M Thatcher was the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979. She was the first female prime minister in the Western world and remained in office longer than any British prime minister in the 20th century. In addition, she is rightly considered the country's most important political figure since Winston Churchill. Margaret Thatcher, 87, died on Monday after suffering a stroke. Below are some important facts and events from the life of the Iron Lady.

In October 1980, Thatcher gave a famous speech at the Conservative Party Conference in defense of her free market economic policies. Former Prime Minister Ted Heath, as well as other politicians, called on Thatcher to abandon the economic approach that had increased unemployment and pushed the country into recession. However, she refused to change her chosen course. “To those who are waiting with bated breath for the so-called “turnaround,” I will say only one thing: ladies don’t turn around,” Thatcher said then.


In April 1982, Argentine troops occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Thatcher immediately sent troops to retake the islands. The war reached its climax when the Argentine warship ARA General Belgrano sank, claiming the lives of more than 300 crew members. The British submarine HMS Conqueror sank Belgrano with two torpedoes on 2 May 1982.


A ceasefire agreement was signed on June 14, 1982, and Argentine forces surrendered from the Falkland Islands on the same day.


Beginning in 1984, Thatcher fought desperately against the National Union of Mineworkers, in whose hands considerable power was concentrated. As a result of protracted and bloody battles, the unification lost, which gave the Iron Lady the opportunity to consolidate power and defend her economic policy. The closure of trade unions led to mass unemployment.


Thatcher, whose reign coincided with Ronald Reagan's presidency in the United States, became Reagan's political confidante in Europe. The two are often credited with playing a key role in bringing about the end of the Soviet Union.


On 12 October 1984, the Irish Republican Army made an attempt on Thatcher's life by bombing the Grand Hotel in Brighton. As a result, five people died, although Thatcher and her husband escaped injury. “This is a day I should not have seen,” the prime minister said after the bombing.


On Sunday 31 March 1990, large-scale riots broke out in London in protest against Margaret Thatcher's Community Charge. About 200 thousand people gathered in Trafalgar Square in London to protest against the introduction of the tax. It all ended in bloody clashes between protesters and police. Subsequently, it was the introduction of the tax and protests that contributed to the fall of Thatcher's power.


In the last years of her reign, the Iron Lady was isolated even among her own party members. Differences of opinion over taxation, economic reform and policies regarding the emerging European Union led Thatcher to resign in November 1990.

Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts) was born on October 13, 1925 in Grantham (Lincolnshire, UK) in the family of a grocer.

She was educated at Oxford, where she studied chemistry and became chairman of the university's Conservative Association.

After graduating in 1947, she worked as a chemist, first in Colchester (Essex), then in Dartford (Kent).

In 1950, she made her first attempt to start a political career: she was elected to parliament from the Conservative Party from Dartford.

The attempt ended in failure.

In 1953, she received a lawyer's diploma, practiced law, and specialized in tax law.

In 1959, Thatcher was elected to the House of Commons for the first time as a member of the Conservative Party. She took over as chairman of the parliamentary pensions committee, combining this position with the head of the national security committee.

In 1967, Thatcher was appointed to the shadow cabinet (the cabinet of ministers formed by the party in opposition to the party in power in Britain). Under Edward Heath, prime minister from 1970-1974, Margaret Thatcher headed the Department of Education as the only woman in government. Despite the fact that the Conservatives lost the election in 1975, Mrs. Thatcher retained her ministerial portfolio even in the Liberal government.

In February 1975, Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party.

The Conservative victory in the 1979 House of Commons elections made Margaret Thatcher prime minister. She became the first woman to hold this post in the UK.

During her years as head of government, Margaret Thatcher became the “Iron Lady”: in her office, all work was based on a clear hierarchy, accountability and high personal responsibility; she was an ardent defender of monetarism, limiting the activities of trade unions within the strict framework of laws. During her 11 years as head of the British cabinet, she carried out a number of tough economic reforms, initiated the transfer into private hands of sectors of the economy where the state monopoly had traditionally reigned (the airline British Airways, the gas giant British Gas and the telecommunications company British Telecom), and advocated an increase in taxes.

