The Lady's not for turning !!!

[SueEllen]

You are depressing me now - why can't we make this sort of stuff in the UK?

After all, the UK comes up with the most inventions.

Because no one will invest in it.

[expat]

I think you are getting confused with Liebour. She made the books balance. Simple housekeeping really.

Thatcher balanced the books by increasing income, by selling off public assets. That's what is meant by the often-used phrase "selling the family silver". These were the investments of generations, sold off for a quick unrepeatable shot of income.

And TSB, of course, was not even a public asset. But Thatcher sold it anyway and kept the money for the public purse.

Making the books balance is good. Doing it by selling off what you have put years into saving to buy, and expected to keep for future generations, is not simple hpousekeeping, it's panic/bankruptcy.

[BrilloPad]

Thatcher balanced the books by increasing income, by selling off public assets. That's what is meant by the often-used phrase "selling the family silver". These were the investments of generations, sold off for a quick unrepeatable shot of income.

And TSB, of course, was not even a public asset. But Thatcher sold it anyway and kept the money for the public purse.

Making the books balance is good. Doing it by selling off what you have put years into saving to buy, and expected to keep for future generations, is not simple hpousekeeping, it's panic/bankruptcy.

Big difference between early eighties and late eighties. BT not until 1985.

In the seventies UK was cap in hand to the IMF. tax and spend wrecked us. She turned it all around. I have a couple of regrets about some knock on effects - but the blame lies with the 1970s liebour government.

[BrilloPad]

Because no one will invest in it.

Which is a great pity as UK has the City of London - should be tons of investment around...

[expat]

Which is a great pity as UK has the City of London - should be tons of investment around...

The City is for speculation, which is what it is good at today: more appropriate for a nation of BTL landlords who cam't tell the diference.

[expat]

Big difference between early eighties and late eighties. BT not until 1985.

In the seventies UK was cap in hand to the IMF. tax and spend wrecked us. She turned it all around. I have a couple of regrets about some knock on effects - but the blame lies with the 1970s liebour government.

How about Heath & Barber's "dash for growth"? That is what wrecked us. Then Labour started to pick up the pieces, but the cost was too much cosying to the unions. Then the oil money started to roll in, and that together with selling off public assets and spending the receipts, allowed Thatcher to pretend to have save the day.

And some fools swallowed it.

[threaded]

Are we forgetting what happened in the late 70s?

The advent of North Sea oil...

Yes, and as predicted when the oil was discovered, it would all be squandered on 'benefits', whilst hundreds of thousands of workers would need to be imported, just to do all the jobs the 'citizens' wouldn't now do.

Some late night talking head said that in the 70's, can't remember who it was now though.

[expat]

Yes, and as predicted when the oil was discovered, it would all be squandered on 'benefits', whilst hundreds of thousands of workers would need to be imported, just to do all the jobs the 'citizens' wouldn't now do.

Some late night talking head said that in the 70's, can't remember who it was now though.

Same old story as Marshall Aid: never mind using it to rebuild, just spend it on pretending still to be a great power.

The UK has been going downhill since 1902, and is still in denial. I sometimes wonder how far the US has gone along the same road.

[BoredBloke]

It's all about perspective.

Take away the economic stuff and her legacy has many negatives (Political and social). Event the economic stuff is debatable in parts (Though overall she left a decent economic legacy but let's not pretend it was all golden).

What do you think would have been the political and social consequences of following on with the Labour policies where we as a nation were held to ransom by a few very large unions. The UK in the 70's was bloody horrible and it is because we had got into such a mess then that it made the 80's so bad for a large number of people.

[expat]

What do you think would have been the political and social consequences of following on with the Labour policies where we as a nation were held to ransom by a few very large unions. The UK in the 70's was bloody horrible and it is because we had got into such a mess then that it made the 80's so bad for a large number of people.

Strangely enough, contributors here are more or less taking sides, and each side is doing the same as their favoured party does when in government, i.e. blame the bad situation on the other lot's stupid policies just working through to harm the economy. Meanwhile the other side/those in opposition accuse the govt of climing credit when all that happened is that some outside factors happened to come up on the plus side.

I'm beginning to have a horrible sinking feeling that both are right. Who the F can I vote for next time? I may have to stand.