“As parts of my Chipping Barnet constituency cover the area Margaret Thatcher used to represent in Finchley, I know how hard she worked for her constituents during her years in Parliament. Despite all the demands of the role of Prime Minister, she would always make time for events and meetings in her constituency; hand-writing replies to many items of correspondence and dealing with her casework with real compassion. Many of Baroness Thatcher’s loyal local supporters are people I know well. Like them, I am saddened by today’s news.
She was one of our greatest Prime Ministers. During her period of office she transformed the UK from being the sick man of Europe, to a country that once again stood proud on the world stage. She changed this country in so many ways. Many of her reforms were controversial at the time but are now widely accepted as vital elements of a competitive economy, and her robust approach to defence and the Cold War won her praise from those in Eastern Europe as they emerged from domination by communism. In all that she did, Lady Thatcher acted out of duty, conviction and patriotism.
I had the honour of meeting Baroness Thatcher on a number of occasions, particularly when she was catching up with old friends from her constituency, and my thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time for them.”