Following Argentina's occupation of the disputed Falkland Islands in 1982, Thatcher sent warships into the South Atlantic and British control of the islands was restored within weeks. This was a key factor in the Conservatives' second victory in the parliamentary elections in 1983.

Margaret Thatcher's third term as prime minister was the most difficult. After taking a number of unpopular measures, she lost support in her party and was effectively left with no choice but to leave her post. In November 1990, Thatcher announced her voluntary resignation "for the sake of party unity and the prospect of victory in the general election"; She was replaced by Finance Minister John Major.

After her resignation, she served as a member of the House of Commons until 1992.

In 1991, she founded and headed the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.

Thatcher held numerous academic degrees. Among them is an honorary doctorate from the Russian University of Chemical Technology named after D.I. Mendeleev.

She wrote two volumes of memoirs, The Downing Street Years (1993) and The Path to Power (1995), and the book Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World (2002).

On June 26, 1992, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain granted her the title of Baroness and she became a life member of the House of Lords.

In 1990, Margaret Thatcher received the Order of Merit, Britain's highest government honor. In 1995, she was awarded the title of Dame of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of knighthood in Great Britain. In 2001, she was awarded the Chesney Gold Medal.

Thatcher also received awards from a number of foreign countries.

Health and age less and less allowed Baroness Thatcher to participate in public life. In the last years of her life, the “iron lady” experienced several mini-strokes and also suffered from senile dementia (dementia).

Margaret Thatcher has died. Baroness Thatcher's ashes, in accordance with her will, were buried on the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital next to her husband.

Margaret Thatcher's husband, Sir Denis Thatcher, died in June 2003 at the age of 88. The couple raised two children, twins Mark and Carol, born in 1953.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

One can argue endlessly about Thatcher. And people never tire of remembering her 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 on Earth. And, meanwhile, the beginning of her life in no way suggested that little Margaret would turn out to be the best Prime Minister of England of our time.

But anything is possible if you passionately desire it and persistently build your career, brick by brick, without stopping for a moment. This is the main reason for Thatcher's success. The daughter of a small merchant, having spent her entire childhood in poverty, she even then had an insane desire to invade the “camp of male power” and become the Prime Minister of Great Britain! This then did not seem like the mental impudence of a woman “out of nowhere,” 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 came into power as 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 unconditionally listened to by all the “powers of this world.” Even US presidents. And they could not resist the intelligence, intelligence and toughness of Thatcher. They “gave in” to her “Jesuitic” 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 throughout Great Britain. And her greatest legacy: an example for women leaders that the impossible is possible and must be done!

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 President in other countries) of Great Britain.

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire on October 13, 1925. Her father was the owner of two grocery stores and an active local politician. After leaving school, Margaret studied at Oxford University from 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 Research.

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 elections, Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of Great Britain.

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

Domestic policy 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 government control (particularly 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 for improving the UK economy with reducing government spending, ending subsidies for unprofitable enterprises, and transferring state-owned corporations to private ownership; considered inflation a greater danger than unemployment. Reducing local government spending.

Initially, Thatcher enjoyed great popularity, but over time this popularity began to fade - the people did not like the general financial instability and unemployment that stubbornly refused to be overcome. The hunger strikes that took place in Ireland in 1981 and Thatcher’s response 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 was extremely beneficial for Thatcher and helped her win the election in 1983.

Her firmness in defending her views and her rigidity in implementing her decisions secured the title of “Iron Lady” for Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher foreign policy in brief

On January 19, 1976, Thatcher made a loud anti-Soviet speech in which she accused the USSR of striving for world domination and aggressiveness, and her country of taking an overly peaceful approach to solving international problems. Soon after this, the Soviet newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda awarded Thatcher the nickname “Iron Lady” - which, by the way, she accepted and approved with some pleasure.

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

The British side initiated and guarantored constitutional reform in Southern Rhodesia and the holding of general elections in this 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 traditional zones of influence.

Thatcher ordered an all-out invasion of the Falkland Islands, formerly a colony of England but captured by Argentina. On May 21, after intense 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 June 15. When the white flag of surrender was thrown at Port Stanley, Thatcher went to Downing Street. “Today Britain is Great Britain again. This is a great justification for everything we have done.”

