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Margaret Thatcher

James Naughtie on the longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century, whose policies earned her the nickname 'The Iron Lady'.

The New Elizabethans. Margaret Thatcher, politician.

James Naughtie considers the lasting influence of Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th Century and the only woman to hold the post. Her uncompromising policies and leadership style earned her the enduring nickname "The Iron Lady".

Among her initiatives were the deregulation of the financial sector, the privatisation of state-owned companies, and the reduction of the power and influence of trade unions, policies that have become known as "Thatcherism".

The New Elizabethans have been chosen by a panel of leading historians, chaired by Lord (Tony) Hall, Chief Executive of London's Royal Opera House. The panellists were Dominic Sandbrook, Bamber Gascoigne, Sally Alexander, Jonathan Agar, Maria Misra and Sir Max Hastings.

They were asked to choose: "Men and women whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and/or given the age its character, for better or worse.".

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12 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Aug 2012 12:45
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Archive Material used in the programme

, Sat 18th Feb 1978.

麻豆社 News Footage, broadcast the day of Thatcher鈥檚 first election, 4th May 1979

Lady鈥檚 not for turning speech, from the 1980 Conservative Party Conference, broadcast October 10th, 1980

Interview with Robin Day, in a 麻豆社 Panorama special broadcast 8th June 1987.

Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 鈥渘o, no, no!鈥� response to European Summit to the Commons, broadcast 30th October 1990

Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 response to the Falklands War, 麻豆社 News Footage broadcast 25th April 1982

Margaret Thatcher鈥檚 first interview following winning the leadership, and news footage of her starting her first day as conservative leader come from the 2008 麻豆社 Four programme The Making of the Iron Lady. The 鈥淚ron Lady of the Western World鈥� speech, to Finchley Conservatives in 1976, also comes from this programme.

Sir Geoffrey Howe鈥檚 resignation speech to the Commons, broadcast 1st November 1990.

Extracts from the 1979 Conservative election broadcasts taken from the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website.

Audio of Poll Tax riots taken from LWT News Report, broadcast 31st March, 1990.

Reading List


Margaret Thatcher: The Downing Street Years

Geoffrey Howe: Conflict of Loyalty

Nigel Lawson: The view from Number 11

Michael Heseltine: Life in the Jungle

Broadcast

  • Mon 13 Aug 2012 12:45
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Baroness Thatcher: 1925 - 2013

A selection of programmes on Baroness Thatcher's life and political legacy.

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