Paul Courtmanche

Gr.45
Jennifer Catchpaugh

Biography of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher is Britains longest serving Prime Minister, the first female leader of
the Eastern World. During her 11 years in office, she sought to change Britains way of
life and of its position on the international stage. Both revered and reviled in almost
equal measure. She postrode (mastered) the political scene, both at home and abroad,
with a passion and in a manner not seen before or since. But who was she and where
did she come from? And how did she come to power first as the leader of her party and
then as Prime Minister?
But that was no girl from the affluent shires, Margaret Thatcher was a green grocers
daughter from Grantham, whose father, Alfred Roberts, had fostered her early interests
in politics *1. Marriage to a man of means hadnt abled Mrs Thatcher not just to establish
a family, but to pursue her political ambitions. Just 2 years after her arrival in Parliament,
Mrs Thatcher was made a Junior Minister. Her promotion attracted much attention,
though not necessarily for the right reasons *2. After a flying start, Margaret Thatcher
was then appointed to the shadow from bench as a treasury spokesperson after the
Conservatives lost Office in 1964. But it was following the 1970 Conservative Election
victory that Margaret Thatcher really attracted the public attention as Education
Secretary in Edward Heath Cabinet. She put an end to free school milk, which provoked
a storm of protest from the Labour party and the press, leading to the nickname
"Margaret Thatcher, Milk Snatcher".
She remained at education until the fall of Edward Heath government in 1974. As such,
she remained an observer watching from the side lines, as Edward Heath battled with
the cold miners over pay rises and as things started to fall apart in early 1974 with
power cuts three times a day.

Following their success in defeating the government, there was jubilation in the touring
ranks but not for long. On the 30th of March, Harry Need was assassinated in the House
of Commons car parking. Margaret Thatchers right died encouraging her to run for the

leadership and he wouldve undoubtedly played a leading role in her government. But
that was not to be *3
The election was finally announced on the 8th of April.
As the campaign began, despite the labours loss of power, Callahan was ahead of
Margaret Thatcher in the opinion polls. But by now, the Conservative party had on board
an ex-TV producer, Gordon Reece, employee to promote the touring brand *4. Mrs
Thatcher too did her best too display her prodigious energy, racing around the country
on a ceaseless exercise of promotion *5. During the election campaign, Mrs Thatcher
said the Conservatives would cut income tax, reduce public expenditure, make it easier
for people to buy their own homes and curb the power of the Unions.
On the 4th of May, Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister with a commons
majority of 43 seats. On arriving at Downing Street, she made one of the most
memorable if not universally well received speech of her Prime Ministerial career *6.

Right Honourable Baroness Margaret Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS

(LG) Order of the Garter
(OM) Member of the Order of Merit
(PC) Privy Council of the United Kingdom
(FRS) Fellow of the Royal Society