by Graham Fisher

Created on: December 20, 2007

My first opportunity to vote in a general election was in 1979 when I was just eighteen. I didn't vote for Margaret Thatcher as I was a young left winger who had been brought up in a staunchly Labour household. I voted Labour although with hindsight, the party was totally unelectable at that time.

Mrs Thatcher won the election and proceeded to oversee a massive change to the way Britain was run. There were riots on the street for the first time in many years during the first two years of her leadership. Her popularity was at an all time low for any Prime Minister when the invasion of the Falklands by the Argentinians took place in 1982. Some cynical observers stated that the Falklands war couldn't have come at a better time for her. Some conspiracy theorists maintain to this day that Mrs Thatcher could have stopped the invasion but chose to let it go ahead so that she could prove herself to be a mighty leader. This is an unlikely suggestion, but one that deserves consideration.

Of course, Mrs Thatcher showed tremendous strength and leadership, and was portrayed as a heroine in the media for protecting her citizens and leading the country to victory. She was a very determined woman and even those who had little time for her couldn't fail to respect her for what she did.

Mrs Thatcher took the plaudits and I believe became a caricature of herself. She believed her publicity and became a one woman Government. She turned the same determination and ruthless streak she had shown in the Falklands against some of her own people during the Miners strike. Whilst there is little doubt that the unions needed to be tackled and some of their power removed, the manner in which Mrs Thatcher achieved her target was uncaring and heartless.

If Mrs Thatcher was loved by half of the population of Britain then she was equally disliked by the other half. Her lack of empathy, sympathy, and understanding for the less fortunate people in society led to the creation of an under class in the country that remains to this day. On the whole, the county became better economically under her, and those who did well did very well indeed. Those who didn't, well who cares about them? Unfortunately, that was the attitude of the Britain created by Mrs T.

There is no doubt that Mrs Thatcher was a strong leader and that she did many good things during her time in power. I respect many things about her, and I understand why she is such an important figure in British history.

Unfortunately, I believe that her legacy was one of creating a divided Britain which has never recovered. She achieved much, but destroyed much of what was good about British society and community. She was a strong leader and a powerful character. I just believe that she was too hard, too uncaring, and too autonomous.

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