'A true force of nature': Prominent Britons pay their respects to 'towering political figure' Baroness Thatcher

• Former prime ministers and celebrities pay tribute
  
• All sides of political spectrum show admiration for her feats
• Former PM John Major called her a 'political phenomenon'
• Tony Blair says she 'changed the UK's political landscape'
  
• Celebs including Piers Morgan and Joan Collins also show their respects
  

By Sam Webb

PUBLISHED: 09:10 EST, 8 April 2013 | UPDATED: 18:11 EST, 8 April 2013

Former Labour PM Tony Blair and Lady Thatcher in 2007. He said her 'global impact was vast'

Politicians, prominent businessmen and celebrities paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher today.

Even those who clashed with her policies and what she represented expressed admiration and awe for her unwavering belief, uncompromising stance and the influence she has had on both Britain's destiny and that of the entire world.

One of the most effusive tributes to Margaret Thatcher today came from former Labour prime minister Tony Blair.

While the former Conservative leader was a hate figure to many on the left, Mr Blair lauded her as a 'towering political figure' who would be 'sadly missed'.

Baroness Thatcher apparently once joked that her greatest achievement was Tony Blair and Labour's longest serving PM acknowledged how he retained some of the changes she had made in Britain.

But not only did he talk glowingly of her political legacy, Mr Blair also praised her 'kind and generous' spirit.

'Margaret Thatcher was a towering political figure,' he said. 'Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world.

'Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour Government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world.

'As a person she was kind and generous spirited and was always immensely supportive to me as prime minister although we came from opposite sides of politics.

'Even if you disagreed with her as I did on certain issues and occasionally strongly, you could not disrespect her character or her contribution to Britain's national life. She will be sadly missed.'

Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major described Baroness Thatcher as a 'true force of nature' and a 'political phenomenon'.

Scroll down for video

Tribute: Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major described Baroness Thatcher as a 'political phenomenon'

He said: 'In government, the UK was turned around under - and in large measure because of - her leadership.

'Her reforms of the economy, trade union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands elevated her above normal politics, and may not have been achieved under any other leader.

'Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private.'

The Queen was 'saddened' by the death of Baroness Thatcher, Buckingham Palace said today, while Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher’s death. We've lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton.'

Labour leader Ed Miliband released a statement saying: 'I send my deep condolences to Lady Thatcher’s family, in particular Mark and Carol Thatcher.

'She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation.

'She was Britain’s first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage.

'The Labour Party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure.

'But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength.

'She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime.'

Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'We've lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton' 

In full. British PM's tribute to late Baroness Thatcher

Foreign Secretary and former Tory leader William Hague said Mrs Thatcher 'rescued the country in the 1980s'.

He told Sky News: 'She gave the country hope in so many ways and also gave great hope to millions of people around the world, particularly those behind the Iron Curtain, that they could be free.'

Mr Hague said Mrs Thatcher had shown how 'kind and considerate she was' from the time he had spoken as a teenager at the Tory Party conference in 1977 right through his political career.

Mr Hague said: 'She was personally a very, very considerate person to colleagues and to their families and that's a side of her not obvious to the public and which makes this an even sadder day.'

Former political opponent Lord Neil Kinnock said: 'I recognise and admire the great distinction of Baroness Thatcher as the first woman to become leader of a major UK political party and prime minister.

'I am sorry to hear of her death and offer my sympathy to her family.'

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: 'Sarah and I have sent messages to Lady Thatcher's son Mark and daughter Carol, offering our condolences to them and to the Thatcher family and commemorating Lady Thatcher's many decades of service to our country.

'She will be remembered not only for being Britain's first female prime minister and holding the office for 11 years, but also for the determination and resilience with which she carried out all her duties throughout her public life.

'Even those who disagreed with her never doubted the strength of her convictions and her unwavering belief in Britain's destiny in the world.

'During our time in Number 10, Sarah and I invited Lady Thatcher to revisit Downing Street and Chequers - something which we know she enjoyed very much.

Prime ministers: Baroness Thatcher with former PM Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah at Downing Street

'But it was sad for her and her family that she lost her devoted husband Denis almost 10 years ago and that she was unable to enjoy good health in the later years of her retirement.'

