek, where government’s economic intervention was condemned as a precursor to an authoritarian state.
So, Margaret Thatcher didn’t know from the start that she wants to become involved in politics. Originally she worked as a research chemist for BX Plastics and only later became a barrister (lawyer specialized in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings, and giving expert legal opinions). In 1959 she was elected as Member of Parliament for Finchley (a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the UK). In 1979 she became the Prime Minister of Great Britain, after becoming the leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 and Leader of the Opposition until 1979.
On April 8, 2013, Margaret Thatcher, died following a stroke. She will not have a state funeral (it was her wish) but she will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana or the Queen Mother.
In order to commemorate her, we have compiled her ten greatest quotes:
No.10
“I fight on. I fight to win.” – 1990
No.9
“The choice facing the nation is between two totally different ways of life. And what a prize we have to fight for: no less than the chance to banish from our land the dark, divisive clouds of Marxist socialism and bring together men and women from all walks of life who share a belief in freedom.” – 1983
No.8
“On my way here I passed a local cinema and it turns out you were expecting me after all, for the billboards read: The Mummy Returns.” – 2001
No.7
“Pennies don’t fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth.” – 1979
No.6
“Economics are the method; the object is to change the heart and soul.” – 1981
No.5
“They’re casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations, because there is no such thing as an entitlement unless someone has first met an obligation” – 1987
No.4
“My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time; support the police.” – 1981
No.3
“Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.” – 1979
No.2
“I don’t think there will be a woman prime minister in my lifetime.” -1973
No.1
“I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society — from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.” – 1984
