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Political beginnings and the first election as Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher's political career began as an ordinary member of the Conservative Party, and then gradually gained a prominent position in the party through in-depth policy research and continuous efforts. She often presents distinctive insights on her political agenda and policy positions, which often reflect her deep insight into the country's economic and social issues.
In 1975, Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party in an internal election after defeating the then leader of the party, Edward Heath. The victory marked a significant boost in her standing within the party and laid a solid foundation for her subsequent political career. As party leader, Margaret Thatcher pushed for policy refreshment, with a particular focus on economic reform and social stability, and her ideas of a free-market economy and reduced government intervention gradually became the party's dominant policy.
On the eve of the 1979 general election, the British economy was in a downturn and public sector strikes were frequent, and these social problems caused the Labour government at the time to be criticized. Margaret Thatcher seized the opportunity to campaign, winning the support of many voters by proposing concrete solutions to the problems facing Britain today, with an emphasis on economic liberalization and strengthening national security.
The general election of 3 May 1979 became an important moment in British political history. In the election, the Conservative Party won by a landslide, and Margaret Thatcher was immediately appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, becoming the first female Prime Minister in history. This victory was not only a major affirmation of Margaret Thatcher's political career, but also a major boost to the status of women in British politics.
When Margaret Thatcher became prime minister, she quickly took steps to implement her policy ideas. She pursued a series of policies aimed at stimulating the economy, reducing the country's debt, and reducing inflation. This includes limiting public spending, cutting taxes, and encouraging the development of private enterprise. In addition, she has taken a tough stance on external policy, especially in the areas of national sovereignty and international relations.
The Falklands War and the Hong Kong Question
In 1982, a conflict broke out between the United Kingdom and Argentina over sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Falklands). In this military operation, known as the Falklands War, Margaret Thatcher, as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, demonstrated her determined and decisive leadership style. She made a quick decision to send the British Royal Navy and Air Force to the South Atlantic to carry out military operations to regain control. Although the war was controversial in terms of tactics and strategy, the British army was ultimately victorious.
The victory in the war significantly raised the profile of Margaret Thatcher on the international stage, and she earned the title of "Iron Lady" for her decisive actions and determination to uphold the country's sovereignty. The victory also won her greater support and trust in domestic policy, cementing her political position.
Soon after this victory, Margaret Thatcher faced another major diplomatic challenge. In September 1982, she traveled to Beijing with the international prestige she had gained from the Falklands War to prepare to negotiate with China on Hong Kong's future status. At that time, Hong Kong, as a British colony, was about to face the expiration of its lease in 1997, and Britain needed to negotiate with China about the ownership of Hong Kong.
When Margaret Thatcher first arrived in Beijing, she had the confidence she had gained from her military victory, hoping to use this tough stance to influence the outcome of the negotiations. At the negotiating table, she emphasised the "validity of the three treaties", namely the 1888, 1898 and the New Territories Lend-Lease Treaty, in an attempt to maintain British influence in Hong Kong on this basis. At the same time, she also stressed that the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong cannot be maintained without the management of the United Kingdom.
However, the Chinese side's reaction and stance were firm beyond Margaret Thatcher's expectations. The Chinese government delegation, led by Deng Xiaoping, made it clear that China has indisputable sovereignty over Hong Kong and is ready to take all measures necessary to ensure a smooth transition in Hong Kong. China's hardline stance is based on its firm belief in national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration
After preliminary negotiations in September 1982, which did not make significant progress, the negotiating teams of China and Britain went through several rounds of intensive exchanges and consultations. Over time, the two sides gradually shifted from their initial positions to finding a workable solution. Over the next two years, diplomats and policymakers from both countries met several times to discuss in detail the possibilities for Hong Kong's future.
Most of these negotiations take place in Beijing and London, with occasional meetings in Hong Kong, ensuring that all key stakeholders are directly involved. In the process, the British negotiating team has come to realise that China's claim to Hong Kong is unwavering and that any attempt to maintain the status quo will not be viable. China, for its part, has made it clear that any arrangement for Hong Kong's future must be premised on the restoration of China's sovereignty.
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Between 1983 and 1984, negotiations between the two sides gradually focused on how to ensure Hong Kong's stability and prosperity after the handover. The British side has put forward a variety of proposals to try to ensure that Hong Kong's economic interests and existing social system can be maintained after the handover. The Chinese side stressed the need to ensure that Hong Kong's legal and administrative system will conform to the principle of "one country, two systems" after the handover, that is, Hong Kong will have a high degree of autonomy, but national sovereignty will be in China.
As negotiations progressed, the two sides gradually approached a final agreement in 1984. In the process, the British government is facing multiple pressures at home and abroad. Domestically, Hong Kong's future is at stake in the lives of millions of Hong Kong citizens and Britain's economic interests in the Far East. Internationally, the UK needs to deal with its growing relationship with China, as well as geopolitical considerations in the context of the Cold War.
