I met the Iron Lady only in her less ferrous later years. While the big hair and big handbag remained the once-steely leader within had begun to recede. What remained then and is much present this past week is Maggie the icon and symbol. Her supporters and detractors continue to divide neatly along political and geographic lines: She is alternately the saviour of Britain and architect of its modern economy or the heartless enemy of its northern working-class. As with so much else concerning Lady Thatcher both may be true.
Was she right to break the back of the trade union movement in the UK? To send an armada thousands of miles from home to reclaim the Falklands? Or to resist deeper integration for Britain in the EU? Fair minded people can disagree on these and other aspects of her record in office.
What should be beyond debate is her victory for women in government and diversity in general. However even here "the Lady’s not for turning" to borrow her oft-quoted phrase. In her politics Margaret Thatcher cared little for liberal concepts such as diversity and affirmative action for minorities. However as a very real symbol of equal distribution of talent across the sexes and social classes the grocer’s daughter did much to blaze the path for working women everywhere.
This week as Lady Thatcher is remembered for her often divisive speeches and at times heartless policies we should also recall what she achieved for liberals everywhere — the example of a strong-minded principled woman leading her nation.
