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Wednesday, 6 June, 2001, 15:09 GMT 16:09 UK
Lady Thatcher's campaign: what did you think?
Margaret Thatcher has been a central figure in this election - not only for her comments that the euro is "repugnant" - but as all parties discuss her legacy and Thatcherism itself.
The former premier polarised opinion on the single currency with her pledge to rule out the euro for good. She said: "I would never be prepared to give up our own currency."
Tony Blair has referred to Thatcherism several times in his campaign and said the country must now move from that mindset. Charles Kennedy too has been critical of Thatcherite policies and her comments on the euro. Should Lady Thatcher still have a major campaigning role? Do you feel her views alienate today's voters or are they still relevant? This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
Your reaction
John, London, UK
Margaret Thatcher is Tony Blair's greatest ally. Since she opened her mouth I'm thinking of voting Labour again!
Maggie's role in this election, is obvious. It was to stimulate the core Tory vote into action - those who either stayed away last time or defected to Labour. It was a very intelligent piece of spin by the Conservatives. Only after the results have been announced on Thursday will we know if it has worked or not.
I remember growing up under Thatcher.
I hated it. People became uncertain of their jobs and futures and its her policies that lead to so much privatisation and lack of public funding.
I wonder if her only four hours sleep a night has left her in the correct frame of mind to make a stable choice rather than an irrational grab for the attention she once had.
Grow old in peace Maggie, and please shut up.
You losers! Maggie didn't destroy this country - the unions and the left-wingers and those who want, want, want but aren't prepared to work for it destroyed our country. She at least had the conviction to start getting us back on the right track. Do you really think Blair and Brown are the architects of the current buoyant economy? Please....
What fascinates me is that most British people dislike Thatcher. But who then voted for her all those years? The sad fact seems to be that anyone who wins a war (even its about some cliff with 10 sheep on it) makes the British all proud again, get their Union-Jacks out and on the way to Southampton. Thatcher just fed and capitalized on the loss of pride of the people.
As for Thatcher's contribution to this election campaign - I laughed out loud when she warned us of the dangers of an elected dictatorship.
An attitude of self-reliance is good but when she uttered the foul words "there is no such thing as society" and bred the self-interested, self-seeking society of individuals this nation became in the 80s she should have been immediately hounded out of office by the Press et al. However, that did not happen and here she is again uttering words such as never give up the pound without one thought for how economically it may be in our interest one day to join the euro. Wasn't it once said never say never and yet she has the same arrogance she displayed in the 80s of I'm right and I don't care what anyone else thinks or says.
I remember flying back to the U.K. to go to school in the seventies, it was a dingy, cold place signified by small mindedness. Be thankful to Thatcher that she renewed a sense of British initiative and integrity without which "Cool Britannia" would still be a basket case.
Margaret Thatcher was one of the worst prime ministers of the last century. She was the cause of many of today's problems - shoddy privatised services putting profit before people, the gap widening between the middle class and working class, and the blatant disregard for anyone outside the upper or middle classes.
Lady Thatcher is quite right,
again. Lady Thatcher has my support, again. I love Lady Thatcher and her extensive Lincolnshire family. God bless Lady Thatcher and God bless England.
Anyone noticed how most of those praising Mrs Thatcher don't live in the UK and never had to suffer her? And even in southeast England we didn't escape her, I was made redundant from my first two jobs very quickly after leaving University thanks to her recession.
Jay, Camberley, UK Being born in Yorkshire to Irish parents I have at least two reasons to despise Thatcher, however the main reason I rejoice that she is no longer in power is that my children are free to grow up in a world that is not characterised by greed and avarice.
Mrs Thatcher was the greatest post-war prime minister. She instigated changes that enabled Britain to leave socialism and its doctrines behind forever. Mr Blair owes a lot to Mrs Thatcher - and he knows it.
To all Tories and most swinging voters Maggie is a hugely charismatic personality. Obviously, to people who are firmly on the left of politics she is a despised figure.
