Not a fan of the poor.
May 4, 1979, Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first woman Prime Minister. Known as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher was not a favorite of mine. It is always difficult for me to separate Ronal Reagan and our Maggie Thatcher. What I chiefly remember as her legacy was the infamous poll tax. Yes, it was under Thatcher’s reign that she and the conservatives thought to tax people to vote–sounds like something John Boehner and Newt Gringrich would support. What a lovely way of preventing poor people from voting. I keep remembering the line in Absolutely Fabulous, from June Whitfield about Thatcher as Prime Minister for 40 years: “…it was a very long time.”
Love her or hate her, the Iron Lady of Britain certainly repainted the image of women in politics all over the world. She shattered the stereotype of women as ‘fragile creatures’ who are ‘ruled by their emotions and their menses.’ Her political legacy aside, she did a lot to forward the role of women in world politics. Other than Winston Churchill, she’s one of the British Prime Ministers that Americans can name!!
Very good points, Jenn, albeit sad commentary regarding Americans and our knowledge of history.
Who’s their current Prime Minister? Sir Dingly Dan… Fitzbanwahler?
Their current Prime Minister is conservative David Cameron, who succeeded Gordon Brown, supposedly from the Labour Party.
May I say it? I think I must: A poll tax from a battle-axe. She was quite a piece of work. Is it something about the name Maggie?
I know you could not resist, dear Lex.
Yes, our Maggie G and Maggie T are a strange breed.