30 years ago today

[ozzy72]

Well 30 years ago today Margret Hilda Thatcher became the first female head of a major Western political party.
Labour said it was a good thing for them, doh
So three cheers for Baroness Thatcher (even though she now looks like a mad turkey) for sorting out a lot of Britains problems by replacing them with other problems

[C]

So three cheers for Baroness Thatcher (even though she now looks like a mad turkey) for sorting out a lot of Britains problems by replacing them with other problems

The only woman with balls of steel (Sheffield Steel of course...)

[Hagar]

I remember it well. It's fashionable to revile our Maggie now & her policies undoubtedly caused a lot of harm & resentment in some parts of the country. Some of this is still felt today & her name is passionately hated in some communities. I didn't agree with everything she did by any stretch of the imagination & can't say I liked her very much. No matter what anyone thinks I always admired her for sticking to her beliefs & leading from the front. The "Iron Lady" was often described as the best man in the government. She was also admired & respected by politicians in other countries & her personal friendship with Presidents Reagan & Gorbachev helped ease the tension & bring an end to the Cold War. People conveniently forget this when they criticise her. It might not be fashionable but I'm not afraid to say "Well done Maggie". We could do with someone like you now, no doubt about that.

[ozzy72]

Aye, she did more things right than wrong I think Doug

[C]

It might not be fashionable but I'm not afraid to say "Well done Maggie". We could do with someone like you now, no doubt about that.

Shame she can't come and replace Tony Bliar - thankfully I missed his happy-smiley performance on "Richard and Judy" last night - hasn't he got more important things to do than taking part in their phone-in games...

Charlie

[Woodlouse2002]

She defended the Falklands and smashed the Unions. Tony has a long way to catch up.

[ozzy72]

He could do a lot worse than start with a trip to the dentists!!!

[C]

He could do a lot worse than start with a trip to the dentists!!!

...and whilst the Frog's being seen to he could have some treatments too...

[HawkerTempest5]

She also devestated the mining communities that I grew up in and caused a lot of hurt and suffering when these communities died thanks to her and her lot. Many have still not fully recovered to this day. And lets not forget the poll tax.

[Hagar]

She also devestated the mining communities that I grew up in and caused a lot of hurt and suffering when these communities died thanks to her and her lot. Many have still not fully recovered to this day. And lets not forget the poll tax.

I agree about the mining communities Tempest. I know that some are still divided now after all these years. Loyalties are strong & people don't forget or forgive easily. This is one of the things I referred to in my first reply.

However, I didn't see much wrong with the poll tax in principle. I think it was used as a political football & feelings were stirred up against it for other reasons. If the basic rates had been more realistic I don't understand how anyone could possibly object. I really don't see much difference between that & the council tax we have now, apart from one important thing. I never figured out why a homeowner like me should be expected to finance the community when there are others much wealthier than me not contributing a single penny.

Sorry if this is getting political but I don't think a discussion on Maggie Thatcher could be anything else.

[C]

I really don't see much difference between that & the council tax we have now, apart from one important thing. I never figured out why a homeowner like me should be expected to finance the community when there are others much wealthier than me not contributing a single penny.

I'm a bit young to remember the ins and outs of poll tax, but one thing is for sure - I don't know how councils should be allowed to get away with council tax increases of 15(ish)%, which by my humble estimation is a wee tad above inflation...

[Hagar]

I'm a bit young to remember the ins and outs of poll tax, but one thing is for sure - I don't know how councils should be allowed to get away with council tax increases of 15(ish)%, which by my humble estimation is a wee tad above inflation...

I'll have my final say on this subject & then shut up. I think the government should have set the rate & not allowed local councils to do it. By allowing this they left the way open for deliberate sabotage. Now logically, the more people contributing to anything the less the individual contributions should be. Does that make sense? Then please explain to me how I could possibly end up paying more poll tax than I ever did using the old system. No wonder people were against it right from the start. I suggest that if another party had the guts to introduce it there would have been very few protests.

[Flt.Lt.Andrew]

Even though Thatcher was in government for more years that I have lived, I can tell you this.
a) She got things done
b) even though there were some bad things done, she still rocks
c) She gave the Argentinians the arse whipping they deserved.

A.

[Smoke2much]

My middle name is Wat Tyler.  Ban the poll tax, up the revolution!

Oops 20(500) years too late...

Good old Maggie, bless her.  I saw the episode of "Yes Minister" with her cameo the other day.  Couldn't act for toffee.  New how to run PM's questions though.

Will