Mrs Thatcher's former Chancellor Lord Lawson said the ex-premier had had 'a clear sense of direction and felt she knew what she was doing'.

He told Sky News: 'Britain seemed doomed to continual economic decline. She changed all that and her tax reforms were emulated around the world.

'She did not surround herself with yes-men but people who shared her ideas to rescue the economy.'

Lord Lawson said nothing can be achieved in politics if there is fear of controversy and Mrs Thatcher had taken the view that you tell the people what you are trying to achieve and let them decide.

Iron Lady: A number of the tributes speak of Baroness Thatcher's will and refusal to bow to the opinions of others

Lord Lawson resigned as chancellor towards the end of the Thatcher reign and admitted there had been 'areas of disagreement' - not least on the poll tax.

He went on: 'I wanted her to succeed but the poll tax was a grave error and a great misjudgment.

'But I don't want to be drawn on the difficulties at the end. I want to focus on the enormous achievement of her first 10 years of Tory government.'

Lord Lamont, who served as a Treasury minister under Baroness Thatcher, before becoming chancellor under John Major, said: 'The name Margaret Thatcher will always be synonymous with the word "courage".

'She had more courage than anyone I have ever known. The word impossible barely existed for her.

'We shall not see her like again.'

Chancellor George Osborne said: 'Sad news. Margaret Thatcher's belief in freedom and optimism about the future overcame all. Her determination is our generation's inspiration.'

On his Twitter feed, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher.

Mr Johnson later said Britain had lost its greatest prime minister since Winston Churchill.

'Margaret Thatcher freed millions of people to buy their own homes and buy shares in British companies,' he said.

'She ended the defeatism and pessimism of the post-war period and unleashed a spirit of enterprise.

'She fought against the clubby, cosy, male-dominated consensus of both main parties - and she won.

'Her beliefs - in thrift, hard work, and proper reward for merit - were not always popular. But her legacy is colossal.

'She was right about the unions, she was right about Soviet communism and recent events have shown that she was completely right about the euro.

'This country is deeply in her debt. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today’s politics.'

Labour MP Paul Flynn said: 'Only two UK PMs of the 20th century who were not slaves to popular perception, prejudice and pressure - Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher.'

Baroness Thatcher’s former Cabinet minister Norman Tebbit told the BBC: 'It’s immensely sad that we have lost one of the greatest political figures of the second half of the 20th century.

'I was proud to have served in her Government and to have worked with her in those years.

'We could do with another one like her right now.'

Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Healey said: 'I'm very sorry that she's died, we became quite friendly in her later years. She was very frail at the time, both physically and mentally, and she even hugged me and gave me a kiss when we met once by accident.

'I disagreed with her violently when she became prime minister, she actually said in public, there is no such thing as society, and had strong opposition inside her own party for a lot of the time she was there.

'I didn't agree with her politics at all, at any time, but as a human being I felt very sorry for her towards the end of her life.'

Asked how history would view her time as prime minister, he said: 'People's view of her after her death will be as divided as it was during her life.'

Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, said: 'It was with sadness that we heard the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher, who served this country for many years both as a member of Parliament and as prime minister.

'We pray for the repose of her soul and for the intentions of her family and all those who now mourn for her.'

Commerce: Sir Alan Sugar said that Baroness Thatcher allowed British business to thrive

Virgin Boss Sir Richard Branson, said: 'She turned into one of Britain's great leaders. It was a privilege to spend time with her and Virgin wouldn't be flying from Heathrow if it wasn't for her believing in competition. She was a great believer in competition and she'll have a very important place in the history books.'

Entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar tweeted: 'Margaret Thatcher died today.

'A great lady she changed the face of British politics, created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK. RIP'.

He followed it with: 'Baroness Thatcher in the 80's kicked started the entrepreneurial revolution that allowed chirpy chappies to succeed and not just the elite.'

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Baroness Thatcher was 'the reason I came into politics'.

He said: 'Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again.

'She bestrode the political world like a colossus. This is dreadfully sad news and my thoughts and prayers are with her family.'

Senior Tory MP David Davis said: 'Margaret Thatcher was the greatest of modern British prime ministers, and was central to the huge transformation of the whole world that took place after the fall of the Soviet Union.