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

The Falklands crisis significantly strengthened Anglo-American allied relations.

Thatcher strongly rejected the idea of ​​political integration of the member countries 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 rich earl. But the young count’s parents did not like the grocer’s daughter.

The next time Margaret fell in love with a Scottish farmer. The farmer, while caring for Margaret, unexpectedly 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 obtain 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.

Margaret Thatcher's height and weight

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 Thatcher is one of the most charismatic, prominent and controversial figures in modern political history. She became the only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Great Britain and the first woman to hold this position in a European state. Thatcher's premiership was the longest in her country in the past century, and the political course pursued by the government of the "Iron Lady" immortalized her name in its name - "Thatcherism".

Margaret Thatcher: biography of her early years

Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on October 13, 1925 in the English city of Grantham (Lincolnshire). Her father owned two grocery stores. He also served as a Grantham councilor and was a Methodist pastor. The strict upbringing given by her father affected the formation of the character of the future “iron lady” - first of all, he encouraged such qualities as discipline and diligence.

In childhood and adolescence, Margaret developed diversified. After graduating from primary school in her hometown, she received a scholarship to study at the Kesteven and Graham School for Girls. She also enjoyed playing the piano and poetry, and was also involved in race walking, field hockey and swimming.

In 1943, she entered Oxford University, where she studied chemistry, and four years later received a bachelor's degree. During her studies, her interest in politics began to manifest: she became chairman of her university's Conservative Party Association.

After graduating, Margaret Roberts got a job in Essex as a celluloid plastics chemist. At the same time, she joined the local Tory party association.

Beginning of a political career

In January 1951, a friend of Margaret's from university, apparently sensing serious political potential in her, recommended that she be included on the Conservative electoral roll for one of the constituencies in Kent. After her candidacy was approved, Margaret Roberts moved to the city of Dartford. Here she met businessman Denis Thatcher. In 1951 she married him.

Participating in the elections of 1950 and 1951, Margaret Thatcher (then Roberts) attracted the attention of the press as the only woman on the party list and as the youngest candidate, but she failed to enter parliament - Labor won. However, despite the loss, she gained invaluable experience.

During the same period, she finally left her studies in chemistry and, with the support of her husband, received a second higher education - law. Having become a barrister, a high-ranking lawyer with the right to conduct cases, Thatcher continued to run for parliament, while simultaneously raising twins Carol and Mark, born in 1953.

In April 1959, luck finally smiled on her: as a candidate from the Finchley constituency, during a difficult election struggle she became a member of the House of Commons. In parliament, she was assigned the position of chairman of the Pension Committee and at the same time head of the National Security Committee.

In 1967, after Labour's election victory, Margaret Thatcher entered the "shadow cabinet" formed by the Conservatives, becoming Housing Minister. And three years later, when power in Great Britain again passed to the Tories led by Edward Heath, she became Minister of Science and Education.

In 1975, the Liberals defeated the Conservatives in the elections, but Thatcher's popularity allowed her to remain in the ministerial chair. In the same year, Margaret Thatcher became the head of the Conservative Party.

Prime Ministerial Elections

By the beginning of 1979, the economic situation in Great Britain was very difficult. Inflation has increased significantly, labor productivity has fallen, and the quality of equipment produced in the country has decreased. The low standard of living of people caused a wave of strikes that paralyzed many industries. A government crisis was brewing.

Margaret Thatcher, who was the leader of the opposition at that time, passed a vote of no confidence in the government, which (by a margin of just one vote) was supported by parliament. New elections were scheduled to take place on May 3, 1979.

The Tory manifesto, written by Thatcher, essentially embodied a plan to lead the country out of the crisis. She proposed to achieve a reduction in inflation by reducing government spending (excluding the healthcare sector). As an incentive for the development of entrepreneurship, it was planned to reduce the upper limit of taxes. Taxation of low-paid segments of the population was planned to be reduced.

As a result of the elections, the Conservatives received a convincing majority of seats in parliament. And Margaret Thatcher, whose biography was replenished with a new achievement, became the first woman prime minister in the history of her state.

