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| How the Guardian and Observer reported the career of Margaret Thatcher | How the Guardian and Observer reported the career of Margaret Thatcher |
| (6 months later) | |
| 1970s | 1970s |
| 12 February 1975: Ian Aitken: First Lady will put the Tories Right | 12 February 1975: Ian Aitken: First Lady will put the Tories Right |
| The Guardian's political correspondent reports on the Conservatives' decision to "jump into the deep end of the women's liberation movement" and elect the first female leader of a "great" political party in the western world. | The Guardian's political correspondent reports on the Conservatives' decision to "jump into the deep end of the women's liberation movement" and elect the first female leader of a "great" political party in the western world. |
| 12 February 1975: Gareth Parry: Dreamy, says new leader | 12 February 1975: Gareth Parry: Dreamy, says new leader |
| The new Tory leader – a "queen-like figure" – promises a mixture of continuity and change as she prepares to face Harold Wilson, the prime minister, at the dispatch box. | The new Tory leader – a "queen-like figure" – promises a mixture of continuity and change as she prepares to face Harold Wilson, the prime minister, at the dispatch box. |
| 25 May 1977: Peter Jenkins: Up she goes | 25 May 1977: Peter Jenkins: Up she goes |
| Our reporter notes a subtle transformation taking place as people begin to perceive Margaret Thatcher as not just an opposition leader but a prospective prime minister. | Our reporter notes a subtle transformation taking place as people begin to perceive Margaret Thatcher as not just an opposition leader but a prospective prime minister. |
| 13 October 1977: Simon Hoggart: Hair apparent | 13 October 1977: Simon Hoggart: Hair apparent |
| Simon Hoggart notes the popularity of Michael Heseltine at the 1977 Tory conference – and the first appearance of a 16-year-old named William Hague, who "had a surprisingly elderly sounding Yorkshire accent which made his voice sound almost exactly like Harold Wilson's, to the obvious confusion of delegates who had their backs turned". | Simon Hoggart notes the popularity of Michael Heseltine at the 1977 Tory conference – and the first appearance of a 16-year-old named William Hague, who "had a surprisingly elderly sounding Yorkshire accent which made his voice sound almost exactly like Harold Wilson's, to the obvious confusion of delegates who had their backs turned". |
| 4 May 1979: David McKie: Thatcher takes over No 10 | 4 May 1979: David McKie: Thatcher takes over No 10 |
| The day after the 1979 election that brought Thatcher to power as the first female prime minister in the western world, David McKie notes that the difference in voting patterns in the south and north have "a distinct smack of 'two nations' about them". | The day after the 1979 election that brought Thatcher to power as the first female prime minister in the western world, David McKie notes that the difference in voting patterns in the south and north have "a distinct smack of 'two nations' about them". |
| 1980s | 1980s |
| 11 October 1980: Ian Aitken: Thatcher plays on threat of left | 11 October 1980: Ian Aitken: Thatcher plays on threat of left |
| The prime minister frightens her party conference with "Labour's Orwellian nightmare of the left". | The prime minister frightens her party conference with "Labour's Orwellian nightmare of the left". |
| 17 February 1981: Peter Jenkins: Mrs Thatcher's modern England | 17 February 1981: Peter Jenkins: Mrs Thatcher's modern England |
| Jenkins makes a short tour of the country to measure the effects of its economic decline. | Jenkins makes a short tour of the country to measure the effects of its economic decline. |
| 16 June 1982: Leader: Patriotism has worked its old magic | 16 June 1982: Leader: Patriotism has worked its old magic |
| At the end of the Falklands war, the Guardian leader column notes: "The Ten Weeks War has done wonders for her. Last year she was bottom of the pops … If the General Election were tomorrow she would be queen of all." | At the end of the Falklands war, the Guardian leader column notes: "The Ten Weeks War has done wonders for her. Last year she was bottom of the pops … If the General Election were tomorrow she would be queen of all." |
| 3 October 1983: Peter Jenkins: The vainglorious vulnerable style of Mrs Thatcher | 3 October 1983: Peter Jenkins: The vainglorious vulnerable style of Mrs Thatcher |
| At the first Tory conference following Thatcher's second general election victory, Jenkins worries that she has joined Ronald Reagan in "what sounds ominously like the official declaration of cold war". | At the first Tory conference following Thatcher's second general election victory, Jenkins worries that she has joined Ronald Reagan in "what sounds ominously like the official declaration of cold war". |
| 24 September 1984: Hugo Young: A valediction on the death of consensus in British politics | 24 September 1984: Hugo Young: A valediction on the death of consensus in British politics |
| The Guardian columnist tracks the effects of Thatcher's ideology on the civil service, the nationalised industries, education, and the Church of England. | The Guardian columnist tracks the effects of Thatcher's ideology on the civil service, the nationalised industries, education, and the Church of England. |
| 13 October 1984: Paul Brown, Colin Brown, Peter Hetherington, David Hearst and Gareth Parry: Cabinet survives IRA hotel blast | 13 October 1984: Paul Brown, Colin Brown, Peter Hetherington, David Hearst and Gareth Parry: Cabinet survives IRA hotel blast |
