Margaret Thatcher dead at age 87

LONDON, ENGLAND (NEWS1130) – She was known by friends and foes as the “Iron Lady.” Margaret Thatcher has died at the age of 87.

Thatcher was one of Britain’s longest-serving prime ministers. She was also the UK’s first and only female prime minister.

A statement was released early this morning from the family; “It is with great sadness” they announce “Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.”

Thatcher is being remembered as “unshakeable and always in command.” And she certainly was not afraid of confrontation, even within her own Conservative party.

Thatcher put her faith in freedom and the free market, learning her trade behind the counter of her father’s grocery, where economics were combined with a good dose of politics.

Her admirers saw her as a savior who rescued Britain from ruin and laid the groundwork for an economic renaissance. For critics, she was a heartless tyrant who ushered in an era of greed that kicked the weak out onto the streets and let the rich become filthy rich.

Margaret Thatcher led Britain from 1979 to 1990.

BBC political analyst James Flandale says tributes are pouring in. “Particularly, we just had one from the Queen who said in an official statement from Buckingham Palace, ‘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.”

“Her health had been declining in recent years. It clearly declined very quickly in recent days,” he adds.

The Queen has granted Margaret Thatcher a ceremonial funeral with military honours; the timing of the service has not been released.

Canadian politicians taking to social media to express sadness

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Treasury Board President Tony Clement, Veteran Affairs Minister Steven Blaney, and Bob Rae of the Liberals are among politicians who have taken to Twitter following the news of Thatcher’s death.

 

 

 

 

Memorable Thatcher quotes:

“There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. … No great party can survive except on the basis of firm beliefs about what it wants to do.” — Oct. 10, 1968, Conservative Party conference.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you tonight in my red chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved … the Iron Lady of the Western World. Me? A Cold War warrior? Well, yes — if that is how they wish to interpret my defence of values of freedoms fundamental to our way of life.” Jan. 31, 1976.

“You turn if you want to; the lady’s not for turning.” — Conservative Party Conference, Oct. 10, 1980.

“When you’ve spent half your political life dealing with humdrum issues like the environment, it’s exciting to have a real crisis on your hands.” — May 14, 1982, commenting on the Falkland Islands war.

“We fought to show that aggression does not pay and that the robber cannot be allowed to get away with his swag. We fought with the support of so many throughout the world. … Yet we also fought alone.” — July 3, 1982, on the Falkland Islands war.

“I was asked whether I was trying to restore Victorian values. I said straight out I was. And I am.” July 21, 1983, speech to British Jewish Community.

“There is no week, nor day, nor hour, when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their supreme confidence in themselves, and lose their roughness and spirit of defiance. Tyranny may always enter — there is no charm or bar against it.” — July 19, 1984, during the coal miners’ strike.

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.” Jan. 6, 1986, television interview.

“There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families.” Oct. 31, 1987, magazine interview.

“If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time and you would achieve nothing.” — May 3, 1989, commenting on her 10th anniversary as prime minister.

“I am not immortal, but I’ve got a lot left in me yet.” — Sept. 9, 1990.

“I cannot imagine how any diplomat, or any dramatist, could improve on (Ronald Reagan’s) words to Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva summit: ‘Let me tell you why it is we distrust you.’ Those words are candid and tough and they cannot have been easy to hear. But they are also a clear invitation to a new beginning and a new relationship that would be rooted in trust.” — Eulogy at funeral of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, June 11, 2004