Ex-Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher dies, aged 87 - BBC News Ex-Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher dies, aged 87 8 April 2013 Close share panel Image caption Baroness Thatcher was the first woman to be UK prime minister, winning three elections Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died "peacefully" at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke while staying at the Ritz hotel in central London. David Cameron called her a "great Briton" and the Queen spoke of her sadness at the death. Lady Thatcher was Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990. She was the first woman to hold the role. She will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother. The ceremony, with full military honours, will take place at London's St Paul's Cathedral. The union jack above Number 10 Downing Street has been lowered to half-mast while Parliament will be recalled from its Easter recess on Wednesday to enable MPs to pay tributes to the former prime minister.

Obama tribute After cancelling planned talks in Paris with French President Francois Hollande and returning to the UK, Mr Cameron made a statement outside No 10 in which he described Lady Thatcher as "the patriot prime minister" and said she had "taken a country that was on its knees and made it stand tall again". "Margaret Thatcher loved this country and served it with all she had. For that she has her well-earned place in history - and the enduring respect and gratitude of the British people," he said. In an era in which politicians are all too often greeted with indifference, it is easy to forget that Britain was once led by a woman who inspired passion - both love and loathing. By Nick RobinsonPolitical editor Lady Thatcher, who retired from public speaking in 2002, had suffered poor health for several years. She had been staying at the Ritz hotel since being discharged from hospital at the end of last year. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Lady Thatcher - whose husband Denis died in 2003 - had been a controversial politician who inspired "passion" among her critics and supporters.

Her government privatised several state-owned industries and was involved in a year-long stand-off with unions during the Miners' Strike of 1984-5. She was also in power when the UK fought a war following Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Lady Thatcher survived an assassination attempt in 1984, when the IRA bombed the Brighton Grand Hotel, where she was staying for the Conservative Party's annual conference. During her later years in office she became increasingly associated with Euroscepticism. She is also seen as one of the key movers behind the fall of communism in eastern Europe. She stood down in 1990 after she failed to beat Michael Heseltine by enough votes to prevent his leadership challenge going into a second round. LIFE OF MARGARET THATCHER At-a-glance: Margaret Thatcher World leaders and senior UK figures have been paying tribute to Lady Thatcher. US President Barack Obama said the world had "lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty" and that "America has lost a true friend". German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would "never forget her part in surmounting the division of Europe and at the end of the Cold War".

Ahead of his return to the UK, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Margaret Thatcher succeeded against all the odds. The real thing is she didn't just lead our country; she saved our country. "I believe she will go down as the greatest British peacetime prime minister." A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family." Lady Thatcher was born Margaret Roberts, the daughter of a shopkeeper and Conservative councillor in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1925. She studied chemistry at Oxford University and worked for a plastics company before marrying businessman Denis Thatcher in 1951. She gave birth to twins Mark and Carol in 1953, the year she also qualified as a barrister, and served as MP for Finchley, north London, from 1959 to 1992. Having been education secretary, she successfully challenged former prime minister Edward Heath for her party's leadership in 1975 and won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

Sir John Major, who replaced Lady Thatcher as prime minister in 1990, called her a "true force of nature". He added: "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private." 'Unique' Baroness Thatcher's funeral route Baroness Thatcher is to have a ceremonial funeral - a step short of a state funeral - with military honours to be held at St Paul's Cathedral in London The funeral parade will begin at Chapel of St Mary Undercroft at the Palace of Westminster A hearse will take the body to the RAF Chapel at the church of St Clement Danes on the Strand Baroness Thatcher's coffin will be transferred to a gun carriage and drawn by the Kings Troop Royal Artillery to St Paul's Cathedral The route is to be lined by all three armed forces Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair called her a "towering figure", while his successor Gordon Brown praised her "determination and resilience". Labour leader Ed Miliband said Lady Thatcher had been a "unique figure" who "reshaped the politics of a whole generation". He added: "The Labour Party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure.

But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength." Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg described Lady Thatcher as one of the "defining figures in modern British politics", adding: "She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics." Others to pay tribute included former chancellors Lord Howe and Lord Lawson, who resigned from her government following differences over economic policy, Europe and her leadership style. Lord Howe said the former prime minister was a "remarkable person" and a "very good" leader. London Mayor Boris Johnson said Lady Thatcher's memory would "live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics" while Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described her as "a truly formidable prime minister whose policies defined a political generation". Image caption "Parties" are being held in Glasgow and in Brixton, south London, following Baroness Thatcher's death But Lady Thatcher's economic policies and political style also came in for criticism.

