Britain Trimming Around the Edges

Major kills Thatcher's poll tax and changes the tone of policy, but her philosophy goes marching on

I see a tendency to try to undermine what I achieved and to go back to more powers for government.

-- Margaret Thatcher, March 8, 1991

Margaret Thatcher never minced words during her 11 1/2 years as British Prime Minister, and will not do so now. But she exaggerates the changes her country's Conservative government has set in train since an intraparty revolt four months ago replaced her with her Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major.

During her tenure, Thatcher effected changes in British life that are now probably beyond anybody's power, or even wish, to undermine; not even the Labourites,...

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