Foreign policy

The foreign policy course of the Thatcher cabinet assumed the revival of Great Britain's position as a great world power, as well as participation in resolving a number of global issues on the world stage, including those not within the sphere of the country's immediate interests. British diplomacy of that period was characterized by determination and toughness - traits that distinguished Margaret Thatcher's policies in general.

The Iron Lady relied on the development of mutually beneficial bilateral relations with the former British colonies in southern Africa. Thanks to them, Britain was able to significantly strengthen its economic and military presence in this region.

In 1982, after Argentina occupied the disputed territories of the Falkland Islands, Thatcher sent British warships to the south Atlantic, which managed to regain control of the islands in a matter of weeks. This achievement gave the Conservatives a second victory in the parliamentary elections the following year.

Thatcher had a very negative attitude towards the processes of European integration. She would prefer to orient the life of Europe on the same principles that she preached in her own country: freedom of enterprise and movement of funds, lack of protectionism and free markets. In her opinion, the basis of relations on the continent should have been cooperation between independent sovereign powers. However, some concessions, in particular Britain’s participation in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, the predecessor of the Monetary Union, indicated that the “Iron Lady” still made compromises, recognizing the inevitability of the integration processes taking place on the continent.

Relations with the USA

The period of Thatcher's premiership was characterized by a rapprochement between Great Britain and the United States. The latter supported Britain at the UN during the Falklands Crisis; the allied relations of these countries have significantly strengthened in a number of global issues. This was largely justified by the similar political beliefs of US President Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Photos of both politicians during their frequent official meetings are known throughout the world.

Thatcher approved of the American SDI project, as well as NATO plans to build up arms, allowing the deployment of one hundred and sixty medium-range missiles on British territory and accepting a program to equip nuclear submarines with American Trident missiles. She supported Reagan's initiatives towards the USSR, which they both viewed with distrust.

Relations with the USSR

Back in 1976, heading the Conservative Party of Great Britain, Thatcher sharply criticized the political actions of the Soviet Union, declaring that it was determined to achieve world domination. In response, in the pages of Krasnaya Zvezda, the newspaper of the Soviet Ministry of Defense, she was called the “iron lady.” This characterization was immediately picked up by the English edition of The Sunday Times. Since then, Margaret Thatcher's nickname - "The Iron Lady" - has become her middle name.

At the same time, despite the harsh anti-Soviet position at the very beginning of her time in power, It was Thatcher who became the first leader of a Western state to support political changes in the USSR. Even before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the socialist regimes in Eastern Europe, she spoke about the end of the Cold War, openly supporting Mikhail Gorbachev. After Gorbachev came to power, the relationship between the two leaders remained constructive and emphatically respectful.

In the book "The Art of Statecraft", published in 2002 from the pen of Margaret Thatcher, an entire chapter was written about Russia. In general, supporting the reformers of the 90s of the last century, she expresses the idea that it is impossible to “fit” Russia into the framework of Western European values ​​due to the historical characteristics of the development of this country.

Domestic policy

During her eleven years as head of the British cabinet, Margaret Thatcher carried out a number of tough reforms in various areas of the country's life. She initiated the transfer into private hands of traditionally public sectors of the economy (telephone, aerospace and gas companies), as well as the purchase of housing by its tenants, and increased a number of taxes.

She actively fought against the influence of trade unions, limiting their powers. She revised the system of assistance to the unemployed, stimulating earlier retirement, part-time work, and retraining of more in-demand personnel. In addition, the development of small businesses was encouraged.

These measures actually led to stabilization of the economic situation, reduction of inflation and unemployment. However, the introduction of a new communal "poll tax" instead of the previous one, based on the rental value of a house, as well as the encouragement of paid education and medicine, caused strong protests from the British and contributed to the decline in the popularity of the Prime Minister and her party.

Retirement and life after it

After taking a number of unpopular measures, accompanied by widespread anti-government protests, Margaret Thatcher had no choice but to resign. She decided to take this step in November 1990, after much hesitation. Her place was taken by John Major, former Secretary of the Exchequer.