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock said income inequality had grown sharply during her time in office while Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said she had "prolonged the war and caused great suffering" in Northern Ireland by the use of "draconian, militaristic policies". In a statement, The National Union of Mineworkers said Lady Thatcher had "set out to serve those whose interests were profit for the few" and this had led to the "decimation" of the coal industry. And "parties" have been taking place in Glasgow and in Brixton, south London, to mark Baroness Thatcher's death. BBC reporters said about 250 people are attending the event in Glasgow and 100 in Brixton. Margaret Thatcher's rise to power - YouTube Margaret Thatcher's rise to power Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Published on Apr 8, 2013 Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died aged 87 following a stroke at her home on Monday. Category Margaret Thatcher dead at 87 following stroke | Politics | The Guardian Margaret Thatcher dead at 87 following stroke The first woman elected to lead a major western state changed way Britons viewed politics and economics Margaret Thatcher, who has died at the age of 87. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Monday 8 April 2013 10.21 EDT First published on Monday 8 April 2013 10.21 EDT Close This article is 3 years old Margaret Thatcher , the most dominant British prime minister since Winston Churchill in 1940 and a global champion of the late 20th-century free market economic revival, has died. Her spokesman, Lord Bell, said on Monday: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning. A further statement will be made later." Downing Street announced that she would receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.

David Cameron, who is cutting short his trip to Europe to return to London following the news, said: "It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton." He told the BBC: "As our first woman prime minister, Margaret Thatcher succeeded against all the odds, and the real thing about Margaret Thatcher is that she didn't just lead our country, she saved our country, and I believe she will go down as the greatest British peacetime prime minister." Cameron later said parliament would be recalled on Wednesday "for a special session in which tributes will be paid" to Lady Thatcher. In a statement, President Barack Obama said that, "the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend." "Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will." He added that her premiership was "an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can't be shattered".

Buckingham Palace said the Queen was sad to hear the news and that she would be sending a private message of sympathy to the family. The first woman elected to lead a major western state, Lady Thatcher, as she became after the longest premiership since 1827, served 11 unbroken years at No 10. She was only overthrown by an internal Tory party coup in 1990 after her reckless promotion of the poll tax led to rioting in Trafalgar Square. Thatcher, who was 87, had been in declining health for some years, suffering from dementia. The death of Sir Denis Thatcher, her husband of 50 years and closest confidante, intensified her isolation in what had proved a frustrating retirement, despite energetic worldwide activity in the early years. After a series of mini-strokes in 2002 Thatcher withdrew from public life, no longer able to make the kind of waspish pronouncements that had been her forte in office – and beyond. Her death was greeted with tributes from across the political spectrum.

As Labour sources announced the party would suspend campaigning in the local election as a mark of respect, its leader, Ed Miliband, said: "She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage. "The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength." The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. "She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics." The work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said: "Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again.

She bestrode the political world like a colossus." The former prime minister Tony Blair said: "Margaret Thatcher was a towering political figure. Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world." Blair's successor as prime minister, Gordon Brown, said: "She will be remembered not only for being Britain's first female prime minister and holding the office for 11 years, but also for the determination and resilience with which she carried out all her duties throughout her public life.

Even those who disagreed with her never doubted the strength of her convictions and her unwavering belief in Britain's destiny in the world." Describing her as a political phenomenon, the former Tory prime minister Sir John Major said: "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private." The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics." The "Iron Lady" proved a significant cold war ally of the US president Ronald Reagan in the final showdown with the Soviet Union, which broke up under reformist pressures led by Mikhail Gorbachev, a Kremlin leader with whom Thatcher famously declared she could "do business". As a result, many ordinary voters in ex-Soviet bloc states saw her as a bold champion of their liberty, a view widely shared across the spectrum of mainstream US opinion – though not at home or among key EU partners.

Thatcher was an unremarkable mid-ranking Conservative politician – known chiefly for being a "milk-snatching" education secretary under Edward Heath (1970-74) – until she unexpectedly overthrew her twice-defeated boss to become party leader in 1975. Within a decade she had become known around the world – both admired and detested – for her pro-market domestic reforms and her implacable attitudes in foreign policy, including her long-running battle with the IRA, which almost managed to murder her when it placed a bomb in the Grand Hotel, Brighton, in 1984. At home the emerging doctrine of Thatcherism meant denationalisation of state-owned industry – the new word "privatisation" came into widespread use in many countries – and defeat of militant trade unionists, notably the National Union of Miners, whose year-long strike (1984-85) was bitter and traumatic. Boosted by the newly arrived revenues from Britain's North Sea oil fields, Thatcher had room to manoeuvre and change the ageing industrial economy in ways denied to postwar predecessors, and she used the opportunity to quell her enemies – including moderate "wets" in her own party and cabinet.

