The Iron Lady. What Margaret Thatcher is known for and how she disappointed Ukrainians in 1990

The Iron Lady's policies were not to the liking of many, but they did much for the development of the UK. Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to serve as prime minister in the country, and her way of governing was not widely shared in society. The same was true in June 1990 when she visited Ukraine, which was still the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic at the time.

Margaret Thatcher, as a person who could influence world politics, did not want the sudden changes that were taking place as a result of the potential collapse of the USSR, so she opposed Ukraine's separation from the Soviet Union. On her birthday, October 13, OBOZ.UA decided to recall what she was famous for during her 87 years of life and what attitude she had towards Ukrainians who sought independence.

Throughout her career, the woman defended the interests of the Conservative Party. She became the leader of the Thatcherite policy. Thatcher's innovations and reforms supported the transfer of state property into the hands of private individuals (capitalism). By her own example and activities, she tried to show how important it is to manage one's own finances and the country as a whole.

The politician believed that low taxes encourage people to work hard. Therefore, she actively advocated for their increase. Margaret Thatcher aimed her policy at reducing direct income taxes and increasing indirect taxes, in particular, value added taxes. However, the most important was the "council tax" ("per capita tax"), which had to be paid by every adult Briton. Her initiative was not to the liking of many, so after the end of the Prime Minister's term, which was almost a record 11 years, certain types of charges were canceled.

"She became known as the Iron Lady after the Soviet newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda published this nickname. Interestingly, Thatcher liked it, so she even conducted her election campaign under the slogan "Britain needs an Iron Lady," reports the Bukvy publication.

Margaret Thatcher was active in politics not only in the United Kingdom but also abroad. In 1990, she disappointed Ukrainians with her statement on withdrawal from the USSR, although she had a strong position against Soviet influence.

As the Soviet Union began to weaken, Ukraine, like other Soviet republics, sought independence. Many people hoped for support from Western leaders, and so shortly before the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine was adopted, Thatcher was invited to visit the Ukrainian SSR. However, the British woman expressed doubts about the idea of the collapse of the Soviet Union and support for national movements within it.

"In her speech in Parliament, Thatcher spoke in favor of preserving the integrity of the Soviet state. Ms. Margaret made it clear that it was better for the UK to have relations with one state, the USSR, than with many unpredictable countries that would emerge in the post-Soviet space. We greatly respected Thatcher for her firm policy in the international arena, but we were disappointed with her position on the future of Ukraine," said Oles Shevchenko, a first-term member of the Ukrainian parliament, dissident and political prisoner.

Another important factor that made it clear that Thatcher was not ready to recognize Ukraine as an independent state was her veiled statement "We have no embassy in California." This was the answer given to the politicians of the Ukrainian SSR, who asked whether there would ever be a Ukrainian embassy in London, BigKyiv writes. At that time, Ukrainians felt that the West was not ready to take decisive action in their support.

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