Iron Lady of British politics Margaret Thatcher: biography, political activities and interesting facts

Margaret Thatcher - one of the most famous politicians of the XX century. Her work as Prime Minister of Great Britain lasted 3 terms, which in total was 11 years. It was a difficult time - then the country was in a deep socio-economic crisis, England was called "a sick man in Europe." Margaret managed to revive the former authority of the foggy Albion and provide a preponderance of power in favor of conservatives.

"Tetcherism" in politics

This term denotes the attitudes that were characteristic of Margaret Thatcher in ideology, morality, politics. When she was a prime minister, she tried to put them into practice.

Its main characteristic can be called "the right to inequality." Politician argued that a person inherent in the movement to something good, better than he has at the moment. Thatcher advocated free enterprise and initiative for profit. However, at the same time, she condemned the "passion for money for the sake of money."

For "tetcherism," equality is a mirage. And the right to inequality, in turn, pushes people to stand out, improving themselves and improving the quality of their own lives. That is why she did not condemn the wealth, but, on the contrary, she urged all citizens of the country to make efforts to increase it in order to further improve their living standards.

Childhood

Margaret Thatcher (Roberts) was born in 1925 on October 13 in Grantham, near London in the northern direction. Her family lived modestly, without excesses, one might say, ascetic for the way of people of Western Europe. The house had no running water, the amenities were also on the street. The family had two daughters, Muriel - the eldest, and Margaret - younger than her 4 years.

The eldest in all was like her mother - Beatrice, the youngest was the exact copy of Alfred's father. She was known as his favorite, so from early childhood the parent began to instill in her all the qualities that then in the adult life she was greatly helped and turned into a symbol of the era of conservatism in the UK of the 20th century.

At the age of 5, Margaret began taking piano lessons, and after another 4 years she won a poetic competition. At the award, the school principal told Margaret that she was very lucky, to which she replied: "This is not luck, it's a merit." From an early age she grew up as a debater, so she was a regular member of the discussion club and in the early years answered the questions she answered with full, meaningful answers, unlike her contemporaries, who "get rid" of some interjections.

Father - the ideal for Margaret

Alfred had an elementary education, but he was distinguished by his desire for new knowledge, as a result of which he did not spend a day without reading. This quality he planted and his daughter. Together they went to the library and took two books for a week to read them one at a time.

It was the father who instilled in the little Margaret the quality of being unlike everyone else. He suggested to her that a man should "lead for himself," and not be "led." To do this, one had to work day after day, thinking about the future and about his position in society. Alfred repeated many times: you do not need to act only because the others do it.

Her father was an ideal for her, little Margaret believed that he knew everything. Its characteristic feature was the thirst for knowledge. She had a craving for new information, experience. Margaret with her father went to meetings of the council, acquiring a taste for politics, theatricality and eloquence. Then she was 10 years old.

Margaret Thatcher for many years remembered the instructions of her father, and went with them through life. It was he who brought up in the child those foundations that today the whole world calls the capacious term "tetcherism".

The versatile formation of Thatcher

Growing up, Margaret was still as conservative as she was in her early childhood. The reason for this was the views on the life of her beloved father. He was a representative of Protestantism with all the ensuing consequences, in addition, a businessman-grocer. She never went to any dances, nor to watching movies, but she started working early in the warehouse of the Roberts family store, where she got acquainted with the basics of business and making a profit.

At the same time, she showed determination - for 4 years she learned Latin, to enter the most prestigious women's college of Oxford - Somerville. Her roommate recalled that Margaret was getting up when it was still dark and trying to learn something. The second course was difficult: she fell in love with the Count's son, but his mother brutally rejected the girl, saying that the daughter of a simple grocer is not like her son.

The ambitious girl understood more and more that her life was won by politics. Margaret Thatcher actively participated in political debates and in those years joined the Conservative Association, and in 1946 became her first female president.

In 1947, she graduated from Oxford College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Immediately found the work of a researcher-researcher of celluloid plastics in the city of Mannington.

In 1953, she received a law degree and spent the next 5 years mastering it in practice, having worked as an attorney. A little later she became a specialist in the field of taxation, having studied this branch in perfection.

Thus, the formation of the future policy turned out to be quite versatile: she knew the basics of building a business, she mastered information on legislation and taxes, she also knew the scientific processes, and, most importantly, Margaret Thatcher's reforms already in those days when she was still far away From the premiere chair.

Political debut

Strangely enough, but after graduation, Margaret knew perfectly well where she would continue her studies - in Oxford. Why there? Yes, because all future ministers of Great Britain studied in this educational institution. There she did not waste time in vain, joining the KAUU - Conservative Association of Oxford University. From this began her ascent of the political Olympus.

Even then she had a desire to run for the estate representative body, but for this it was necessary first to become president of KAUU. And Thatcher became it in 1946. This status began to take a lot of time, she slept for 3-4 hours a day. The moment came when she had to choose between politics and education - she chose the first. Therefore it is no wonder that Margaret Thatcher, an excellent student and student in the past, defended her diploma in "satisfactory", and she was awarded a bachelor's degree in the 2nd class.

Denis Thatcher - a guide to big politics

In 1948, the candidature of Margaret was approved for participation in the parliamentary elections, however, in Dartford historically Labor prevailed, since the city was industrial. Therefore, she lost her first election, but this further led the woman to further active activities.

At the same time, she met Denis Tetcher (it is on the surname of her husband that she is known all over the world). In 1951 he proposed to her. The man was 33 years old, and he was a little older than her. Denis was a businessman and therefore could provide a young spouse with everything necessary. Now she could devote herself entirely to politics, and Margaret Thatcher's reforms (the UK needed them in that moment) had been breeding for a long time.