But she also deployed her notorious "handbaggings" in the European Union to obtain a British rebate – "my money" as she called it. She was less successful in fending off the centralising ambitions of the "Belgian empire", her description of the European commission, especially in the years when it was headed by the French socialist Jacques Delors. A further sign of her losing her grip came when Thatcher, long a sympathiser with the apartheid regime in South Africa against the liberation movement, dismissed Nelson Mandela as a terrorist. Her allies in the tabloid press, notably Rupert Murdoch's Sun, egged her on. And, as the British economy recovered from the severe recession that her monetarist medicine had inflicted on it – to tame the unions and cure inflation – she briefly seemed invincible. But untrammelled power, with the defeat or retirement of allies who had kept her in check, led to mistakes and growing unpopularity. When Sir Geoffrey Howe, nominally her deputy, finally fell out with Thatcher – chiefly over Europe – his devastating resignation speech triggered Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge.

It had been expected since he resigned as defence secretary over the Westland helicopter affair in 1986, Thatcher's closest previous brush with political death. Heseltine denied her outright victory in the first round of voting – then confined only to MPs – and she made way for Major rather than risk losing to him in the second ballot. In retirement she wrote highly successful memoirs in two volumes and campaigned energetically on behalf of the Thatcher Foundation, which sought to promote her values – free markets and Anglo-Saxon liberties – around the world. Speaking engagements made her moderately wealthy and she made her final home in London's Belgravia. April 8, 2013: Britain mourns – but some rejoice – as Baroness Thatcher dies aged 87 - BT April 8, 2013: Britain mourns – but some rejoice – as Baroness Thatcher dies aged 87 Britain’s first female Prime Minister, the formidable and controversial Margaret Thatcher, died at the Ritz at the age of 87 – dividing the country in death as she had in her lifetime.

Print this story Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who led the Conservative government from 1979 to 1990, died on this day in 2013 at the age of 87. Baroness Thatcher, born Margaret Roberts in 1925, passed away peacefully according to reports after suffering a stroke at the Ritz Hotel in London, where she had been staying at the invitation of the owners since December. She had largely withdrawn from public life and retired from public speaking after suffering a number of previous strokes, though she had spoken at a celebration of her 80th birthday in 2005 attended by the Queen and 650 invited guests. Mrs Thatcher was a leader that polarised opinion – supporters adored her, critics vehemently opposed her – and while tributes flooded in from MPs, ministers and foreign leaders past and present, impromptu parties were held by members of the public in some areas to ‘celebrate’ her passing. The daughter of a Lincolnshire grocer and local politician, Margaret Thatcher studied Chemistry at Oxford before joining a plastics firm whilst becoming involved with the Conservative Party.

She first entered parliament after winning the Finchley constituency for the party in 1959. She became a member of Edward Heath’s cabinet after the 1970 election, as Minister for Education and Science, but would go on to defeat Heath in a leadership contest in February 1975, becoming the first woman to head a major UK political party. Under her leadership, the Conservatives regained power after defeating James Callaghan’s Labour government in the 1979 general election; she would win further elections in 1983 and 1987. In her last term, public opposition to the Poll Tax and internal cabinet disquiet at her increasingly Eurosceptic stance led to her being challenged for the leadership of the party by Michael Heseltine in 1990. Though she defeated him in the first ballot her majority was not large enough to prevent a second round of voting, and she was persuaded to stand down. She received a ceremonial funeral, including full military honours, on April 17. A formal procession of her coffin on a gun carriage through Central London was followed by a church service at St Paul's Cathedral, and her remains were later cremated at Mortlake Crematorium.

