Margaret Thatcher’s Lessons for Conservatism – Daniel Pitt

The West is purportedly undergoing a “political realignment,” and numerous thinkers from the political right have attempted to reassess the meaning of conservatism.

Terrence Casey's new book on Margaret Thatcher ’s rise during that decade is most welcome and timely.

To learn lessons from Mrs. Thatcher and the “neoliberal era” one could turn to her Downing Street Years, both empirically and autobiographically.

The Winter of Discontent ( 1978/1979 ) created the space in which Thatcher could achieve her historic victory.

Thatcher was not at her personal best during her time as the Leader of Conservative Party in Opposition.

She had to sell a fudge that can be seen in the party’s policy documents, The Right Approach to the Economy.

She restrained the power of the trade unions, freed the City of London with deregulation and the freeing of exchange controls.

Thatcher 's policies were aimed at solving the “British Disease” and reducing trade union power , which were problems of her time.

Conservatives need to address the cultural and social problems of today and not fight the economic problems of the past.