1953 became for her a "white" life period. Twins were born twins, and four months after that, Margaret passed the final examination and became a lawyer. Specializing in her practice, she chose the tax sphere, having studied it thoroughly, that in the future the policy will be very useful.

Summarizing the chapter, it should be said that Denis played a huge role in the political growth of Margaret. After the wedding, she could completely surrender to her favorite business - politics.

Road to Parliament

In the late 1950s, Margaret with new energy began to work on parliamentary elections. The most difficult thing was to find a district from which you can nominate your candidacy. She began with the county of Kent, but there she became the second, which closed her way to parliament. In another district of the same county, the situation developed in a similar way. At the same time Finchley refused to run for parliament. The work has begun! The applicants for this place were 200 people. A written competition was held, following the results of which 22 participants were selected. Then an oral presentation was held, after which only 4 candidates remained, including Margaret Thatcher. She was elected a candidate from the district, which meant her actual election to parliament.

In 1959, she got into the English parliament - the way to big politics was opened. That time was very unfavorable for the conservatives, the economic difficulties began, Prime Minister Macmillan fell ill and resigned. And the parliamentary elections of 1964 "put the conservatives" on the opposition's bench. And Margaret herself in the same year was appointed shadow Minister for Housing.

Party leader

The 1970s were difficult for the economy and the domestic situation in the UK. In the postwar period, the country began to retreat back in its development and was no longer included even in the top ten leaders, although it was always in the forefront.

In 1974, the question of choosing a head of the Conservatives was raised. Margaret Thatcher put forward her candidacy, becoming a rival for the current leader E. Heath. Elections shocked him: from 276 to 130 votes were given in favor of Thatcher and only 19 for Hit, after which he withdrew his candidacy. But instead of him, Margaret had new rivals. The most serious of which was Whitelow. The second round of elections was held on 11.02.1975, which reflected the obvious advantage of Thatcher: for her voted 146 elected people, while Whitelaw received 79 votes.

It was a very difficult time for the conservatives, they twice failed in the parliamentary elections, the number of party members fell sharply, the party crisis came. It was clear: the party needed "new blood". And Thatcher, like no one, coped with this difficult mission.

The Iron Lady of British Politics Margaret Thatcher

She first became prime minister in 1979. These were difficult elections: until their very end, no one was sure of the victory of the Conservatives, but the final figures showed that 339 seats out of 635 in the parliament were assigned to the conservatives. Margaret understood that now she could realize those ideas that she had been harboring in her head for many years. In the political life of Britain a new era has begun.

The period of Prime Minister Thatcher was very tense: the country was in an economic and social crisis. The share of Britain's industry in the world economy fell by a quarter after the Second World War. Enterprises suffered losses, wages fell significantly. And entrepreneurs were forced to lower the quality of the product produced in order to reduce costs. The economic crisis has already begun to grow into a political one, decomposing the country from within.

Hard hand and authoritarian regime Margaret Thatcher helped Great Britain and the whole English people to feel the taste of victory and revive the former might of the state.

Margaret was always straightforward and firm in solving issues of all levels. She fought hard against trade unions, "whiners" and parasites. Many were repelled by her rigidity, but still the majority followed her because of this very determination in solving problems. Therefore, she was twice re-elected to the post of prime minister.

None of the prime ministers of the 20th century held such a long term. It became a symbol of the whole era of the revival of Britain, while at the helm of the country.

Reforms and achievements Thatcher

Margaret herself did not call herself a woman - she said: I'm a politician, but a politician does not have sex. She showed courage where he was not enough for men.

It was with her that the conflict in the Falkland Islands with Argentina was unleashed. Britain and specifically Thatcher showed her determination in this matter, having introduced troops there, after which the Argentine forces were forced to leave the islands. This small war, became the next political victory of the Iron Lady. By the way, the nickname was given to her by the Russians. In their own country, for their unyielding character, Margaret was called much less poetic, for example, "Taran" or "Armored Tank".

It is interesting that it was precisely at Thatcher that Britain came closer to the USSR, while Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife paid a government visit to London. Margaret called her Soviet colleague "Gorby" and in many matters they were in solidarity, although there were divergences.

Reforms initiated by the Iron Lady, boiled down to three main postulates:

• Reduction in taxation for large businesses;
• Privatization of public sector facilities;
• A significant reduction in the wage fund.

The latter, of course, was extremely unpopular with the bulk of people, but played a positive role in the dying economy of the country.

In those years, the problem of Ulster was of no small importance. Margaret Thatcher showed profound political wisdom, calm, but at the same time remarkable determination. She proposed to grant Ulster (Northern Ireland) independence from England, if the referendum held shows that the majority of the population will vote for this decision. However, this was not to come true: as a result, Ulster is under the aegis of the United Kingdom to this day. It should be noted that the IRA (the Irish Republican Army) even organized an attempt on the prime minister, exploding the bomb, but Margaret was not injured, unlike other figures of the Conservative Party.

Care of the premiere

In 1990, M. Thatcher resigned. Together with her passed a whole era. The Iron Lady managed to restore to the United Kingdom its former power and brilliance, returning it again to the number of leaders of the world economy and politics. This merit will remain forever in the memory of the English people, and the name of Margaret Thatcher is forever imprinted in the political history of Great Britain. On April 8, 2013 the Iron Lady was gone. Many people ask themselves: how old is Thatcher? Margaret lived a long, interesting life, reaching 87 years of age. The farewell procession was held in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, members of her family, as well as political figures of a bygone era.