sion to power was that it was accomplished in an unusual way. Unlike most changes in power in the Conservative Party, it was effected by the grassroots in the party. It was the ordinary Mps, rather than the front bench, who led the revolt and placed her into power. Besides that innovation, she was the first woman to lead any British party (Williams and Ramsden, 1990).
She had already gained a reputation that was to increase during her tenure of being dogmatic and somewhat strident. However, she was apparently quite skilled in taking advice from more experienced politicians and equally skilled in inspiring party members at all levels of the party.
Margaret Thatcher dominated the political world of Great Britain throughout the 1980s. She won general elections in 1979, 1983, and 1987. She ruled longer than any other Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in the 1800s. She had a clear mandate for change and a House of Commons that basically supported her policies and legislation throughout her tenure.
However, she also offended many people, including most of her own allies. She was often blunt, tactless, and unyielding. As a consequence, she would undercut herself at the upper levels of her own party. That was to undo her during late 1990, when her leadership was challenged by Heseltine. In yet another revolution from below, Tory MPs did not give Margaret Thatcher enough votes on a first ballot of her leadership for her to gain the victory. Seeking support from her cabinet, she did not receive much encouragement. At that point, she determined to resign, leaving office (Dellheim, 1995).
This was a very emotional occasion for her, since she felt betrayed by her colleagues. She had planned to remain for at least one or two more Parliaments, but this was not to be possible for her. She was left with her legacy, which some felt was substantial. Reitain (1997) saw her work as central to the transformation of the mo...