“Margaret learned valuable lessons from keeping a shop, and she would return to these when she became Prime Minister: keep your accounts in order, don't spend more than you've earned, and compete for customers by serving them better than others do.” – Margaret Thatcher
Few women have shattered the glass ceiling so spectacularly as Margaret Thatcher in her storied political career. Her trifecta of successes as a Member of Parliament in 1959 (on her 5th attempt); leader of the Conservative Party in 1975; and ultimately as the first-ever female Prime Minister of Britain in 1979, were unprecedented in history. Thatcher’s remarkable rise to Prime Minister was heightened by the fact that she also became the first female leader of a Western country. After handily winning three elections, Thatcher became Britain’s second longest-servicing Prime Minister in history. In a sea of men, the lady in turquoise, her favorite color, stood apart. But that meant overcoming a lot of stereotypes about women in politics.
Born in Grantham, a small market and industrial town in central England, Thatcher was raised with middle-class values in a small apartment that lacked running water and a bathroom. While working at her parent's grocery store, Margaret learned firsthand the benefits of competition in the marketplace and the value of serving customers. A good student, Thatcher attended Somerville College at Oxford University where she earned a science degree in chemistry, before obtaining a law degree at ICSL that would serve as her entrée into politics.
“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” Although Thatcher never considered herself a feminist, she couldn’t help but promote the cause by scaling one of the highest political mountains in the world. However, while in office, Thatcher opted to fill her administration with men instead of women, choosing competence over appearances. Unlike so many politicians who fall victim to identity politics, Thatcher never played the woman card by exploiting her gender. Instead, she held firm to the principles of individualism, which judges each person on their merit.
As Prime Minister, Thatcherism became the name of her particular brand of conservatism. Advocating for a free market economy, Thatcher supported low taxes and the removal of government from nationalized industries through privatization. By shunning the poor economics of redistribution, she advocated for the creation of wealth through entrepreneurship. She privatized gas, oil, telecommunication, and other industries previously under the control of the state. Layoffs that resulted from the transition were unsurprisingly unpopular but were necessary for creating efficiencies through the marketplace, something impossible to attain through government administration. Proving to be a conviction rather than a consensus politician, Thatcher played the long game, while most policymakers looked for quick and superficial wins.
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” Thatcher’s opposition to socialism began in her childhood when the Austrian country of a family pen-pal was invaded by the Nazis, forcing her to escape to England for safety. As Prime Minister, Thatcher would go on to develop a close relationship with US President Ronald Reagan in their own fight against communism, a collaboration that aided in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Thatcher also opposed a unified Europe, believing in individual autonomy for Great Britain. Instead, she cooperated with allies to reach common ends as she did so successfully with Reagan and the United States.
In the 2022 Heroes of Liberty collection, “Margaret Thatcher”, author Christine O’Hare details the life of Britain’s first female Prime Minister. From her childhood experiences to her controversial political career, Thatcher won the respect of her allies and enemies alike by staying the course, even in difficult times. This illustrated series for children ages 7-12, celebrates historical figures who promoted freedom, faith, and family while upholding values dear to Americans, one story at a time.
As the preeminent leader of Britain, Thatcher’s steel will and unyielding faith in herself and her countrymen made her a figure that was both loved and hated. These qualities, absent in far too few politicians today, make Margaret Thatcher a model for the ages.
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