'Millions of people in Britain and around the world owe her a debt of gratitude for their freedom and their quality of life, which was made possible by her courageous commitment to the principles of individual freedom and responsibility.

'Her passing is a very sad event and she will be greatly missed.'

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage wrote on Twitter: 'Very sad to hear of the death of Margaret Thatcher, a great patriotic lady.'

Former employment minister Tony McNulty wrote: 'Former Conservative Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died following a stroke. God bless her and thoughts are with her family. RIP.'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: 'Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics.

'Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no-one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served.

'She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics.

'My thoughts are with her family and friends.'

Baroness Thatcher's former foreign secretary Lord Hurd said: 'Mrs Thatcher was very persistent. She would not let go. She went on and on and on until through sheer exhaustion and exasperation the others gave her most of what she wanted.'

Speaking on Sky News, Lord Hurd said that Mrs Thatcher had managed to turn Britain's fortunes round after the 'awful' 1970s.

Her home town of Grantham laid out a book of condolence in the town hall for locals to remember her.

Grantham's current MP Tory Nick Boles said: 'One has to say she is one of the remarkable figures of the 20th century.

'She was a bit like Marmite, you either love her or hate her. Even people who disagree with her are beginning to recognise it was a remarkable achievement not just because she was a woman but because of what she did.

'There are probably only three or four other prime ministers in our history who have left their mark in such a way.

'It is a very interesting contrast with Tony Blair. His set of achievements is pretty paltry. He didn't actually transform the country. What she did was extraordinary.'

 

Former IRA man Gerry Adams reflects on Mrs Thatcher's death

Mike Summers, of the legislative assembly of the Falkland Islands, paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher for her reaction to the Argentine invasion

Dominant: CNN presenter and former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan called her a 'political colossus'

Falkland Islands government spokesman Mike Summers said Mrs Thatcher had been 'instrumental in restoring our freedom' in the 1982 Falklands War.

He told Sky News the former UK prime minister would have a place in the Falkland Island's history 'for ever'.

Mr Summers said many had contributed to the British victory in the 1982 conflict but that it was Mrs Thatcher who had 'led the decision making'.

'She will be forever remembered in the Islands for her decisiveness in sending a task force to liberate our home following the Argentine invasion in 1982.'

Mr Summers said that while many had contributed to the British victory in the 1982 conflict, it was Lady Thatcher who 'led the decision-making'.

In the statement, issued on behalf of the legislative assembly, he said: “Our sincere gratitude was demonstrated in 1983 when she was granted the Freedom of the Falkland Islands.

'Her friendship and support will be sorely missed, and we will always be thankful for all that she did for us.'

Lord Howe, Baroness Thatcher's former foreign secretary, said his ex-leader had had the 'ability to handle a whole range of foreign policies'.

It was Lord Howe's resignation speech, in which he was very critical of her leadership, that led to Michael Heseltine's leadership challenge and Mrs Thatcher's ultimate fall in 1990.

Sir Geoffrey Howe and Baroness Thatcher had a chequered history

Speaking on Sky News today, Lord Howe said his speech had not been an attack on Mrs Thatcher.

Asked about his personal relationship with her, he replied: 'It was all a long time ago.'

Labour MP Margaret Beckett, now a dame, said Mrs Thatcher becoming the first woman prime minister was 'a tremendous achievement', but she added that it was 'a little sad' she had not managed to get another woman into the cabinet.

Dame Margaret went on: 'Not everyone will have happy memories of her record.'

Asked about her personal relationship, she added that Mrs Thatcher had 'always been very polite to me'.

Conservative MP John Redwood said Thatcher had 'won the Cold War'.

One of the former prime minister’s advisors, Lord Dobbs, said: 'She was an extraordinary woman and a great prime minister - one of the greatest we have ever had and the greatest peacetime prime minister of the 20th century.'

Speaking on Sky News, Lord Dobbs, went on: 'She had faults as well and her strengths were also her faults. She got things wrong.'

He added that Denis Thatcher had felt 10 years was enough for her as Conservative leader.

'She didn’t listen to him and we later had extraordinary, tragic scenes when she stood down,' said Lord Dobbs.

Labour former home secretary David Blunkett said: 'Margaret Thatcher was a most formidable opponent, undoubtedly an outstanding leader and, as the first woman prime minister in the United Kingdom, a groundbreaking politician.'