I think the consensus here is pretty obvious - the vast majority seem to be of the opinion that Thatcher was bad with a capital B, save a few fanatics and those fortunate to have lived abroad far away from the hell that was Thatcher's Britain. The more time goes by, the more we realise just how evil and abhorrent her policies really were.
Jim Smith, Edinburgh, Scotland What was Thatcher's legacy? 15% interest rates, unemployment and inflation higher than when she entered as PM, no manufacturing industry left etc.
It was left to John Major to sort it all out and prepare the way for the economy we have now. I can only hope that some time in the future, John Major, as one of the best PM's we have ever had, will get his just rewards and she will be finally remembered for what she really was and did.
As dreadful and floundering as Hague really is, the last thing he needs is Maggie Thatcher putting her oar in and ending up giving a different message on the Euro to Hague.
Colin, England
While I have been a fan of Reaganism and Thatcherism for many years, her sabotage of the last Tory government in the election of 1997 was most regrettable.
James Shields, Glasgow, Scotland
People who say Thatcher was the "greatest ever" are misguided. Look at the facts as her reign came to an end. Interest rates - double today's level, inflation - several times today's level, unemployment - three times today's level. You can't say Blair is all style and no substance - at least he's delivering on the economy.
Why doesn't Thatcher realise that the majority of the country do not hold her in the great esteem that Hague does, in fact quite the opposite. If the Tory Party loved her so much why did they push her out of power?
Why, are all of you talking about Thatcher and the 1980's? How are your health care policies, tube system, roads, taxes, cost of housing, working conditions ...all the things that matter in your life now and in the next four years or so. Has Mr Blair made a difference? Or just provided lip service? I love visiting Britain and wish you all well. Please search your soul and do the right thing for your family. Seeing Thatcher just reminds me that I must get out and vote so that the Tories never get back into power and ruin this country like she did in the 80s
Let's not forget that Mrs Thatcher threw away the lives of hundreds of servicemen in defence of a barren piece of rock, of no economic value, thousands of miles from Britain, then asked us to rejoice at the outcome. I can't help but think that is symptomatic of the jingoistic imperial attitude that, thanks to the Tories, does the UK great disservice overseas.
Andrew Barker, Norwich, England
Mrs Thatcher is overrated. The state grew in power and size when she was PM and she drew us further into Europe. Her real achievement was reinvigorating the City, but one ought to remember with sadness the destruction of our manufacturing capability under her- was there no other way? During her stint as PM Britain gave up trying to run the economy for the people- a laudable if imprecise aim- and began to sell out to 'Big Money'. Our entire culture has suffered. Another point- Sharjil Zaman (below) attacks Britain as a cultureless and boring country, amidst his comments on Lady Thatcher. Do bear in mind that US culture is almost entirely derived from Europe- a somewhat crude offshoot if you like.
When the Conservative Party declare their honesty by admitting what most of them really believe. That is that Mrs Thatcher was a disaster not only for the country but for the Conservative Party. Once they admit this, the country may consider them to be electable. If they do not, and continue with the Thatcher fallacy, then I'm afraid the party will fade into the third place in the political party league and will be considered un-electable.
I am sick to death of hearing from 'Maggie'. She had her time (and did enough damage then) and is a political has-been. She should take a back seat and allow the serious politicians to get on with it.
But perhaps what should be seen by her supporters as her biggest fault was that she sacrificed the opportunity the Tories had of staying in government forever on the altar of political dogma. There were only a few wrong turns, but they were fundamental and I am very surprised that Tories don't revile her en-masse for it. Had she been just a bit more farsighted the Labour party may never have risen from the ashes.
It is interesting to read that some contributors imagine Thatcher to be more principled than today's leaders. Why then did she take up a role peddling cigarettes after she was axed by her own party? She accepted money to meet the leaders of other countries to convince them not to restrict tobacco advertising and other practices. From Iron Lady to Fag Lady. That doesn't seem a very principled thing to do. And then there was that business of supporting Pinochet...
Ward, Atlanta, USA
The timing of her outbursts neatly coincide with the Labour Party's new poster campaign showing 'Mrs Hague'. Is this accident, or design? I think she's secretly quite flattered.
I wish those who speak so well of Thatcher could have had the benefit of living on a subsistence income while the industrial heart of your region was actively destroyed. Try telling a 40-year-old miner who has just broken down in tears to "get on his bike". It may have been okay for a few rich kids in London, but for the rest of us it was agony. Yes she's relevant, as a reminder of the importance of never letting our own selfish attitudes overtake our moral judgement.
Since Margaret Thatcher became involved in the election campaign, Labour has actually increased it's lead in the polls.
Need any more be said?
Darren, Solihull, UK
I found it insulting that she only speaks about keeping the pound, not about sharing the money in a fairer way. Yes, keep the pound but for the same people. I don't care about the name of the currency, I just want a decent living for my children and me.
We love Margaret Thatcher and think the Labour poster only encourages us to vote for the Tory party and William Hague. The Labour party are just trying to be Tories under a different name but we don't trust them as far as Europe goes. We are very worried about losing our democratic rights when we have a federal Europe. Elections in this country won't count for anything then.
Most retired politicians have the good sense to keep quiet, but not her. I don't think she has forgiven the nation for being removed from office.
Andy Hemmings, Hitchin, Herts
I thought that Anne Widdecombe was Labour's best weapon but it looks like Maggie might surpass her!
The comments of Mrs Thatcher were not unwelcome. She was asked to speak by William Hague, who obviously thought her speech would clarify their position concerning the Euro. I think it worked, and that's why I'm voting for common sense, the Conservative Party.
Thatcher was in many ways a remarkable leader - she did some extremely good things, and some absolutely terrible things as well. Views about her in 2001 are even more polarised than they were when she held power, so it's clear that her views, though repugnant to many are still relevant. Lets not forget, however, that it was the conservative party itself that threw her out. The fact that she has a platform today indicates either that Hague agrees with her views, but is not willing to say so or he disagrees, but is too weak to deny her the opportunity to meddle in his campaign. Either way, it doesn't look good for him as a leader.
Would George W. Bush let Ronald Reagan have a major campaigning role? Doubtful.
Labour will enjoy many years in power thanks to Thatcher's legacy.
MP, Aberdeen
Whether you like or loathe Lady Thatcher, she is still the most principled and forthright politician we've had. She never had anything but the UK's interests at heart, whether you believe the policies were right or wrong. The closest person to her these days is not Blair or Hague, but Anne Widdecombe. We need more politicians of substance on all sides.
I loved Thatcher at first, then came to despise her. I voted for her when the trade unions were destroying our industry and she did an excellent job in controlling their power. She also had good economic policies for the most part. However she lost my support when she showed how cold and ruthless she could be in throwing millions out of their jobs and out of their homes. The legacy of Thatcherism is the number of homeless now on our streets.
Scott Burley, Cambridge, UK Thatcherism was based on the notion of self-sufficiency, free-market economics and social freedom combined with justice, order and integrity. She left a legacy of potential - the idea that everyone has the capability to succeed if they work hard to foster both personal and public stability. She certainly started to damage herself and the country in the final months of her tenure as PM, but the Iron Lady's sense of conviction and her own self-belief provided this country with a sense of unity and success.
Message to Tory HQ:
Maggie isn't working.
Mrs Thatcher - in continual pursuit of a moral justification for selfishness.
I do not agree with her views but I cannot help but be glad that conviction rather than spin has entered the campaign.
T Smith, London, England
I'd love to see more of her. It is a reminder that Labour can't be as bad as both left and right like to make out. She left this country far poorer than she found it, destroyed our once great shipbuilding industry and destroyed many an inner city.
She's part of the past, with political agendas that are no longer relevant to the present political climate. Dinosaur politics.
Margaret Thatcher was the right person for PM in 1979. She isn't the right person now but then neither is Blair, Hague or Kennedy.
Sundar, London
Lady Thatcher 'saint or sinner?' seems to be the common thread here. No one can deny that Thatcher once had a massive effect on Britain and sadly there is no doubt that her legacy is still very much relevant to the way we now lead our lives. Her administration's steady erosion of the country's institutions has left us all worse off. Far from being a revolution and an exercise in increasing choice and competition Thatcherism has delivered the opposite. At least the old state run utilities could be said to be truly accountable through the ballot box. However the result of privatisation has only been to create large private monopolies that are wholly unaccountable. I feel that as a country we should be ashamed that we elected a Prime Minister who stood so blatantly for such self-serving ideals that brought misery to so many. Maybe one day we'll realise that greed is not the same thing as progress.
Ironically for someone opposed to devolution Thatcher's Britain shrank and shrank, excluding the poor, the sick, the elderly, all of Europe, anything outside the M25 and finally reality.
As a Brit abroad, I still feel that I cannot escape the tyranny of Thatcher's Middle-England Jingoism. When will this woman give up her need for ego bolstering, give her voice box a rest and grow old gracefully? Although not her biggest fan, I would say that much of Thatcher's 'effect' was relevant in the socio-economic landscape of yester-year but is of little relevance today. We are a generation on from the world in which she lives.
Actually, it is not Thatcher that is a sad old relic, it is the people who e-mail with compliments for her who are. The future is now - we use the past as a lesson for the future. How come poor people, people who lost in the 80's, people in the north, Scotland, Wales, Ireland have nothing good to say about her?
Alex, Lancashire
I am quite amazed that so many people here are so ignorant of the country Margaret Thatcher inherited in 1979. If Britain is wealthy today, it is almost entirely due to 18 years of Tory rule, started by her. Or does somebody think that New Labour (Tories Mk II) has somehow done this from scratch in the last four? At least Maggie never spun she just came right out with it. She had a simple vocabulary of yes or no.
As a child of Thatcherism I have never fully appreciated the great changes she imposed on the country. In spite of all the good she did this country however, she must no longer be allowed to break rank with the party line. I've nothing against free speech but she knows exactly how high profile she is and that anything she says will be taken as policy. The problems she suffered in the last years of her leadership make her well aware of the need for unity in politics. John Major somehow managed to hold together a clearly divided party for seven years, but he spent his whole time dealing with in-fighting which crippled both his party and the country through the policies they were forced into implementing.
Mrs Thatcher used to be a brilliant politician. She is now an elderly lady who cannot bear to step away from the limelight for the good of her own party.
Adrian Hall, Chippenham,UK
You've got to love her haven't you?
Whilst I agree that the Unions were too powerful in the 1970s, they should not have been gutted to the extent they were. Also what most people seem to forget is that the Tories were in power for nearly half the 70s (although all the problems will no doubt be blamed on the Unions). When the Tories were in opposition they (and Tory dominated Lords) did as much as they could to damage Labour to get themselves elected.
Why do the media continue to give this dreadful woman airspace? She is very definitely yesterday's politician and has no relevance today, other than to remind us of the damage that she inflicted on the country and its people.
If she is as barking as she seems, it might even be funny.
Broadcasters: stop giving this woman oxygen.
Adam Hume, London
Although I detest Maggie and all her works, perhaps she deserves some credit for today's economic position. Ironically her one real legacy, privatisation, was originally only intended to weaken state sector unions.
Thatcher was and is uncaring and amoral. She has empathy and sympathy only for those who have something in common with her own background. The idea that socialists don't understand her, or that she was restructuring society to make people stand on their own feet is nonsense. She kicked peoples feet out from under them on the basis of dogma and ideology. In short, her ideology is profoundly unchristian in it's rejection of society and of our responsibility to one another.
Any non-Tory will welcome the spectacle of seeing Thatcher paraded around, it is indicative of the total lack of leadership in the Tory party that an old has-been can generate so much interest. They'll be digging up Winston Churchill next to join the campaign .
People who criticise Mrs T do so from the heart and not from the head. They should remember what the country was like when she took over. Without her single-minded conviction this country would have become a banana republic. Inflation is not at 2% and unemployment under a million and our economy the fourth largest in the world by chance. Tony knows this. You might as well have his mug with the Lady's hair do on top - after all he'd like to be seen as her real successor
S Radia, London, UK
The pettiness of British Conservative politicians and some Britons
absolutely amazes me! These politicians are partly to blame for
the riots in Manchester. They definitely should do more to stop
the National Front. It is indeed ironic that Britain which
built its wealth by colonizing many of these countries now wants
these people out. It is also very petty for Britain to dwell so much
on the asylum seekers. This tiny rainy little island would be
nothing without its former colonies and the people who have immigrated
there. Britain now goes out of its way to kowtow to the United States. Britain must try harder to get rid of racism as the United States has done. Without its immigrants, Britain would be a bland, boring & cultureless country.
Thatcher was a disaster for the UK. Record unemployment, record interest rates, socially exclusive policies, ruined education system, ruined health service, double VAT, decimated manufacturing industries, etc. No wonder the pound coin is nicknamed the Thatcher-thick, brassy and thinks its a sovereign. Keep her quiet.
I know why you have so many respondents here - the wounds still run deep and the incredulity is one of British citizens' greatest shames and embarrassments.
Now I'm sure Hague is totally barking. To roll out Maggie and John Major on the same day proves he has finally accepted his party is not fit for Government. A bully and a wimp, what an excellent reminder of what Conservatism has given us in the recent past. I didn't know if I could be bothered to vote next week. Seeing the Mummy rise from her tomb I think I'll be at the polling station before it opens to make sure her legacy is kept firmly out of power. Maggie, do us all a favour, find somewhere dark and quiet and stay there.
This must be a great boost to Labour, think of all the traditional Labour voters who would have stayed at home but will now be voting. There will be an even bigger landslide than last election, thanks Maggie.
Churchill made the country safe from the Fascists, and gave people the courage to elect a Labour government. The legacy of that Labour government can be seen daily - our run-down and severely truncated rail system (after fifty years of nationalisation), our crumbling health service and the inability of public bodies to provide efficient and cost-effective services. Margaret Thatcher had the courage to tackle some of the mess left behind by Labour. The other Thatcher legacy was to force the Labour party to ditch the bulk of its crazy policies to have any hope of being returned to power.
Felicity, Northampton, England
Of course she is still important, as a warning of what things were like when she was in charge. You only have to remember her record! After four years in government (79-83) what had Thatcher achieved? She put one million people on the dole, lost the Falklands, financially crippled the NHS, gave in to the miners, and doubled VAT. All of this was done while her government was enjoying the windfall of North Sea Oil. Remarkable!
Mrs Thatcher seems intent on reminding us all why she was so unceremoniously dumped as leader by her own party. She believed in individual control - her control. Ironically, she talks about the British people not having control of our currency if we enter the Euro, but we didn't have it when she was Prime Minister. The value of sterling was used to boom and bust our economy as each election came and went. Also, we entered at the crazy value of 2.95 DM, the timing purely to up-stage a Labour Party event the very next day. I'd rather have a Euro under Labour than a Pound under the Conservative Party.
We are not just individuals, but a society of individuals. That was what she ignored and that was her legacy. The death of society.
If "Thatcherism" was so bad, why did she win three successive elections and was only deposed of by her own party?
Simon, Isle of Man
Whilst opinions obviously differ greatly, Thatcher was elected by the majority of the British public - and not just once. Surely they have to take some of the credit/blame ?
Yvonne Kirchgaesser, Cologne, Germany
Have all those apologists for Thatcherism forgotten her real legacy? Just to take one example, the crumbling state of most school buildings was brought about through many years of under-funding. The Labour Government is at least addressing the problem, even if it isn't moving fast enough.
As to the jingoistic nonsense about putting the 'Great' back in GB - an objective view might be that Britain was marginalized by her xenophobia and has suffered from a lack of influence in a time of globalisation.
Right or wrong, Thatcher is sending a message to our neighbour countries. Is she really against Europe or has she just lost the plot?
Russell Jones, Manchester, UK
It's interesting how the name Thatcher brings the right-wing loonies out from under their stones. The woman had few morals and no social conscience. Hey guys, we don't have an empire any more and people don't like being exploited.
Margaret Thatcher is only concerned with her own image, as she ever was, and tries to cling to the last vestiges of power and influence because she cannot let go. She dealt out a great deal of misery to many in her time as Prime Minister. Every time she speaks out these days in her usual self-obsessed and jingoistic manner, she erodes even further the dwindling Tory support.
James Welsh, Asuncion, Paraguay
What Thatcher seems to have forgotten, is that if we do decide to have the euro, then it will be the British public that decides, not dinosaurs like her.
Growing up in Yorkshire, I saw the effects of Thatcherism every day. She is a single minded woman who has always believed she is surrounded by fools. Unfortunately for the UK, her single mind was and still is missing a few marbles. From a great start in 1979 when the country was reeling, she has left destruction in her wake. We have no industry left and are seen as a second rate call centre rather than a major player in Europe. Blair may not be perfect but he is the country's best hope of progress. Let's stop throwing around terms like socialism, today's Labour party is a sensible middle of the road party whereas today's Tory party is a sad reflection of its former pre-Thatcher, pre-ideology self.
Adrian, Leeds
I notice that there are no messages from any Irish people on this subject. Is this because the views are too strong to be printed? If Maggie were still in power, there would be no ceasefire in the north because she wouldn't talk to any of the parties involved. Disaster would have ensued. Good riddance to her.
Thatcher's legacy is not Tony Blair. Blair-style left-wing governments are very common in Europe. Her real legacy is an autocratic style of government that lasted too long, ultimately leaving her own party in complete disarray and above all depriving it of any chance to win any election in the foreseeable future.
David Scott, London
Many of society's problems today can be specifically linked to Thatcher's legacy - she destroyed the notion of community and social responsibility and promoted crass individualism. We need her to come out every now and again to remind us of how much we have to change this country. I hate everything she stood for which ensures that as a young(ish) voter I will never vote for the Tories.
Thatcher destroyed more British industry in ten years of mismanagement than Hitler did in 6 years of bombing. She declared economic warfare on those who did not live and work in her middle-class, middle-England utopia. Frankly the quicker she is consigned to the pages of history the happier I will be.
Andy, London, UK
Thatcher's time is long gone. She has no role to play in the General Election.
Yes, Thatcher's medicine was difficult to swallow, but the British patient was very sick in 1979! The economy was a mess. Greed was rife within society - just look back at the actions of the Trade Unions at the time. Inflation, high interest rates, destructive tax levels and a country which became the laughing stock of the world ! Thatcher saw us through the cold war when her opponents (including the modern Labour party) were backing CND and the fascists in Moscow! Give me the straight talking Thatcher (warts and all) than the sickly double spin of the current crop of politicians. Get real!
Thatcher is the reason why the Conservative Party today is simply unelectable. The sooner she leaves the limelight and stops undermining the policies of the party, the sooner they will be able to mount anything like a serious challenge to Labour. The people who say they would welcome her back today as Tory leader obviously don't remember that during her time she had no regard for the more needy in society. Or maybe they, like her, just don't care!
Whether you love her or loath her, I note that even Mr. Blair thinks that many of her decisions were . We have done much better as a country since. Have we all run our private affairs perfectly?
Lady Thatcher's inane prattling may have had more credibility if she hadn't been at the helm when the UK signed the single European Act in 1986-7. The creation of a single market strongly suggested that a single currency would be introduced so either she was too stupid to see it coming or didn't care because a later parliament would have to sort it out. I know which one my money is on.
Richard Graham, Little Rock, Arkansas (USA)
Richard Graham from Arkansas ought to educate himself about the true state of Britain before praising Thatcher. He claims there was an increase in the standard of living - well that's true - but only for the rich minority. The rich got much richer. The poor got poorer emerged for the first time as an underclass in Britain. This was Thatcher's most obvious legacy. Thatcherism is still relevant, as a lesson from history 'There's no such thing as society' is one of the most chilling lines to come out of a politician's mouth in the 20th century.
If as Mrs T. asserts, national sovereignty is predicated on control of sterling, then presumably the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is the real UK government, with a second chamber composed of all the currency traders in New York, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.
John B, UK
Margaret Thatcher represents all that was bad about Britain in the eighties. This combined with her obvious xenophobia turns off the majority of people and she should really learn to live out her retirement in peace.
Margaret Thatcher was the most divisive and destructive force in British politics for many years. History should not judge kindly the woman who felt that unemployment in the north was a price worth paying for the good of the economy of the south east of England. As a Scot I cannot put into words how much I despised her and her policies which turned my country into an economic wasteland. Basically I could never vote Tory purely because of her.
Jorge, Virginia, USA
My lasting image of Mrs Thatcher was when during the Falklands war she came out of Number 10 and told people to "go home and rejoice". War, death and destruction are not things I want to celebrate!
How can you compare her character with the one of Blair?
She is a brilliant leader and she should be involved in the campaign.
Thatcher ripped the heart and soul out of this country and will be long remembered for it. I heard her on the radio today talking about the euro and found it embarrassing. She was a caricature of herself and had no strong arguments and just kept repeating her mantra about the euro without giving any reasons. She's way past her sell-by date and I suspect Hague and Portillo dread her interventions. She has probably even cost the Tories a couple of marginal seats!
The popular myth is that Thatcher's policies destroyed public services and wrecked people's lives. In reality, the damage had already been done by post-war Labour policies. All Thatcher did was supply the medicine that gives us the prosperity we have now. Another five or even ten years of Labour government will put us back to the bad old, state-interventionist days of the 1970s.
John Offrell, Gothenburg, Sweden
Mrs Thatcher is one of the greatest prime ministers this country has ever had. Of course, this does not mean that all she did was perfect, but Britain is wealthier and more efficient largely because of her policies. Remember, "New" Labour stuck to many Tory policies and still make a utter mess of them.
Of course Thatcher still has a role in this election.
It's to maximise the Labour vote. Keep up the good work Maggie!
P McPhater, London, UK
She came, she saw, she led. Today it's, he came, he saw, they 'spun'. There's the difference!!!
The only reason why I used to respect Thatcher was that she broke the overwhelming power of the Unions at a time when they were ruining the country. That was her only finest hour. The rest of her tenure in power was selfish, shortsighted and appalling.
I must disagree with Marc Jones. Unlike a minority of politicians of her generation and probably most of the current crop, Thatcher was not selfish. She really thought what she was doing was for the good of the country. Blair wants to be seen as the greatest Prime Minister of all time and in some ways seeks to emulate her. Like many parts of our history we fail to understand them because we analyse them outside of their historical context.
Mike, UK
I am intrigued to know why the American contributors seem to hold Thatcher in such high regard. The American political system is based upon federalist democracy and pluralism, whilst Thatcher
reduced the power of local democracy and centralised the
State. Would these policies be popular in the US? I think
not.
To congratulate Thatcher for the achievements of the 80s is like the people of Coventry thanking Hitler for providing the opportunity to rebuild their city. Under Thatcher's government, inflation soared from 9% to above 20%; unemployment went from 1 million to over 3 million.
And yet people idolise her. How is that possible?
Patrick McFadyen, Brussels, Ex Pat I fail to see how Thatcher gave people
the opportunity to "stand on their own
two feet" by putting them out of work and making them
on the Welfare state!
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