| The day after the IRA's bombing of the Tories' conference hotel in Brighton – which killed five – the Guardian reports an IRA statement telling Thatcher: "Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always. Give Ireland peace and there will be no war." | The day after the IRA's bombing of the Tories' conference hotel in Brighton – which killed five – the Guardian reports an IRA statement telling Thatcher: "Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always. Give Ireland peace and there will be no war." |
| 26 January 1985: James Naughtie: How men fall for the Iron Lady's charms | 26 January 1985: James Naughtie: How men fall for the Iron Lady's charms |
| The future Radio 4 presenter reports on the revelation that "an unnamed prominent figure in Scottish public life had propositioned Mrs Thatcher in a drunken flight of ardour". | The future Radio 4 presenter reports on the revelation that "an unnamed prominent figure in Scottish public life had propositioned Mrs Thatcher in a drunken flight of ardour". |
| 25 January 1986: David McKie: Tossed on an ocean of sheer disbelief | 25 January 1986: David McKie: Tossed on an ocean of sheer disbelief |
| Thatcher defends herself over the Westland affair, the industrial scandal that led to Heseltine's resignation. | Thatcher defends herself over the Westland affair, the industrial scandal that led to Heseltine's resignation. |
| 12 June 1987: Thatcher cruises home to easy victory | 12 June 1987: Thatcher cruises home to easy victory |
| The day after the 1987 election, the Guardian reports on a triumphant night for the Tories, a bad one for Labour, and an awful one for the SDP-Liberal Alliance, which went on to become the Liberal Democrats. | The day after the 1987 election, the Guardian reports on a triumphant night for the Tories, a bad one for Labour, and an awful one for the SDP-Liberal Alliance, which went on to become the Liberal Democrats. |
| 2 January 1988: Hugo Young: Mrs Thatcher serves her time | 2 January 1988: Hugo Young: Mrs Thatcher serves her time |
| Young marks Thatcher's becoming the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century. "A generation of opponents routed: a generation of rivals eclipsed: half a generation of voters upon whose consciousness no other prime minister has impinged. To my children, a male leader, royal or political, will come as an offence against nature." | Young marks Thatcher's becoming the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century. "A generation of opponents routed: a generation of rivals eclipsed: half a generation of voters upon whose consciousness no other prime minister has impinged. To my children, a male leader, royal or political, will come as an offence against nature." |
| 21 September 1988: John Palmer: Thatcher sets face against united Europe | 21 September 1988: John Palmer: Thatcher sets face against united Europe |
| John Palmer reports from Bruges on the prime minister's speech to the EEC opposing the development of a future United States of Europe. "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them reimposed at a European level, with a European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels," she said. | John Palmer reports from Bruges on the prime minister's speech to the EEC opposing the development of a future United States of Europe. "We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them reimposed at a European level, with a European superstate exercising a new dominance from Brussels," she said. |
| 11 November 1989: Michael White: Parties join Thatcher in welcoming change | 11 November 1989: Michael White: Parties join Thatcher in welcoming change |
| Two days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Guardian's chief political correspondent reports on "a rare display of harmony" in the British political establishment's reaction to the news. Thatcher stressed that talk of a reunited Germany was "going much too fast. You have to take these things step by step." | Two days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Guardian's chief political correspondent reports on "a rare display of harmony" in the British political establishment's reaction to the news. Thatcher stressed that talk of a reunited Germany was "going much too fast. You have to take these things step by step." |
| 1990s | 1990s |
| 23 November 1990: Andrew Rawnsley: The Thatcher resignation: Dying swan gives Commons a command performance | 23 November 1990: Andrew Rawnsley: The Thatcher resignation: Dying swan gives Commons a command performance |
| The Observer's future political columnist watches Conservative MPs view Thatcher's resignation speech. "The Tories rose cheering and waving their order papers, many of them the same men and women who had pulled the lever to send her through the trap door of history." | The Observer's future political columnist watches Conservative MPs view Thatcher's resignation speech. "The Tories rose cheering and waving their order papers, many of them the same men and women who had pulled the lever to send her through the trap door of history." |
| 25 March 1992: Alan Travis and Ruth Kelly: Thatcher hints Major gutless on tax gap | 25 March 1992: Alan Travis and Ruth Kelly: Thatcher hints Major gutless on tax gap |
| Alan Travis, now the Guardian's home affairs editor, and Ruth Kelly, who went on to become a Labour cabinet minister, report on a good example of Thatcher's "back-seat driving" during the premiership of her successor, John Major. | Alan Travis, now the Guardian's home affairs editor, and Ruth Kelly, who went on to become a Labour cabinet minister, report on a good example of Thatcher's "back-seat driving" during the premiership of her successor, John Major. |