The British flies at half mast over Buckingham Palace after the announcement that Baroness Thatcher died today

He added: 'I have to acknowledge her deep commitment to her own values and her determination, although, with Bernard Ingham at her side, she was the first modern exponent of carefully worked spin, which allowed her to present compromise as merely delay, and deep irritation with opponents in her own party as principled stance.

'She said she could not forgive the leadership of her own party for her downfall, and I have to say that I cannot forgive her for what she did to my city of Sheffield, the mass redundancies, the damage to productive industry and the use of incapacity benefit as a tool to avoid internal social breakdown.'

He went on: 'In simple terms, we should remember her for what she was. A remarkable woman, a divisive figure but a politician who could mobilise both support and opposition in a way that fired British politics.'

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell admits he had his differences with the former PM but acknowledges the changes she wrought

Sir Bernard Ingham, who was Baroness Thatcher’s chief press secretary when she was prime minister, said: 'It’s a very sad day. We have lost the outstanding peacetime prime minister of the 20th century.

'She was the perfect prime minister - she knew what she wanted to do, and did it.

'Her 11 years were quite outstanding, and raised the standing of Britain in the world, and changed the nature of Britain itself.'

Former Conservative deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine issued a statement which said: 'I am sorry to learn of Lady Thatcher's death. The illness of her last years has been cruel and very difficult. I send my deepest condolences to Mark and Carol.'

Commons Speaker John Bercow said: 'I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Baroness Thatcher. She was a distinguished Parliamentarian and a formidable prime minister.

'My thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.'

Political columnist and former Tory MP Matthew Parris said Mrs Thatcher had been a 'warrior' leader, who had single-mindedly taken on 'the enemy in the form of socialism and the trade union movement'.

Speaking on Sky News he said the political world had moved on from those times and that the warrior approach was 'not always necessarily a way to proceed during peace time'.

The world of showbusiness was also in mourning. Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell tweeted: 'Thinking of our 1st Lady of girl power, Margaret Thatcher, a green grocer's daughter who taught me any thing is possible...x'

Actor and writer Stephen Fry said: 'Was in the air when the news came in about Margaret Thatcher. Such a force in Britain through my university days through to my 30s.'

Former Tory MP Louise Mensch, who now lives in New York, wrote on Twitter: 'There is nothing else on American news right now. Her greatness extends worldwide, so few politicians ever reach that level.'

Lord Saatchi, chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies, which was founded by Baroness Thatcher, said: 'Everyone wants to be immortal. Few are. Mrs Thatcher is. Why?

'Because her values are timeless, eternal. Tap anyone on the shoulder anywhere in the world, and ask what Mrs Thatcher "believed in", and they will tell you.

'They can give a clear answer to what she "stood for".

'She developed all the winning arguments of our time - free markets, low tax, a small state, independence, individuality, self-determination.

'The result was a revolution in economic policy and three election victories in a row.'

Global influence: Former MP Louise Mensch, who now lives in New York, says the news is dominating American broadcasting

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was among the stars of showbusiness who paid tribute

Audience: Opera singer Katherine Jenkins reminisced about the time she met the former PM

Iconic actress Joan Collins spoke of her sadness on Twitter

SCOTTISH LEGACY DIVIDES OPINION AS NATION'S LEADERS PAY TRIBUTE

Political leaders in Scotland, where Margaret Thatcher's legacy is ingrained in the national psyche, put aside differences to mark her death today.

First Minister Alex Salmond conceded she was a strong leader despite routinely calling into question the impact her policies had.

'Margaret Thatcher was a truly formidable prime minister whose policies defined a political generation,' he said in a statement.

'No doubt there will now be a renewed debate about the impact of that legacy.

'Today, however, the proper reaction should be respect and condolences to her family.'

Labour, like the SNP, often defines its beliefs against those of the Tories and the former prime minister in particular.

Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont said: 'I came into politics to fight the ideology and values of Margaret Thatcher, which I believe damaged our country.

'But today is not a day to debate that. Today is a day to offer the deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who loved her.

'No one can deny she made a deep mark on the history of this country.'

 

Mayor Of London reacts to Margaret Thatcher's death