5 Feet of Fury

Gerry Nicholls celebrates Margaret Thatcher

Gerry Nicholls writes:

On October 10, 1980 she declared to a Conservative convention: “To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catch-phrase — the U-turn — I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to; the Lady’s not for turning.”

The party faithful erupted into wild cheers, but the pundits at the time viewed her stance as tantamount to electoral suicide.

Yet not only did Thatcher survive electorally, but she went on to win to two more majority governments and helped to transform Britain from a basket case to one of Europe’s leading economies.

It’s amazing what a leader who sticks to principles can accomplish.