Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MRS THATCHER

The greatest post war leader that the UK has ever had was 80 today(yes I know I am a day late posting this, but alas I have to work!) and I felt that I needed to thank her for turning the UK around from the dark days of the 1970's when the UK had to go cap in hand to the IMF like some 3rd world bananna republic.

Again a happy Birthday to her, and may there be many many more of them:

(some tributes) - From the telegraph.

Margaret Thatcher, the former Conservative Prime Minister, celebrates her 80th birthday with a lavish reception in London attended by more than 650 people.

	Mrs Thatcher 'said what she meant and meant what she said'

The Queen, Prince Philip, Tony Blair, and Michael Howard, the outgoing Tory leader, will be present, as well as figures from the showbiz world such as Shirley Bassey.

Friends and foes have been delivering their birthday greetings:

Mr Howard, whose time at the helm of the Tory party is nearing an end, said: "What Churchill did in wartime, Margaret Thatcher did in peacetime.

"Her political will and her iron courage saw off the threats to our way of life that Britain faced in 1979. We all owe her an enormous debt. I wish her well for her birthday and for many years to come."

Lord Howe (formerly Sir Geoffrey), whose attack on her in the Commons probably precipitated her downfall, said: "Happily for all of us, Margaret's 11 years of triumph, which ended in tragedy, still stand as a period of astonishing achievement.

"No Government did more in the 20th century to change the shape of our world fundamentally and very largely for the better. The clash between Margaret and myself which ended our partnership will be remembered much less than the brilliance of her achievements."

Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, was not invited to Lady Thatcher's birthday bash, but graciously wished her a very happy 80th birthday.

"She was, without doubt, a Prime Minister who changed the rules of engagement in our political debate. But, ironically, she bequeathed a very difficult legacy for her own party."

Lord (Cecil) Parkinson, a former chairman of the Conservative Party, said: "I will never forget my first sight of Margaret Thatcher. It was in 1965.

"Margaret was replying to a debate on taxation. I had heard of her, but I had never seen her before. At the end of the debate, this very good-looking blonde woman, wearing a beautifully-tailored suit and a very impressive hat stood up to address the conference.

"Ten years later, when she became the leader of the Conservative Party, the late James Callaghan was quoted as saying 'we have just won the next election'. He was neither the first nor the last person to underestimate this remarkable woman."

Tony Benn, former Labour Cabinet minister and a foe of Lady Thatcher, praised her determination: "Mrs Thatcher said what she meant and meant what she said. And did it. Although I thought the policies were catastrophic in terms of democracy, she did not do anything by deception."

Tam Dalyell, a former Labour MP who was twice ejected from the Commons for calling Lady Thatcher a liar, used the opportunity to question the current PM's policies.

"Margaret Thatcher's untruths in relation to the Peruvian peace proposals in the Falklands War and the Solicitor General's letter in the Westland Helicopter affair pale into insignificance compared to the lies that Blair has told us in relation to the Iraq war," he said.

Lord St John of Fawsley, the first minister to be sacked by Margaret Thatcher, said: "She has my warmest congratulations on reaching such a splendid anniversary. I would wish to say to her: 'Why don't you come back? Remember that Gladstone formed his fourth administration when he was 83'."

Sir Bernard Ingham, who was her press secretary at 10 Downing Street: "The greatest tribute people pay these days is 'Come back Maggie'."

Sir John Nott, who was Defence Secretary during the Falklands conflict, said: "She braved an awful period in opposition as all Tory leaders do and no one thought a woman could ever win an election.

"She did and was one of the great prime ministers of the last century. I have always liked her as a person, but regrettably I don't see her very much these days."

Would that this country had a leader one millionth of as strong as her, no matter what party that person came from.

For more on the UK's greatest leader since Churchill, see the Margaret Thatcher Foundationwww.margaretthatcher.org/

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