Fifty years after Margaret Thatcher was elected Leader of the Conservative Party, Conservatives from across York and North Yorkshire have come together to reflect on her transformative legacy and the profound impact she had on Britain’s economy during the 1980s and ‘90s.
When Margaret Thatcher became Conservative Leader in 1975, the UK faced daunting economic challenges: interest rates above 10%, inflation exceeding 20%, and a country in deep economic decline. Through a series of bold reforms, including tax cuts, reducing the size of the state, and championing entrepreneurialism, she sparked an economic revival that laid the foundation for Britain’s future growth and prosperity.
Today, at a time when for many politicians, public service is about posting photos of themselves on social media, Margaret Thatcher’s legacy is more important than ever. This was a leader who believed politics should be about getting things done and making real progress, not endless grandstanding and self-promotion.
To mark this milestone, Conservative leaders, businesspeople, and key figures from York and beyond have shared personal stories of how Margaret Thatcher’s leadership shaped their careers and the opportunities available to them.
Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Local Communities, and founder of Hunters Estate Agents which had its first branch in Goodramgate, York, said:
Margaret Thatcher transformed the UK property market, opening the door to a huge increase in opportunities to buy or rent a home and for businesses like Hunters.
The Housing Act 1988 revitalized the rental sector, introducing assured shorthold tenancies and deregulating rents, encouraging investment and improving housing quality. Her Right to Buy and pro-enterprise policies fostered homeownership, economic growth and regeneration of housing estates and entire communities.
Her legacy of opportunity and prosperity endures in every property transaction today.
Nigel Adams, former Member of Parliament for Selby & Ainsty and founder of a successful telecommunications business, shared:
Had it not been for Margaret Thatcher unleashing entrepreneurialism in the 1980s, young people like me from modest backgrounds would never have had the chance to start our own businesses or even dream of owning a home.
I benefited from the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, which enabled me to start a company from scratch. A few years later, I sold it to a PLC listed on the London Stock Exchange. I went on to build and exit several tech companies, none of which would have been possible without the aspirational society Lady Thatcher created. I was fortunate enough to meet her as a newly elected MP and personally thank her for the opportunities she helped create.
Charlotte Milligan, the first female Political Editor of ITV Yorkshire and a former Chairman of York Conservatives, recalled:
As a junior political reporter, interviewing Mrs. Thatcher was always daunting. She was polite but could shrink you with a single, steely stare.
I was in Westminster on the day she resigned, surrounded by international media. It remains one of the most memorable moments of my career, though bittersweet. There will never be another Prime Minister quite like her.
Chris Tregellis, Area Coordinator for York Friends of Brexit, remembered:
As a young banker at Barclays International, one of the important jobs was managing exchange controls under delegated authority. Even buying a magazine from the US required scrutiny and the all-important stamp of approval.
As one of her earliest deregulations Thatcher didn’t just reform it, she abolished it at a stroke. This set the tone for much future freeing of the economy and brought about a sea change in attitudes that enhanced prosperity for all. My career took on a whole new perspective: very much for the better.
In closing, Councillor Chris Steward, Leader of the Conservative Group on York City Council, reflected:
As with any long-serving Prime Minister, not all of Margaret Thatcher's policies were universally supported. However, her legacy as one of our greatest leaders is undeniable. She took a country in decline and gave it a new sense of purpose, creating opportunities for all based on ambition and hard work, rather than the circumstances of one's birth. Her leadership also played a significant role in strengthening Britain’s global position and contributed to the end of the Cold War.