How does Mrs Thatcher compare to other British Prime Ministers? What did you make of the ‘celebrations’ after her death? Let us know in the Comments section below. Margaret Thatcher – Did you know? When she joined the front bench as Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance in Harold Macmillan's government in 1961, Thatcher was the youngest woman in UK political history to receive such a post. As well as being one of the few Conservative MPs to support Leo Abse’s 1967 bill to decriminalise male homosexuality, she also voted in favour of David Steel's bill to legalise abortion. She was however in favour of retaining capital punishment. In spite of having been a member of the shadow cabinet for some time, in 1970 she scoffed at the idea of one day leading the country, saying: "There will not be a woman prime minister in my lifetime—the male population is too prejudiced." Though free school milk was abolished during her tenure as Education Secretary, earning her the nickname ‘Thatcher the Milk Snatcher’, cabinet papers later revealed her to be against the idea, her hand forced by the Treasury into a policy she knew would be unpopular.

Though he had lost three of the four general elections he contested, Edward Heath’s loss to Mrs Thatcher in the 1975 Conservative leadership election. William Whitelaw, the man she comfortably defeated in the election’s second ballot, would be appointed as her deputy. After a scathing attack on the Soviet Union in a 1976 speech, the Russian Defence Ministry newspaper The Red Star gave her the soubriquet ‘The Iron Lady’ – a nickname she was pleased to adopt. Though the first in the UK, Mrs Thatcher was only the fifth female elected head of government worldwide. She was preceded by Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Ceylon/Sri Lanka), Indira Gandhi (India), Golda Meir (Israel) and Elisabeth Domitien (Central African Republic). The Queen and Prince Philip attended Mrs Thatcher’s funeral – the first former Prime Minister this honour was afforded to since Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. Maggie dead in bed at The Ritz – The Sun The nation’s first and only female Prime Minister died at the London hotel, where carers had been looking after her around the clock after years of deteriorating health.

Lady Thatcher had endured a series of mini-strokes and last December underwent surgery to remove a growth from her bladder. London News Pictures She was the longest-serving PM of the 20th Century — and the fifth longest in history, holding office for 11½ years from 1979 until 1990, when she left Number Ten in tears. A ceremonial funeral will be held for her in St Paul’s Cathedral with full military honours on Wednesday or Thursday next week. JEFF MOORE Current Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron led national mourning yesterday — declaring: “Lady Thatcher didn’t just lead our country, she saved our country.” Wearing a black tie in Downing Street last night, he went on to herald the Iron Lady’s rise from humble roots as an inspiration to all. Mr Cameron said: “The odds were stacked against her — the shopkeeper’s daughter from Grantham who made it all the way to the highest office in the land. Buckingham Palace said the Queen was “sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher” and was sending a private message of sympathy to her family.

US President Barack Obama led worldwide tributes, saying: “The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend.” Flags on government buildings across Whitehall were lowered to half-mast yesterday, as was the Union Flag over Buckingham Palace. Similar scenes were seen in the Falkland Islands, where Lady Thatcher is regarded as a heroine for refusing to back down when Argentina invaded in 1982. Flowers were also laid at a road named after her in the remote British territory. A single daffodil was placed at the feet of a statue of Lady Thatcher statue just outside the entrance to the Commons chamber. And a steady stream of mourners placed flowers and books outside her home in London’s Belgravia. Dozens of devastated well-wishers gathered outside The Ritz last night to hold an emotional vigil. Antiques dealer Mark Law, 47, said: “It’s incredibly sad. I was at school when she first became PM and people younger than me don’t remember how bad the country was.

“She was an inspirational figure — her legacy will go on.” Lady Thatcher, whose husband Sir Denis died in 2003, was last seen in public last October 13 to mark her 87th birthday with her family. Pals decided she needed 24-hour care last December as she recovered from her bladder operation. They persuaded the frail politician to move out of her London home and into The Ritz, where a five-star suite costs from £810 per night. In a rare move normally reserved for national emergency, both Houses of Parliament are being recalled from their Easter break for one day on Wednesday so MPs can pay tributes to Lady Thatcher, who also leaves two grandchildren. Aides interrupted Mr Cameron’s meeting with Spanish leader Mariano Rajoy in Madrid at noon yesterday to tell him of her death. He scrapped a joint press conference — as well as dinner with French President François Hollande in Paris — to fly straight home to take charge of co-ordinating tributes and funeral arrangements. As a mark of respect, Labour’s leader Ed Miliband suspended the party’s local election campaign just two hours after launching it.

