Margaret Thatcher remains a towering figure in British politics, revered by her supporters as a visionary leader who transformed the U.K.’s economic landscape. Fondly remembered as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher is praised for her staunch resolve and unwavering commitment to free-market principles, which many credit with revitalizing the British economy during her tenure as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990.
Predicting elections is a mug’s game. They often surprise everyone, and there are some striking examples from recent UK history. For instance, during the Brexit referendum, you could still get odds of 8 to 1 on Remain winning while the votes were being counted. Similarly, Theresa May entered the 2017 General Election with a lead in the polls of around 20%, but still lost her majority on the day itself. People are fickle, and it seems like they’re becoming even more so. Even though the Labour Party has maintained a lead of around 20% for nearly a year and the Conservatives have hit their worst poll numbers ever, I still wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an upset that keeps the Tories in power.
Much of the art of politics is fitting a narrative that suits your purposes to recent events. A big event like the 300 or more missiles that Iran rained down on Israel spawns a number of them. Israel wants to be both the victim and the victor – earning the right to retaliate and to brag at its effectiveness in neutralising the attack. Iran points to its relative restraint and seeks to play the role of a patient but exasperated teacher coping with a badly behaved pupil. Both sound quite plausible stories based on the events of the weekend.
