To what extent can Thatcherism be defined as a success?
Thatcherism, an ideology coined to describe the influential ideologies
and political stances that characterised Margaret Thatcher’s time in
office, is viewed as ‘an injection of ideological zeal’.1 Many supporters
claimed, ‘she pursued a robust policy of making the British economy
competitive again’.2 Her unremitting tough approach to government
gained her the title ‘the Iron Lady’.3 After effectively moving her party
to the right, she achieved three consecutive wins at 3 general
elections. Based on her achievements in office, it is possible to
consider whether Thatcherism could be defined as a success or
whether her legacy has been romanticised based on her reputation.
Prior to Thatcher’s electoral success in 1979, Britain had previously
been led by a Labour government under Callaghan. Inflation peaked
at 25% and unemployment increased from 3.7% to 5.3%. Additionally,
the IMF crisis of 1976, the failure of the ‘social contract’ and the
Winter of Discontent in 1978 to 1979 further led to a decrease in
morale amongst the British public. As a result of these events,
Thatcher was successful in that she gained the confidence of working
class voters through creating policies that attracted them and
targeted their disillusionment with the Labour party. Her success at
election arguably stemmed from her ability to target those who felt
disenfranchised by the policies of Labour. Part of her appeal in
achieving success in the 1979 election could be attributed to her
adoption of conviction politics. Her leadership style was noted for its
strength and belligerence, appealing to those who had lost faith in the
Labour government. Her initial campaign surrounded the exhibition of
her own fundamental views. She imposed her own ‘formidable
personality upon her party’.4 Thatcher’s appeal was her ideology that
1
Jones, B. (2020) British Politics: The Basics, 2nd edn, Routledge, p.39.
2
Ibid, p.29.
3
Heppell, T. (2014) The Tories: from Winston Churchill to David Cameron, London: Bloomsbury Academic,
p.47.
4
Jones, B. (2020) British Politics: The Basics, 2nd edn, Routledge, p.39.
1
, hardworking individuals should be awarded and according to Jones,
this appealed to the British public.5 Therefore, the conviction politics
directly associated with ‘Thatcherism’ can be viewed as a reflection of
her success. However, the aggressive marketing campaign,
spearheaded by Saatchi and Saatchi, should not be ignored in playing
a key role in the Conservative victories of 1979, 1983 and 1987.6
Particularly the poster that was widely circulated ‘Labour isn’t
working’ undoubtedly undermined Labour’s hopes to be re-elected in
1979. Although it could be postulated that this American style
approach of elections, designed to ridicule the opposition, enabled
and fuelled the rise of Thatcherism.
Moreover, it could also be argued that Thatcherism is a success due
to its efficacious domestic policies. Thatcher achieved success in the
1979 General Election when the British economy was experiencing
minimal success abroad against foreign nations. Struggling to
compete on the world stage, she introduced tough approaches by
ending inflation through increasing interest rates. Ensuring industries
that were deemed as non-profitable went bankrupt, she reduced
taxes and undermined the power of the trade unions. In particular, in
1984 to 1985, she took on Arthur Scargill and the miners to defeat
their strikes and erode the power of the trade unions. Shifting the
economic and political power of the unions meant that over the
course of the 1980s, the number of strikes fell and she successfully
reduced the number of unionised jobs, which reduced union
members. Her robust policy enabled her to ensure the British
economy was competitive and her approach demanded less
discussion and more action which allowed her to act with more vigour
and rule with autocracy, enabling her to embrace radical and bold
economic policy. Furthermore, Thatcher’s centralisation of
government power can also be seen as a major success in her
5
Ibid.
6
Fallon, I. (2007) ‘Saatchi & Saatchi: The agency that made Tory history’, Available at:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/saatchi-saatchi-the-agency-that-made-tory-history-
744791.html (Accessed: 20/05/25).
2
Thatcherism, an ideology coined to describe the influential ideologies
and political stances that characterised Margaret Thatcher’s time in
office, is viewed as ‘an injection of ideological zeal’.1 Many supporters
claimed, ‘she pursued a robust policy of making the British economy
competitive again’.2 Her unremitting tough approach to government
gained her the title ‘the Iron Lady’.3 After effectively moving her party
to the right, she achieved three consecutive wins at 3 general
elections. Based on her achievements in office, it is possible to
consider whether Thatcherism could be defined as a success or
whether her legacy has been romanticised based on her reputation.
Prior to Thatcher’s electoral success in 1979, Britain had previously
been led by a Labour government under Callaghan. Inflation peaked
at 25% and unemployment increased from 3.7% to 5.3%. Additionally,
the IMF crisis of 1976, the failure of the ‘social contract’ and the
Winter of Discontent in 1978 to 1979 further led to a decrease in
morale amongst the British public. As a result of these events,
Thatcher was successful in that she gained the confidence of working
class voters through creating policies that attracted them and
targeted their disillusionment with the Labour party. Her success at
election arguably stemmed from her ability to target those who felt
disenfranchised by the policies of Labour. Part of her appeal in
achieving success in the 1979 election could be attributed to her
adoption of conviction politics. Her leadership style was noted for its
strength and belligerence, appealing to those who had lost faith in the
Labour government. Her initial campaign surrounded the exhibition of
her own fundamental views. She imposed her own ‘formidable
personality upon her party’.4 Thatcher’s appeal was her ideology that
1
Jones, B. (2020) British Politics: The Basics, 2nd edn, Routledge, p.39.
2
Ibid, p.29.
3
Heppell, T. (2014) The Tories: from Winston Churchill to David Cameron, London: Bloomsbury Academic,
p.47.
4
Jones, B. (2020) British Politics: The Basics, 2nd edn, Routledge, p.39.
1
, hardworking individuals should be awarded and according to Jones,
this appealed to the British public.5 Therefore, the conviction politics
directly associated with ‘Thatcherism’ can be viewed as a reflection of
her success. However, the aggressive marketing campaign,
spearheaded by Saatchi and Saatchi, should not be ignored in playing
a key role in the Conservative victories of 1979, 1983 and 1987.6
Particularly the poster that was widely circulated ‘Labour isn’t
working’ undoubtedly undermined Labour’s hopes to be re-elected in
1979. Although it could be postulated that this American style
approach of elections, designed to ridicule the opposition, enabled
and fuelled the rise of Thatcherism.
Moreover, it could also be argued that Thatcherism is a success due
to its efficacious domestic policies. Thatcher achieved success in the
1979 General Election when the British economy was experiencing
minimal success abroad against foreign nations. Struggling to
compete on the world stage, she introduced tough approaches by
ending inflation through increasing interest rates. Ensuring industries
that were deemed as non-profitable went bankrupt, she reduced
taxes and undermined the power of the trade unions. In particular, in
1984 to 1985, she took on Arthur Scargill and the miners to defeat
their strikes and erode the power of the trade unions. Shifting the
economic and political power of the unions meant that over the
course of the 1980s, the number of strikes fell and she successfully
reduced the number of unionised jobs, which reduced union
members. Her robust policy enabled her to ensure the British
economy was competitive and her approach demanded less
discussion and more action which allowed her to act with more vigour
and rule with autocracy, enabling her to embrace radical and bold
economic policy. Furthermore, Thatcher’s centralisation of
government power can also be seen as a major success in her
5
Ibid.
6
Fallon, I. (2007) ‘Saatchi & Saatchi: The agency that made Tory history’, Available at:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/saatchi-saatchi-the-agency-that-made-tory-history-
744791.html (Accessed: 20/05/25).
2
