Current generation show Thatcher influence
- Published
When Margaret Thatcher stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street on her first day as Prime Minister David Cameron was 12 years old, Ed Miliband was 9 and George Osborne was 7.
Just under half of current MPs (319) would have either not been born yet or were 18 years old or younger*
Just under a fifth of current MPs (123) would have been 19 years old or younger when she resigned as PM 23 years ago.
Yet Maggie/Mrs T/The Lady/That Bloody Woman/Thatcher (delete and add where politically applicable) shaped the politics of this generation as we will see today when MPs line up to pay tribute to her or to criticise or stay away.
Few figures days after their death let alone decades after being elected have had such influence.
* Source : Commons Library paper on age of 2010 parliament (at election date) gives the following figures:
Age 18-29: 15
30-39: 108
40-49: 196
50-59: 216
60-69: 99
70+: 16