In the same year, the “Iron Lady” was awarded the Order of Merit, and two years later, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain granted Margaret Thatcher a baronial title and the right to lifelong membership in the House of Lords.

The postulates of “Thatcherism” were accepted by many of her followers. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron met with her after they were elected to this post. Until her last days, she continued to take part in the social and political life of her country. In addition, she wrote several autobiographical books and also established her own foundation.

Margaret Thatcher died on April 8, 2013 in London at the age of eighty-seven. The funeral service took place at St. Paul's Cathedral with full military honours. The “iron lady” was buried next to her husband in the cemetery of a military hospital in Chelsea.

Now women in politics will not surprise anyone. But when Margaret Thatcher began her career, this was nonsense in the puritanical and conservative society of Great Britain. She was condemned and hated. Only thanks to her character, she continued to “stick to her line” and go towards her goals.

Today her person can serve as both an example and an anti-example. She is a perfect example of how determination leads to success. Her experience can also serve as a reminder that being too categorical can lead to failure and unpopularity.

How did Thatcher’s “ironness” manifest itself? Why do many people hate her even after death?

Difficult character since childhood

The “Iron Lady” did not suddenly become one - her difficult character was already evident in childhood. Her father had a very big influence on the girl.

Margaret Thatcher (nee Roberts) was born on October 13, 1925. Her parents were simple people, her mother was a dressmaker, her father was from a shoemaker's family. Due to poor eyesight, the father was unable to continue the family business. In 1919, he was able to open his first grocery store, and in 1921, the family opened a second store.

Father

Despite his simple origins, Margaret's father had a strong character and an extraordinary mind. He began his career as a sales assistant - and was able to independently become the owner of two shops.

Later he achieved even greater success and became a respected citizen of his city. He was a workaholic who occupied every free minute with various activities - working in a store, studying politics and economics, serving as a pastor, being a member of the city council - and even mayor.

He devoted a lot of time to raising his daughters. But this upbringing was specific. Children in the Roberts family had to do useful things all the time.

The family paid considerable attention to their intellectual development, but the emotional sphere was practically ignored. It was not customary in the family to show tenderness and other emotions.

This is where Margaret’s restraint, severity and coldness come from.

These traits have both helped and hurt her throughout her life and career.

School and university

Margaret's teachers respected her, but she was never their favorite. Despite her diligence, hard work and the ability to memorize entire pages of text, she did not have imagination or an outstanding mind. It was impeccably “correct” - but, apart from correctness, there were no other distinctive features.

She also did not win much love among her classmates. She was known as a typical “crammer” who was, moreover, too boring. Her statements were always categorical, and she could argue until her opponent gave up.

Throughout her life, Margaret had only one friend. She did not even have a warm relationship with her own sister.

Studying at the university only strengthened her already difficult character. Women in those days were only recently allowed to study at universities. The bulk of Oxford students at that time were young people from rich and eminent families.

In such an uncomfortable environment, she became even colder.

She had to constantly show her “needles.”

Video: Margaret Thatcher. The path of the Iron Lady

Personal life of the "Iron Lady"

Margaret was a beautiful girl. It is not surprising that even with her complex character, she attracted many young people.

At the university she met a young man from an aristocratic family. But their relationship was doomed from the very beginning - their parents would not allow kinship with the family of the grocery store owner.

However, at that time the norms of British society had softened slightly - and if Margaret had shown gentleness, diplomacy and cunning, she could have won their favor.

But such a path was not for this categorical girl. Her heart was broken, but she didn't show it. You need to keep your emotions to yourself!

Remaining unmarried in those years was practically a sign of bad taste, and that “there was clearly something wrong with the girl.” Margaret was not actively searching for a husband. But, since she was always surrounded by men in her party activities, sooner or later she would have met a suitable candidate.

And so it happened.

Love and marriage

In 1951, she met Denis Thatcher, a former military man and wealthy businessman. The meeting took place at a dinner celebrating her confirmation as the Conservative Party candidate in Dartford.

At first, she conquered him not with her intelligence and character - Denis was blinded by her beauty. The age difference between them was 10 years.