He also won praise by refusing to deliver any political criticism, saying: “It’s time to remember what she actually achieved as a person. Now is the time to show respect.” But in death as in life, the former Prime Minister’s passing sparked strong emotions from across the political divide. And having smashed the unions, privatised state industries and won the Falklands War, a furious debate about her extraordinary legacy was also renewed afresh. Lady Thatcher’s former Labour nemesis Lord Kinnock passed on his condolences to her family, but added: “Thatcherism was an unmitigated disaster for Britain.” Some Left-wing activists who had long held her as a hate figure provoked disgust by holding street parties to celebrate her demise. Dozens of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square to mark the occasion with champagne. One woman wore a T-shirt with the slogan “The Witch Is Dead” scrawled in marker pen on the back. More than 100 people gathered in Brixton, South London — scene of fierce riots two years after the Baroness became PM.

Some carried banners, with one saying: “Rejoice, Thatcher is dead.” They also opened champagne and cheered, shouting: “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie — dead, dead, dead.” In Glasgow, 400 people hugged and danced to music during a sick party in the city’s George Square. Rita Connelly, 61, said: “I am down to mark the death of Margaret Thatcher. She ruined communities and will not be forgiven.” Heather MacKintosh, 48, said: “I’m sorry for her family but given the legacy she left in Scotland I knew I had to come down.” But one middle-aged woman who was trying to get through the busy square insisted: “This is not a day for celebrating — a woman has died. It’s disgusting.” Strathclyde Police last night said they were monitoring the situation. Meanwhile anarchists are planning a weekend party in Trafalgar Square to celebrate Lady Thatcher’s death. Activists from the Class War group are calling for supporters to gather in central London on Saturday evening. There are fears the event could descend into violence as the venue was the scene of anti-poll tax riots in 1990.

Anarchist author Ian Bone, 65 — who founded Class War in 1983 — also raised fears the funeral could be disrupted. He said: “We expect thousands to turn out and thousands more at the funeral.” On his blog Bone urged supporters to “rejoice” and promised the party would be the “best night out since the poll tax riot”. 10 reasons to remember Thatcher CAMERA PRESS/Graham Wiltshire 1. She was Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister. Serving from 1979-1990 she was the longest serving British PM, winning three general elections. 2. Restored national pride by leading Britain to victory in the 1982 Falklands war following the islands’ shock invasion by Argentina’s right-wing military junta. 3. Dubbed the Iron Lady by a Russian journalist in 1976 for her opposition to Soviet communism. The nickname stuck and was the title of the 2011 biopic for which Meryl Streep won an Oscar. 4. Smashed the power of the trade unions by facing down the 1984 national miners’ strike led by Arthur Scargill.

But she was blamed for causing mass unemployment and the decline of manufacturing in the North. 5. Formed a close relationship with US President Ronald Reagan which proved instrumental in winning the Cold War with the 1989 collapse of Communism. 6. Transformed Britain’s economy, introducing sweeping privatisation of Britain’s ailing steel, telecom and utilities industries. 7. Gave five million council house tenants the right to buy their own homes with the 1980 Housing Act. 8. Survived a deadly IRA assasination attempt when a bomb ripped through her hotel at the Tories’ 1984 Brighton party conference. 9. Loved and loathed for her memorable one-liners, including: “The lady’s not for turning”, “There is no such thing as society” and “We are a grandmother”. 10. Lampooned by pioneering puppet show Spitting Image, alternative comedy The Young Ones, scouser Alexei Sayle and right-on comic Ben Elton.

Margaret Thatcher will be 'remembered as a conviction politician' Margaret Thatcher will be 'remembered as a conviction politician' TOUR: Mrs Thatcher on a visit to Leicester in 1981 Politics experts at De Montfort University have spoken of the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, who has died aged 87 after suffering a stroke. Lady Thatcher, who was Conservative PM from 1979 to 1990, died today. Her funeral, with full military honours, will be held at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral on April 17. Professor Colin Copus, DMU’s professor of Local Politics, in the Department of Politics and Public Policy, said: “Mrs Thatcher made an impression in politics for so many different reasons. She was someone who was loved and loathed in equal measure. “Whatever you thought about her, nobody ever said “oh she’s all right” you got either deep loathing or reverence. Thatcher never had the desire to be all things to all people, as so many politicians do today. She said ‘this is what I stand for – you either stand for me or against me’. In many respects, politics has lost a lot of colour since her.

