Spooky3
You are entitled to your opinion but no-one should use that kind of language about anybody, dead or alive.
I like many on this thread lived through years of decline before Mrs T came into office. To mention only a few examples of life in those days: the 3 day week under Mr Heath, Harold Wilson inviting union leaders into No 10 to determine national policy unburied dead and rubbish piled up in the streets under Mr Callaghan, strikes galore.
In 1979 the number of stoppages across the UK peaked at 4583 when more than 29 million working days were lost. Stoppages then fell steadily throughout the rest of Thatcher's premiership; in 1990 there were 630 and fewer than 2 million working days lost.
In 1979 US GDP per head was 40% greater than that of the UK, and the main continental countries were 10%-15% ahead. By 2007 the UK had surpassed France and Germany and closed much of the gap with America.
Dennis Healey, Chancellor in James Callaghan,s government introduced an incomes policy which was intended to restrict pay increases to all but, largely due to union muscle, it was applied only to the Services, Civil Service and police. As other economic factors caused vast rises in the cost of living real hardship was caused and many servicemen were forced to moonlight to make ends meet - there was a knock-on effect as, for example, aircraft serviceability suffered. So, yes we and the police did receive a pay rise, we deserved it having been subjected to falling income for a number of years, and we will forever be grateful that Mrs Thatcher (then) recognised the importance of defence and law and order.
She laid the ground for the prosperity that we all enjoyed until 2008 and the incompetent regime of Gordon Brown, although even he does not deserve to be called names. Margaret Thatcher was a great Prime Minister and a remarkable women. Clearly, she made mistakes as we all do but her place in history is secure not only as our first women prime minister but also as one of our greatest.
Last edited by Ubehagligpolitiker; 24th Apr 2013 at 15:25.