I have to say that I was shocked to turn on the BBC News at One yesterday lunchtime and hear about the death of Margaret Thatcher.
She had left Downing Street a couple of years before I was born, but I do still have a great amount of respect for the woman who was Britain’s first – and so far only – female Prime Minister.
It is clear that even 23 years after she resigned that there are as many people who loathe her as there are people who love her: Margaret Thatcher divided the country. This divide is evident even within my own family: Mum and I are more pro-Conservative, Dad and my sister don’t really trust any politicians, but are probably more Labour than Conservative.
An interesting article appeared on the Conservative Home website earlier today, relating to what Thatcher means for young people. Rob Leitch wrote about what Thatcher means to the so-called ‘younger generation’, about how neither she nor her policies provoke furious debate in the way that they do with other age groups… he wrote that she doesn’t provoke fury, but she does stir interest by the younger generation. Its quite an interesting read, so check it out.
What I personally see in Thatcher is a strong leader; someone who arrived at Number 10, turned around the British economy, dealt with the trade unions, and helped to bring an end to the cold war. Her policies may have been painful – but difficult decisions need to be made sometimes.
Earlier today, Downing Street confirmed that her funeral will take place next Wednesday – 17th April. That is something which I will definitely be tuning in for: I will be watching on TV. And if the TV and radio programmes of the last 24 hours are anything to go by, I expect there will be many more heated arguments about Margaret Thatcher and her time as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Having watched BBC 1’s tribute programme, which was shown last night, I will now finish reading today’s Telegraph, and then I’m off to bed.
Good night.
FH.