Love at first sight did not happen. But they both understood that they were good partners for each other, and their marriage had a chance of success. Their characters agreed - he did not know how to communicate with women, he was ready to support her in everything and did not interfere in most issues. And Margaret needed financial support, which Denis was ready to provide.

Constant communication and getting to know each other led to the emergence of feelings.

However, Denis was not such an ideal candidate - he liked to drink, and there was already a divorce in his past.

This, of course, could not please her father - but by that time Margaret was already making her own decisions.

The relatives of the bride and groom were not too happy about the wedding, but the future Thatcher couple did not care much. And time has shown that it was not in vain - their marriage was incredibly strong, they supported each other, loved - and were happy.

Children

In 1953, the couple had twins Carol and Mark.

The lack of example in her parents' family led to Margaret's failure to become a good mother. She generously gave them gifts, trying to give them everything that she herself did not have. But she didn’t know the most important thing - how to give love and warmth.

She saw little of her daughter, and their relationship remained cool until the end of her life.

At one time, her father wanted a boy, and she was born. The son became the embodiment of her dreams, this desired boy. She spoiled him and allowed him everything. With this upbringing, he grew up quite willful, capricious and adventurous. He enjoyed all the privileges and looked for benefits everywhere. He caused a lot of problems - debts, problems with the law.

Spousal partnership

The 50s of the 20th century were a fairly conservative time. Most of the “doors” are closed to women. Even if you have some kind of career, family and home remain first.

Men are always in the first roles, men are at the head of families, and the interests and career of men always come first.

But this was not the case in the Thatcher family. The former military man and successful businessman became the shadow and reliable rear of his Margaret. He rejoiced for her after victories, consoled her after defeats and supported her during struggles. He always followed her quietly and modestly, and did not abuse the many opportunities that opened up thanks to her position.

With all this, Margaret remained a loving woman, was ready to obey her husband - and leave her affairs for his sake.

She was not only a politician and leader, but also a simple woman for whom family values ​​were important.

They were together until Denis's death in 2003. Margaret survived him by 10 years and died in 2013 on April 8 due to a stroke.

Her ashes were buried next to her husband.

Thatcher and the USSR

Margaret Thatcher had antipathy towards the Soviet regime. She practically did not hide it. Many of her actions in one way or another influenced the deterioration of the economic and political situation, and then the collapse of the country.

It is now known that the so-called “arms race” was provoked by false information. The United States and Great Britain allegedly allowed information to be leaked, according to which their countries possessed much more weapons.

On the British side, this “leak” was made on Thatcher’s initiative.

Believing false information, the USSR authorities began to significantly increase the cost of weapons production. As a result, people faced “shortages” where it was impossible to buy the most basic consumer goods. And this led to discontent.

The economy of the USSR was undermined not only by the “arms race”. The country's economy was very dependent on oil prices. By agreement between England, the USA and the countries of the East, oil prices fell.

Thatcher lobbied for the placement of American weapons and military bases in Great Britain and Europe. She also actively supported increasing her country's nuclear capabilities. Such actions only exacerbated the situation that had developed during the Cold War.

Thatcher met Gorbachev at Andropov's funeral. In the early 80s he was little known. But even then he was personally invited by Margaret Thatcher. During this visit she showed her affection for him.

After this meeting she said:

"You can deal with this person"

Thatcher did not hide her desire to destroy the USSR. She carefully studied the constitution of the Soviet Union - and realized that it was imperfect, there were some loopholes in it, thanks to which any republic could secede from the USSR at any time. There was only one obstacle to this - the strong hand of the Communist Party, which would not allow this. The subsequent weakening and destruction of the Communist Party under Gorbachev made this possible.

15 best films about the greatest women in the world

One of her statements regarding the USSR is quite shocking.

One day she expressed this idea:

“It is economically justifiable for 15 million people to live on the territory of the USSR”

This quote caused a significant stir. It immediately began to be interpreted differently. There were also comparisons to Hitler's ideas of exterminating most of the population.

In fact, Thatcher expressed the following idea: the USSR economy is ineffective, only 15 million of the population are effective and necessary for the economy.

However, even from such a restrained statement one can understand her attitude towards the country and people.

