CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

GENDER EQUALITY – LADY THATCHER - 08 March 2007

GENDER EQUALITY – LADY THATCHER - 08 March 2007

Dr Julian Lewis: In recognising the country's economic success, will my hon. Friend [Eleanor Laing] acknowledge the vast contribution of Baroness Thatcher? Does she share my delight in the House's recognition of her achievement through the unveiling of the magnificent statue? Many Conservative Members especially welcomed Mr. Speaker's extremely gracious remarks on that occasion.

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Dr Lewis: As the person who, perhaps not quite inadvertently, began this cycle of the debate by referring to the magnificent statue and the wonderful tribute from Mr Speaker, may I ask whether it is not a measure of what Lady Thatcher achieved for men, women and children in this country that throughout our long disquisition about her record, no one has even mentioned the way in which she managed to democratise the trade unions that had made the country all but ungovernable, or what she contributed to the ending of the Cold War? I remember that when we debated Trident, the entire official Opposition wanted us to disarm unilaterally at the height of the Cold War threat.