You can’t knock the enthusiasm and the passion that she brought to politics.” Alistair Jones, principal lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Policy, said Thatcher was the architect of today’s aspiration politics. He said: “Margaret Thatcher will be remembered as the first woman to become Prime Minister in the UK. She will also be remembered as not just a conviction politician, but one who stood by her convictions when Prime Minister – unlike any other Prime Minister before or since. Thatcher, as Prime Minister, rejected the post-war consensus politics. She stood for change when becoming Conservative Party leader in 1975. “Her rejection of the post-war consensus was ideological, against both left and right. Her premiership ushered in an era of neo-liberalism – one which has endured today. The changes that she introduced – including privatisation, liberalisation, reducing the power of the unions, rolling back the frontiers of the state – are seen as the new consensus of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Thatcher envisaged a home-owning and share-holding democracy. The aspiration politics – that so many politicians talk about today – had its origins here.

Yet Thatcher was a ‘marmite’ politician – you either loved or hated her and her government’s policies. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Ronald Reagan against the Soviet Union and, arguably, played a key role in the moves that led to the end of the Cold War. But she didn’t always get things right. The Poll Tax was a mistake that led to her downfall. Add the then-European Community into the mix – something with which she never seemed to get to grips – and the result, by the late 1980s, was an isolated leader, who somehow seemed out of touch with the average person in the street. The Parliamentary Conservative Party removed her because she was seen as an electoral liability, even though she was still exceedingly popular with the grassroots of the party. It had been this ability to resonate with the average person that had helped her to win three consecutive general elections, and to dominate British politics, in a way that no peacetime politician has ever been able to do." Lady Thatcher pursued a policy of privatisation and sold off several of Britain’s state-owned industries, including British Rail. Her campaign to close the mines resulted in the year-long miners’ strike in 1984/5.

She was also in power when the UK fought a war following Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Lady Thatcher survived an assassination attempt in 1984, when the IRA bombed the Brighton Grand Hotel, during the Conservative Party's annual conference. She resigned in 1990 after she failed to beat Michael Heseltine by enough votes to prevent his leadership challenge going into a second round. She was succeeded as Tory PM by John Major. Lady Thatcher, born Margaret Roberts in Grantham, served as MP for Finchley, north London, from 1959 to 1992. Having been education secretary, she successfully challenged former PM Edward Heath for her party's leadership in 1975 and won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987. Lady Thatcher, who retired from public speaking in 2002, had suffered poor health for several years. Her husband Denis died in 2003.

Posted on Monday 8th April 2013 Margaret Thatcher dies: Reaction in quotes - BBC News BBC News Margaret Thatcher dies: Reaction in quotes 8 April 2013 Former Conservative Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died aged 87. Here is the reaction in quotes: DAVID CAMERON, PRIME MINISTER We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton. As our first woman prime minister, Margaret Thatcher succeeded against all the odds, and the real thing about Margaret Thatcher is that she didn't just lead our country, she saved our country, and I believe she'll go down as the greatest British peacetime prime minister. Her legacy will be the fact she served her country so well, she saved our country and that she showed immense courage in doing so. And people will be learning about what she did and her achievements in decades, probably for centuries to come. Media captionDavid Cameron: ''She didn't just lead our country, she saved our country'' BUCKINGHAM PALACE The Queen is sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend. As a grocer's daughter who rose to become Britain's first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can't be shattered. As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best. And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom's promise. MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, FORMER SOVIET LEADER Our first meeting in 1984 marked the beginning of a relationship that was difficult sometimes, not always smooth, but serious and responsible from both sides. Gradually, human relations developed as well, they became more and more friendly. Eventually we were able to reach mutual understanding, and this contributed to changes in atmosphere between our country and the West, and to the end of the Cold War. Margaret Thatcher was a great politician. She will remain in our memory and in history.

JOHN MAJOR, FORMER CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER In government, the UK was turned around under - and in large measure because of - her leadership. Her reforms of the economy, trades union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands elevated her above normal politics, and may not have been achieved under any other leader. Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private. Media captionLady Thatcher's successor Sir John Major: '' In private she was very different from her public image'' TONY BLAIR, FORMER LABOUR PRIME MINISTER Margaret Thatcher was a towering political figure. Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world. Even if you disagreed with her as I did on certain issues and occasionally strongly, you could not disrespect her character or her contribution to Britain's national life. She will be sadly missed.

