The 30 year papers: How Maggie handbagged the world in just eight months

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 30th December 2009 | Tim Shipman and Beth Hale

[naturalman1975]

Margaret Thatcher arrived in Downing Street like a whirlwind - swinging her handbag at the French, the Russians, the Americans and her own Cabinet as she fought to put Britain back on its feet.

Papers released by the National Archives reveal a stirring portrait of how the first woman prime minister transformed Britain's relations at home and abroad through sheer determination.

In an echo of the challenge facing David Cameron if he wins the next election, Mrs Thatcher fought to push through tough spending cuts and reforms after inheriting an economy brought to its knees by Labour.

She held no fear of taking to task colleagues, allies and enemies alike when they failed to do what she wanted.

The papers released under the 30-year rule reveal that in just eight months Mrs Thatcher:

Scribbled 'No' and 'This will not do' over the Budget plans of her Chancellor Geoffrey Howe because they were not 'tough enough';

Demanded the return of Britain's EU budget rebate in a meeting with French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing just one month after taking power;

Lectured Soviet premier Aleksei Kosygin about Russian military might.

The revelations highlight the benefits of Mrs Thatcher's no-holds-barred negotiating style.

When she entered No 10 in May 1979, Britain had just endured the Winter of Discontent.

Nationwide strikes had left the dead unburied and rubbish rotting in the streets, while the economy was on its knees with soaring unemployment.

Her impatience with the overly cautious approach of her ministers is clear in scribbled notes on official papers.

[naturalman1975]

The whole thing is quite long, but worth reading.

[GingisK]

Maggie is the best! I wish we had one just like her, right now.

[Trod Upon]

And then Liebour undid it all.

[pogo101]

Thatcher was the real deal. Wish she could have stayed in office twice as long.

And that hairdo! Who needs SDI when you’ve got a dome of missileproof hair? :D

[Scotsman will be Free]

Heard this story about her.
Maggie took her cabinet to a restaurant for dinner. The waiter asked what she would like, and she responded:”The beef, please”. The waiter then asked:”What about the vegetables?” Maggie responded with:”They’ll have the beef, too.”

[GraceG]

>> Maggie is the best! I wish we had one just like her, right now. <<

We should clone her or at least store her DNA and store a brain scan of her and put that behind some glass with a hammer on a chain next to it with the words:

Break Glass in case of Tyranny.

[philled]

thanks for posting