| 22 May 1995: Stephen Bates: Tory leaders pour scorn on Thatcher | 22 May 1995: Stephen Bates: Tory leaders pour scorn on Thatcher |
| The Guardian's political correspondent reports on Tory reaction to the prospect that Thatcher's memoirs will contain attacks on Major. "Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary called on Lady Thatcher to stop 'huffing and puffing' from the sidelines." | The Guardian's political correspondent reports on Tory reaction to the prospect that Thatcher's memoirs will contain attacks on Major. "Douglas Hurd, the Foreign Secretary called on Lady Thatcher to stop 'huffing and puffing' from the sidelines." |
| 19 June 1997: Michael White: Tory leadership battle: Furious Thatcher jumps off fence in vintage style | 19 June 1997: Michael White: Tory leadership battle: Furious Thatcher jumps off fence in vintage style |
| Thatcher backs Hague – now 36 – to replace Major following the Tories' catastrophic election defeat to Tony Blair's New Labour. "She is reluctant to back another loser after her John Major misjudgment," notes Michael White, by this time the Guardian's political editor. | Thatcher backs Hague – now 36 – to replace Major following the Tories' catastrophic election defeat to Tony Blair's New Labour. "She is reluctant to back another loser after her John Major misjudgment," notes Michael White, by this time the Guardian's political editor. |
| 10 October 1997: Michael White: New Tory cover-up shock | 10 October 1997: Michael White: New Tory cover-up shock |
| Thatcher attacks British Airways for failing to fly the union flag. | Thatcher attacks British Airways for failing to fly the union flag. |
| 25 October 1998: Andrew Rawnsley: It is hard to tell who is the more despicable: the General or Pinochet's fellow-travelling apologists in Britain | 25 October 1998: Andrew Rawnsley: It is hard to tell who is the more despicable: the General or Pinochet's fellow-travelling apologists in Britain |
| Rawnsley criticises Thatcher and the Tories for defending General Augusto Pinochet after his arrest while visiting Britain. "These people would have acquitted the Nazis on the grounds that Hitler built some splendid autobahns." | Rawnsley criticises Thatcher and the Tories for defending General Augusto Pinochet after his arrest while visiting Britain. "These people would have acquitted the Nazis on the grounds that Hitler built some splendid autobahns." |
| 2000s | 2000s |
| 21 August 2001: Nicholas Watt: Thatcher backs Duncan Smith | 21 August 2001: Nicholas Watt: Thatcher backs Duncan Smith |
| Following Labour's victory in the 2001 general election, the Guardian's political correspondent reports that Thatcher is backing Iain Duncan Smith to replace Hague. Kenneth Clarke, she says, would lead the party to "disaster". | Following Labour's victory in the 2001 general election, the Guardian's political correspondent reports that Thatcher is backing Iain Duncan Smith to replace Hague. Kenneth Clarke, she says, would lead the party to "disaster". |
| 22 March 2002: Julian Glover: Thatcher gives up public speaking | 22 March 2002: Julian Glover: Thatcher gives up public speaking |
| The Guardian's chief leader writer marks what he calls the "end [of] a political career that lasted almost 50 years". | The Guardian's chief leader writer marks what he calls the "end [of] a political career that lasted almost 50 years". |
| 26 June 2003: Matthew Tempest: Sir Denis Thatcher dies aged 88 | 26 June 2003: Matthew Tempest: Sir Denis Thatcher dies aged 88 |
| "Without him frankly it would be impossible to imagine Mrs Thatcher being the success she was," Duncan Smith, by then Tory leader, said of Thatcher's husband, who died of pancreatic cancer. | "Without him frankly it would be impossible to imagine Mrs Thatcher being the success she was," Duncan Smith, by then Tory leader, said of Thatcher's husband, who died of pancreatic cancer. |
| 13 September 2007: Mark Tran: Thatcher visits Brown for tea at No 10 | 13 September 2007: Mark Tran: Thatcher visits Brown for tea at No 10 |
| In the first flush of his elevation to the premiership, Gordon Brown welcomed a fellow "conviction politician" to take tea at Downing Street with him. The Tories criticised Brown for using Thatcher for political purposes, while the GMB said it was "unbelievable that she should be invited back by a Labour prime minister". | In the first flush of his elevation to the premiership, Gordon Brown welcomed a fellow "conviction politician" to take tea at Downing Street with him. The Tories criticised Brown for using Thatcher for political purposes, while the GMB said it was "unbelievable that she should be invited back by a Labour prime minister". |
| 2010s | 2010s |
| 8 June 2010: Michael White: George Osborne and Margaret Thatcher, the new pincer movement | 8 June 2010: Michael White: George Osborne and Margaret Thatcher, the new pincer movement |
| David Cameron, the first Conservative prime minister for 13 years, invited his predecessor to Downing Street for a private meeting. | David Cameron, the first Conservative prime minister for 13 years, invited his predecessor to Downing Street for a private meeting. |
| November 16 2011: Ben Child: Meryl Streep's Iron Lady dismantled by Norman Tebbit. Thatcher's former colleague condemns biopic portrayal; as "half-hysterical, over-emotional, Over-acting." | November 16 2011: Ben Child: Meryl Streep's Iron Lady dismantled by Norman Tebbit. Thatcher's former colleague condemns biopic portrayal; as "half-hysterical, over-emotional, Over-acting." |
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