Media captionTony Blair: "I always thought my job was to build on some of the things she had done rather than reverse them" NANCY REAGAN, FORMER US FIRST LADY It is well known that my husband and Lady Thatcher enjoyed a very special relationship as leaders of their respective countries during one of the most difficult and pivotal periods in modern history. Ronnie and Margaret were political soul mates, committed to freedom and resolved to end Communism. As Prime Minister, Margaret had the clear vision and strong determination to stand up for her beliefs at a time when so many were afraid to "rock the boat". As a result, she helped to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of millions of people. Ronnie and I knew her as a dear and trusted friend, and I will miss her. The United States knew Margaret as a spirited and courageous ally, and the world owes her a debt of gratitude. GORDON BROWN, FORMER LABOUR PRIME MINISTER She will be remembered not only for being Britain's first female prime minister and holding the office for eleven years, but also for the determination and resilience with which she carried out all her duties throughout her public life.

Even those who disagreed with her never doubted the strength of her convictions and her unwavering belief in Britain's destiny in the world. MERYL STREEP, ACTRESS AND STAR OF THE IRON LADY Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics. It is hard to imagine a part of our current history that has not been affected by measures she put forward in the UK at the end of the 20th Century. CYNTHIA CRAWFORD, FORMER PA TO BARONESS THATCHER She was a wonderful, wonderful person. I believe that history will honour her for all that she achieved and it has been a great privilege to have been by her side for the past 35 years. MIKE SUMMERS, LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS She will be forever remembered in the Islands for her decisiveness in sending a task force to liberate our home following the Argentine invasion in 1982. Our sincere gratitude was demonstrated in 1983 when she was granted the Freedom of the Falkland Islands. Her friendship and support will be sorely missed.

We will always be thankful for all that she did for us. NICK CLEGG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics. Media captionNick Clegg "I think everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her character and the radicalism of her politics." WILLIAM HAGUE, FOREIGN SECRETARY She changed our country forever and all of us owe so much to her. A legacy few will ever equal. GEORGE OSBORNE, CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER Margaret Thatcher's belief in freedom and optimism about the future overcame all. Her determination is our generation's inspiration. ED MILIBAND, LABOUR LEADER She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage.

The Labour Party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength. She also defined the politics of the 1980s. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and I all grew up in a politics shaped by Lady Thatcher. Media captionLabour leader, Ed Miliband: ''Lady Thatcher stirs up deep feelings... but now is not the time for party politics'' BERNARD INGHAM, FORMER NO 10 PRESS SECRETARY We have lost the outstanding peacetime prime minister of the 20th Century. She was the perfect prime minister - she knew what she wanted to do, and did it. Her 11 years were quite outstanding, and raised the standing of Britain in the world, and changed the nature of Britain itself. THE RIGHT REVEREND JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY It is right that today we give thanks for a life devoted to public service, acknowledging also the faith that inspired and sustained her.

LORD LAWSON, FORMER CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER She had firm principles but she was also interested in detail and she, with the help of some of her colleagues, certainly saved the country from a very, very weak economic condition that may have been irreversible if she hadn't come along. NORMAN TEBBIT, FORMER CONSERVATIVE PARTY CHAIRMAN It is immensely sad that we have lost one of the greatest political figures of the second half of the 20th Century. I was proud to have served in her government and to have worked with her in those years. We could do with another one like her right now. LORD HESELTINE, FORMER CONSERVATIVE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER I am sorry to learn of Lady Thatcher's death. The illness of her last years has been cruel and very difficult. I send my deepest condolences to Mark and Carol Thatcher. LORD HOWE, FORMER CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER We have not seen each other for a long time and it does come as quite a shock. She was a remarkable person with tremendous qualities - hard-working, intelligent, a very good leader.

LORD HURD, FORMER CONSERVATIVE HOME SECRETARY Mrs Thatcher was very persistent. She would not let go. She went on and on and on until through sheer exhaustion and exasperation others gave her most of what she wanted. LORD KINNOCK, FORMER LABOUR LEADER I recognise and admire the great distinction of Baroness Thatcher as the first woman to become leader of a major UK political party and prime minister. IAIN DUNCAN SMITH, FORMER CONSERVATIVE LEADER Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again. She bestrode the political world like a colossus. BORIS JOHNSON, CONSERVATIVE MAYOR OF LONDON Margaret Thatcher freed millions of people to buy their own homes and buy shares in British companies. She ended the defeatism and pessimism of the post-war period and unleashed a spirit of enterprise. She fought against the clubby, cosy, male-dominated consensus of both main parties - and she won. Her beliefs - in thrift, hard work, and proper reward for merit - were not always popular.

