Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013

Quotations

"I don't think there will be a woman prime minister in my lifetime." (Thatcher on BBC television, March 1973)

"If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman." (Attributed)

"You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning." (Thatcher holds her ground on her criticized economic policies, October 1980)

"We have become a grandmother." (Thatcher announces the birth of her first grandchild, March 1989)

"Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope. There is now work to be done."(Thatcher quotes Saint Francis of Assisi and recently murdered Conservative member of parliament Airey Neave on her first day in Downing Street, May 1979)

Thatcher 'helped push ties with China'

Margaret Thatcher played a key role in China's relationship with the United Kingdom, especially in the peaceful handover of Hong Kong, experts said.

Britain's first and only female prime minister, Thatcher died peacefully at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke, her family announced. She governed Britain from 1979 to 1990. More

 "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning." More

Fond farewells for 'Iron Lady'

I was eating lunch when I learned that former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher had passed away.

"What a pity!" all my colleagues at the lunch table said with one voice. I rushed to my desk and posted the news on my Sina Weibo account. More

Iron Lady Thatcher changed face of Britain

Margaret Thatcher was a towering figure in British 20th century politics, a grocer's daughter with a steely resolve who was loved and loathed in equal measure as she crushed the unions and privatised large swathes of industry. She died on Monday, aged 87, after suffering a stroke.  More

Thatcher hailed for changing world political landscape

"Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader," said Tony Blair, the centre-left Labor leader who brought his own party back to power not least by heeding the lessons of "Thatcherism".  More

Global reactions

Queen Elizabeth II

"The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family," her office said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron

"It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Lady Thatcher. We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton."

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

"People of India join me in sending our sincerest condolences to the Thatcher family, the government and people of the United Kingdom."

US President Barack Obama

Margaret Thatcher was both a great champion of freedom and an example to women everywhere.  More

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei

"We extend deep condolences over the death of Margaret Thatcher and wish to extend sympathy to her family," spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.  More

Photos

UK mourns death of 'Iron Lady' Thatcher

Archive pictures of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher with politicians