Today, we mark the centenary of the birth of Britain’s first female Prime Minister.
Tonight, in the presence of her son, Sir Mark, over 520 of Margaret Thatcher’s former colleagues, closest friends and greatest supporters will gather in the splendour of Guildhall to commemorate her birth and to reflect on her remarkable life, courageous leadership and continuing legacy.
Given the state of our nation’s politics today, and across the world, one cannot help but bemoan the quality of leadership to which we, in 2025, are now being subjected – and, in turn, to look at the example that Margaret Thatcher set us.
Thatcher embodied principle in her leadership. Yet despite the caricature painted by her opponents, she was not unwilling to change tack when the situation demanded. While she stood up to the mining unions’ extremism in 1984, she realised three years earlier that she was not yet ready to face them down when they first took her on. That pragmatism in office, backed by her well-thought-out philosophical outlook, served her and us all well.
Clarity of purpose mattered too. Her advisers and ministers often spoke of the way that, without needing to refer back to her, they knew what she would want to be said or done in any particular situation and that she would loyally back their judgment when the need arose. The same could hardly be said of the current generation of political leaders in the West whose capriciousness at the first sign of trouble exemplifies all that is wrong with public life today. Vision really does matter, and if a leader cannot effectively and consistently communicate what their vision might be, it can hardly be a surprise when their administration is blown off course (even with, on the face of it, a large parliamentary majority behind them).
The ‘Iron Lady’ had real mettle. She was courageous both in her leadership of our country – standing up to Argentine aggression, left-wing militancy, and the obstructiveness of the establishment – and personally too. Who can forget her physical bravery in standing up to IRA terrorists after their attempt to kill her had failed in Brighton? She did not flinch or cower. Instead she opened the Party Conference later that morning in person, and she remained, at heart, an optimist throughout her life – always believing that Britain’s greatest days were ahead.
Margaret Thatcher stood too for integrity. Whether one loved or loathed her, nobody could ever accuse her of playing with anything other than a straight bat. Not for her the dissembling legalisms so beloved of the current occupant of 10 Downing Street. For her, just like her father, public service was a true calling: a sacrifice that she was proud to make for the betterment of the nation that she loved.
While she could be a tough boss, sometimes brutal in her management style, colleagues would remark on her personal kindness, thoughtfulness and compassion for those in real need. She was shaped by her Methodist faith, exhibiting a Christian humility which is also sadly absent from public life today.
Duty too was at the heart of her outlook. Her ability to multi-task as Prime Minister, constituency MP, wife, and mother – famously cooking for her beloved Denis every evening and raising a family while busy in public life – proved to women that it was possible to ascend to the highest office in the land. She became, and remains, a role model for successful women worldwide even to this day.
And, of course, Margaret Thatcher loved debate. As a scientist well used to examining data thoroughly, she never shied away from an argument, relishing the opportunity to test policies or ideas robustly with colleagues and opponents alike. But she did so with civility, and it is that lack of civility in public discourse – all too tragically shown by the awful murder of Charlie Kirk – and the need for generosity of spirit towards others that ought to be at the heart of the legacy of leadership that we need to teach future generations today.
Through the Margaret Thatcher Centre – a charitable project launched with the Iron Lady’s full-throated support and now backed by her son – we teach future generations in Britain and overseas about this remarkable leader’s life, values and achievements. Through internships and exchanges, lectures and conferences, and academic symposiums and policy summits, and with the help of a biannual scholarly journal and a growing presence online, we are able to keep the flame of Thatcherite ideas and the example of her leadership alive at a time when they are more needed than ever before.
Conviction. Principle. Patience. Clarity. Vision. Loyalty. Courage. Duty. Optimism. Integrity. Faith. Generosity. Those are the characteristics of a real leader, and they epitomise all that Margaret Thatcher stood for. One hundred years to the day that she was born, it is right that we reflect on what a remarkable woman she was, and how fortunate we were as a nation to be led by her. And perhaps, in our own small way, we can each commit to follow her example.
She delivered. Now it’s our turn.
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