On 18 December 1984, the two sides finally signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, announcing that Britain would return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997. The joint statement details the post-handover administrative arrangements for Hong Kong, including guarantees that Hong Kong's legal and social institutions will remain the status quo for the next 50 years, as well as China's sovereignty over Hong Kong.
The process of signing this joint statement was not without controversy. Many within the British government have expressed concern about abandoning Hong Kong, fearing that it would weaken Britain's influence in Asia. At the same time, Hong Kong society is also full of uncertainty about the future, and many people are worried about the impact that political and legal changes after the handover may affect their lives. However, Margaret Thatcher and her team ultimately decided that signing the joint declaration was the best option in the current international situation and the balance of power between China and the UK.
In Margaret Thatcher's memoirs, she gave a detailed review of this negotiation experience. She admits that when dealing with a country like China, which is far more powerful than Britain and has a firm position, Britain has had to adjust its strategy and eventually make concessions.
The continuation and end of a political career
In the 1987 British general election, Margaret Thatcher once again successfully led the Conservative Party to win the election with her unique political charisma and the Conservative Party's strong campaign strategy. The victory gave her a historic third move to 10 Downing Street to continue her premiership. During this period, her policy propositions became clearer, and she promoted a series of policies aimed at transforming the British economy and strengthening market mechanisms.
Under Margaret Thatcher's leadership, Britain underwent a series of profound economic liberalization measures. The most notable of these is the large-scale privatization of state-owned enterprises. Her government has put several large state-owned enterprises, such as British Telecom, British Airways and Rail, into private hands. This initiative aims to reduce government intervention in economic activities and improve the efficiency and competitiveness of these enterprises. The privatisation strategy has not only changed the corporate structure of the UK, but has also attracted a large amount of private and international capital to invest in the UK market, boosting the confidence of domestic and foreign investors.
Margaret Thatcher also took bold steps in tax reform. Her government lowered personal income and corporate taxes in an effort to incentivize entrepreneurship and investment, while raising the consumption tax to balance the tax structure. These tax policy adjustments have further boosted the vitality of the British economy.
In the area of labour market reform, Margaret Thatcher pursued policies aimed at reducing the power of trade unions and increasing labour market flexibility. By enacting strict union laws and reducing the right to strike in the public sector, her government has attempted to break the union's grip on industrial action over the past few decades. This series of labour law reforms has caused widespread controversy and protest in the short term, but in the long run, it has helped to improve the efficiency and international competitiveness of the UK labour market.
However, Margaret Thatcher's policies also brought about sharp social divisions and policy controversies. In particular, the community confiscation tax she introduced in 1988 (known to the public as the "poll tax"), which sparked widespread protests and violence. This tax policy has been criticized as unfair because it is relatively heavy on low-income earners.
As policy controversy intensified and social resistance to her economic reform policies grew, cracks began to appear in Margaret Thatcher's support within the Conservative Party. In 1990, she was forced to resign as prime minister after losing a challenge to the leadership of the Conservative Party.
A bleak scene of old age
Margaret Thatcher's prominence in the political arena and her profound influence on British policy contrasted sharply with the loneliness of her personal life. Although her political career was brilliant, her family life was rather flawed. Margaret Thatcher and her husband, Dennis Thatcher, had been married for many years and had a son and a daughter, but her dedication to politics prevented her from giving her children enough time and care.
Over time, the situation had a long-term impact on her family relationships. Her children grew accustomed to not being accompanied by their mothers, and rarely came home to visit them as adults. This sense of alienation gradually evolved into their apathy to returning home, and even on important family occasions, they were often absent. This cooling of family relationships was undoubtedly a blow to Margaret Thatcher, although she rarely showed such personal feelings in public.
In her later years, Margaret Thatcher's life became more lonely. When she celebrated her birthday in 2002, she received only four birthday cards, none of which came from her political partner. The politicians who had worked with her for many years in Downing Street gradually lost contact with her. This cold reception contrasts sharply with the brilliant achievements of her political career.
The death of Dennis Thatcher made her feel even more lonely. He is not only her husband, but also her strong support. His death deprived Margaret Thatcher of an important emotional pillar. At the same time, her son also caused some troubles for her, often becoming the focus of the media due to some bad business practices and legal issues, which brought additional pressure to her later life.
Although her daughter has a good relationship with her, she rarely finds time to spend with her for various reasons. As a result, Margaret Thatcher spent most of her life alone. As her health gradually deteriorated, she began to need people to help take care of her daily life. This once heroic "Iron Lady" in the political arena has become more and more dependent on the help of others in the twilight of her life.
References:[1]Zhao Wanli,Mao Rui. Falklands War and Margaret Thatcher's Diplomacy[J].Social Science Forum(Academic Research Volume),2007(2):37-41