Thatcher - The Downing Street Years - Episode 4

[mlc2005]

Margaret T... You better go 'head and work it girl. Signing a treaty to honor the end of the cold war while your friends, stuffy brown polyester suits back home vote against you! Politics aside, Thatcher's balls were bigger than all the men's balls combined. Imo, if a few of the largest sticks had been removed from her ass, she would have won again. Regardless, the BITCH (and I say that as the greatest compliment) will live on.

[mlc2005]

As a 32 year old from the US, it's really interesting to see how similar our countries are in so many ways, and also how different. To listen to W. Europe's self-righteously declare American people, over the last 20 years, as "backwards" and "intolerant" and then to see a sea of all white, stuffy, brown polyester clad leaders evokes a shaking of the head, and a bit of a laugh. To this day European countries hardly have any diversity in government, when compared to the "backwoods" US system.

[mlc2005]

No doubt she has the biggest balls on the planet, but has she ever acknowledged, EVER, a single mistake in her life? I mean, the poll tax? It's a shame that her initial noble quest and utter integrity was tarnished by that toxic combo of extreme ego and power.

[dyhard678]

@mlc2005 that is what power will literally do you in the end.

[biillly2012]

God bless mrs Thatcher she was the most amazing and inspiring person i have even saw !! maybe not always right but NEVER a people pleaser a backstabber or a euro arse-licker !! wish she was here now or i wish Cameron would carry on where she left off !! and I'm a Scot !!!

[caggles1]

Absolute bullshit from Mrs T here to claim that Lawson resigned to avoid taking flak over the state of the economy. She appointed him as Chancellor and then had her personal Economic advisor in public conflict with his opinions. The root of the problem was her uncompromising, megalomaniac personality which led to her ultimate downfall

[eldorama]

I think that the resignation of Geoffrey was more based out of bitterness. He had embraced the very policies that have led to the questionable position of the EU today. Turns out, Thatcher was right to bristle at Geoffrey's position regarding Britain's part of the ERM.

[paultheorgan]

By the way, can some of you numpties spell Geoffrey correctly please?!!!!

[paultheorgan]

She should be tried for crimes against humanity - the poor, the needy, the vulnerable.....

[OHCLOUDSUNFOLD]

She makes the whole parliamentary system look so ridiculous, look how she shines and all these men have a dull glow

[arranle]

Could never have worked for her! She was a ridiculous bully to Jeffery Howe! Wish she had the humility to admit it!

[uofakidd]

Jeffery Howell can eat SHIT now! The European Union is in crisis and the United Kingdom isn't part of it. The Euro is now at 1.2714 as of 01.07.12.

[zoodensha]

You need the kind of hard headedness she had to do the accomplishments she achieved.  But it also leads to problems like the poll tax fiasco.

She acheived marvels, but 11 years is too long for any politician to be in office.

[meotaku2]

Like the ring in Lord Of The Rings. If someone uses the power of the ring too often or the power becomes addictive.

[tigranvartanovitch]

"It was treachery with a smile on its face." Yes, I certainly smiled when she got the boot.

[SvetlanaBabe]

Margaret Thatcher was a formative influence in my life.

[HorrorHarry100]

We need her now more than ever.

[Jpkingu2]

"The trappings of office never appealed to me at all."

Sure about that?

[Helenmary123]

Nutter to the end!

"That turned a knife in my heart" LOL - what a shame it wasn't for real.

[worldcoup]

500000 grand for speech expenses, and she cant speak = benifit fraud.

[geraberl]

Interesting parallel to what happened years later with Number 10 falling out with Number 11 i.e. Blair v. Brown. This was great to watch, thank you for uploading these.



[levinwonderland]

fantastic documentary, thanks for uploading

[densaner77]

You can still see Maggie's fingernail marks on the door of No.10. 

[jumpforjoy6]

i wish geoffrey howe's resignation speech was on you tube

[caggles1]

@jumpforjoy6 - It is on Youtube - have a look for it.  I enjoy watching it from time to time :)

[jumpforjoy6]

@caggles1 i can't seem to find it :/

[caggles1]

@jumpforjoy6 Sorry, you're right, it seems to have disappeared - It;s on another site though called Vimeo, if you search for it there it should come up

[jumpforjoy6]

@caggles1 OK, cheers! Will look it up!

[AHAH1010]

not trying too be sexist, but just proves in terms of respect and internal relationship with other senior collegues and with collegues in general, women cant lead or manage. lol, sorry but its the truth.

[Russkivol]

@AHAH1010 Why are you laughing at being a sexist, dumbass? MT's personality is atypical for a female politician, and to use her to make a generalization about the leadership skills of women shows that you aren't as clever as you think. MT was vindictive & back-biting by the end...but she was also effective in getting her policy agenda enacted. In politics, being liked is irrelevant--what matters is being successful with policy. MT was, for better or for worse.

[MegaJustDucky]

@Russkivol Further, she won three consecutive elections, in spite of her personality. Her majority was never less than 40 and often was more than 100.

So, she could lead and manage. Golda Meir, a lot like Thatcher, didn't do as well, though she had far more experience.

In a Howe-ish way, my point is that I agree completely that you can't use one example of something to show the whole.

Also, @AHAH1010, when one says "not trying to be ()", it is almost assured that one will come across as that.

[Hissings]

@AHAH1010 Eleven years as PM clearly prove that women, most surely the ones like Margaret Thatcher, can lead and manage even better than men.

[MerylStreep811]

I think , she did a fantastic job .

[densaner77]

@MerylStreep811. I think , you're nuts.

[Helenmary123]

@MerylStreep811

Vicious, dictatorial, power mad, destructive, cowardly old harridan.

[MerylStreep811]

@Helenmary123 Well. if that is what you think .... That´s ok ... but I think she was one of the best Prime Ministers the UK ever had ...

[Helenmary123]

Poor diddums! This nut case should never have been prime minister.