But her legacy is colossal. JONATHAN AITKEN, FORMER CONSERVATIVE CABINET MINISTER She did have weaknesses and they showed up from 1989 onwards. Refusing to change her mind on the poll tax was one of her biggest mistakes. ALEX SALMOND, SCOTTISH FIRST MINISTER Margaret Thatcher was a truly formidable prime minister whose policies defined a political generation. CARWYN JONES, WELSH FIRST MINISTER Margaret Thatcher was a major force in British political life who undoubtedly had a significant influence on the political, social and economic landscape in Wales and the UK. ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR She shaped modern Great Britain as few have before or since. She was one of the greatest leaders in World politics of her time. The freedom of the individual was at the centre of her beliefs so she recognised very early the power of the movements for freedom in Eastern Europe. And she supported them. I will never forget her contribution in overcoming Europe's partition and the end of the Cold War.

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT Throughout her public life, with conservative beliefs she fully assumed, she was concerned with the United Kingdom's influence and the defence of its interests. She maintained a relationship with France that was frank and honest. GEORGE W BUSH, FORMER US PRESIDENT She was an inspirational leader who stood on principle and guided her nation with confidence and clarity. She is a great example of strength and character, and a great ally who strengthened the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. BILL CLINTON, FORMER US PRESIDENT Like so many others, I respected the conviction and self-determination she displayed throughout her remarkable life as she broke barriers, defied expectations, and led her country. HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER, FORMER GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER A great European personality has gone from us. For Germany, she was not always an easy partner but always a reliable one. Many of her beliefs were influenced by her childhood in World War II, more so than through the challenges of the post-war period. It is this world view which may have been the reason for her hesitation about German reunification.

GERRY ADAMS, SINN FEIN PRESIDENT Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as prime minister. Working class communities were devastated in Britain because of her policies. Her role in international affairs was equally belligerent whether in support of the Chilean dictator Pinochet, her opposition to sanctions against Apartheid South Africa; and her support for the Khmer Rouge. Here in Ireland her espousal of old draconian militaristic policies prolonged the war and caused great suffering. Media captionGerry Adams: "Her Ireland policy was a total failure" ENDA KENNY, IRISH TAOISEACH While her period of office came at a challenging time for British-Irish relations, when the violent conflict in Northern Ireland was at its peak, Mrs Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement which laid the foundation for improved North-South co-operation and ultimately the Good Friday Agreement. FW DE KLERK, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT She will be remembered not only as one of Britain's greatest prime ministers but also as a leader whose policies and approach had a significant impact on politics throughout the world.

Although she was always a steadfast critic of apartheid, she had a much better grasp of the complexities and geo-strategic realities of South Africa than many of her contemporaries. SIR ANTHONY BAMFORD, INDUSTRIALIST Above all else, she had the courage of her convictions, she led from the front and ensured Britain enjoyed the respect it deserves overseas. KIM HOWELLS, FORMER LABOUR MP AND NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS OFFICIAL It's very difficult now looking back to try and convey the intensity of the feeling against Margaret Thatcher at that time. I mean one doesn't want to speak ill of the dead but she was despised in many many homes across the coalfields of Britain, not just south Wales of course. She had a very definite agenda. She wanted to change the country and a bit like war theory and Clausewitz she realised that sooner or later you had to confront the main enemy and she saw the main enemy, rightly or wrongly, as the National Union of Mineworkers. KEN LIVINGSTONE, FORMER LONDON MAYOR Her legacy was all the great problems we face today. Her strategy was wrong. She destroyed the trade unions by allowing our manufacturing to collapse.

GEORGE GALLOWAY, RESPECT PARTY MP Margaret Thatcher described Nelson Mandela as a "terrorist". I was there. I saw her lips move. May she burn in the hellfires. JOE ANDERSON, LABOUR MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL Tories believe in division and inequality. Thatcher defined that and Thatcherism continues today as bad or worse than her period in office. CHARLES MOORE, AUTHORISED BIOGRAPHER She's a figure of myth. And I mean by that everybody for hundreds of years will know if you say, she's a real Margaret Thatcher, they'll know what you mean. An ism has been named after her. Her character's very strong, her beliefs are very strong and this has been an enormously important part in the history of freedom in the western world and it's seen and admired, and often criticised but never the less strongly admired across the world. MORRISSEY, SINGER Thatcher will only be fondly remembered by sentimentalists who did not suffer under her leadership, but the majority of British working people have forgotten her already, and the people of Argentina will be celebrating her death. As a matter of recorded fact, Thatcher was a terror without an atom of humanity.

Question: Which former British politician died on 8th April 2013 aged 87?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher