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 “In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” Those are the words of Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister who is the first lady to hold that seat and subsequently win three consecutive terms. Prior to her tenure at 10 Downing Street, Thatcher was a research chemist who later trained as a barrister before winning a parliamentary seat in the year 1959. Her journey to parliament was not an easy climb as she had to face several rejections before serving as the MP for Finchley in north London, on a Conservative Party ticket. After the Conservative Party lost general elections in 1974, she defeated Edward Heath, for the party’s top seat and in May 1979, she became Prime Minister. Her long serving stay was quite eventful, having to contend with an economic recession and inner-city riots.
Nevertheless, she was tough on crime, imposed cuts on taxes, spending and regulations, privatized state-industries and state-housing, reformed the education, health and welfare systems, was tough on crime and espoused traditional values. A staunch capitalist she was and socialism is an ideal she rejected. In 1984, Thatcher escaped an assassination attempt at a hotel in the United Kingdom and her tough stance against the Soviet Union earned her the nickname the “Iron Lady”. Her reign as the Prime Minister was the longest in the 20th century. Thatcher retired form parliament in 1992 but still remained active in politics. Her rise and stay in politics have been documented in her memoirs; The Downing Street Years published in 1993 and the Path to Power published in 1995. Now in her sunset years, Thatcher’s health is deteriorated and has suffered several strokes that led to short term memory loss. In late 2009, false rumours of her death nearly caused diplomatic tensions between Canada and the UK. Thatcher’s rule was a formidable one and though critics have disagreed with her leadership style, she still remains an iconic figure in modern times that left a legacy that is as both praised as it is controversial.. View Gallery 
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