Mrs T - The Country's Cuppa

Today I send warmest birthday greetings and best wishes to Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party. I had the privilege of meeting her several times during her premiership.

She led the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990 and was victorious in three general elections. Mrs Thatcher served as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, during which time she transformed the political and economic landscape of the United Kingdom and arguably the world. It was an exciting time to be involved in politics and her influence on my views was profound.

The Lady, as she is known, was not defeated by the British electorate. She left office during a party leadership election in which only Conservative MPs could vote. She won an overall majority in that election; unfortunately the rules required her to have more than just an overall majority. Churchill once said a majority of one vote was enough. In Maragaret Thatcher’s case it was not. In her final speech in the House of Commons as Prime Minister, she spoke in a debate on a no confidence motion, wiped the floor with the opposition, and showed her best mettle when under a barrage of heckling by the opposition declared, “I’m enjoying this!” to resounding cheers from her side of the House. At that moment many Members of Parliament and the public at large recognised that a great woman had been brought down by small men.

The Conservative Party today is going through yet another leadership election searching for someone to replace the irreplaceable. I’ve lost count of the number of guys they’ve had in that job since The Lady. It turns out that the last time I met Mrs T was at a reception in Perth, Scotland, and I rode home from that event with my friend Liam Fox and his Mum. We lived in the same town, and I used to show up one night a week to go campaigning with him when he ran for a seat on the local council. He and I also were Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the West of Scotland Young Conservatives.

Today Dr Liam Fox MP is one of the leading candidates in the Conservative Party leadership election. I wish him well and look forward to the return to power of the Conservative Party at the next General Election. I’m sure he’ll feel right at home in Number Ten Downing Street and it’ll be nice having a friend running the country.

Baroness Thatcher, as she now is, loves the United States and has described it as the greatest country in the world. Her enthusiasm is shared by Liam Fox, who has worked hard to build the ‘Atlantic Bridge’ to foster closer ties between the UK and the US. I have a sneaking suspicion that The Lady wants the young lad from Scotland to carry her torch.