Video: Margaret Thatcher. Woman at the top of power

Unpopular decisions and dislike of the people

Margaret's categorical attitude made her quite unpopular among the people. Its policy was aimed at future changes and improvements. But during their implementation, many people suffered and lost their jobs and livelihoods.

She was called the "milk stealer." Traditionally, children in British schools received free milk. But in the 50s it ceased to be popular with children - more fashionable drinks appeared. Thatcher abolished this expense item, which caused significant discontent.

British society is not accustomed to such behavior from a politician, much less a woman. Many of her statements are shocking and inhumane.

Thus, she called for birth control among the poor and refusal to subsidize vulnerable segments of the population.

Thatcher ruthlessly closed all unprofitable enterprises and mines. In 1985, 25 mines were closed, by 1992 - 97. All the rest were privatized. This led to unemployment and protests. Margaret sent the police against the protesters - so she lost the support of the working class.

In the early 80s, a serious problem appeared in the world - AIDS. It was necessary to ensure safety during blood transfusion. However, the Thatcher government ignored the problem and action was not taken until 1984-85. As a result, the number of infected people has increased significantly.

Because of her categorical attitude, there was also a deterioration in relations with Ireland. Members of the National Liberation and Republican Armies of Ireland served imprisonment in Northern Ireland. They went on a hunger strike demanding that their status as political prisoners be returned to them. 10 prisoners died during the hunger strike, which lasted 73 days - but they never received the desired status. As a result, an attempt was made on Margaret's life.

Irish politician Danny Morrison called her"the greatest scoundrel we've ever known."

After Thatcher's death, not everyone mourned her. Many rejoiced - and, practically, celebrated. People held parties and walked the streets with posters. She was not forgiven for the milk scandal. After her death, some carried bouquets of flowers to her house, and some carried bags and bottles of milk.

In those days, the hit song from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz was “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead.” It reached number two on the UK charts in April.

The fruits of Thatcher's policies

Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving prime minister in the 20th century - 11 years. Despite significant unpopularity among the population and political opponents, she was able to achieve a lot.

The country has become richer, but wealth is distributed very unevenly, and only certain groups of the population have begun to live much better.

It significantly weakened the influence of trade unions. It also closed unprofitable mines. This led to unemployment. But, at the same time, subsidies began to train people in new professions.

Thatcher carried out a reform of state ownership and privatized many state-owned enterprises. Ordinary Britons could buy shares in any enterprise - railways, coal, gas companies. Having become private property, enterprises began to develop and increase profits. One third of state property was privatized.

Financing of unprofitable industries stopped. All enterprises worked only under contracts - what they did was what they got. This encouraged them to improve product quality and fight for the customer.

Unprofitable enterprises were destroyed. They were replaced by small and medium-sized businesses. And along with this, many new jobs have appeared. Thanks to these new companies, the UK economy gradually emerged from the crisis.

During her reign, more than a million British families were able to purchase their own home.

The personal well-being of ordinary citizens increased by 80%.

Interesting facts from the life of the Iron Lady

• The nickname "Iron Lady" first appeared in the Soviet newspaper "Red Star".
• When Margaret's husband Denis saw the newborn babies for the first time, he said: “They look like rabbits! Maggie, bring them back."

American diplomats spoke about Thatcher as follows:"A woman with a quick, albeit shallow mind."

• She was inspired to enter politics by Winston Churchill. He became her idol during the Second World War. She even borrowed the gesture that was his signature - the V sign formed with the index and middle finger.
• Thatcher's school nickname was "toothpick".
• She was the first woman to lead a party in Britain.
• One of the main sources of her views on economics is Friedrich von Hayek's book The Road to Serfdom. It expresses ideas about reducing the role of the state in the economy.
• As a child, Margaret studied piano, and during her university years she took part in student theater productions and took vocal lessons.
• As a child, Thatcher wanted to become an actress.
• Margaret's alma mater, Oxford, did not honor her. Therefore, she transferred her entire archive to Cambridge. She also cut Oxford's funding.
• One of Margaret's lovers left her to marry her sister because she could become a better wife and housewife.

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