“The British people had given up on socialism. The 30-year experiment had plainly failed – and they were ready to try something else.”
So mused Margaret Thatcher on the eve of her first general election victory on May 3 1979. But in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the Iron Lady’s arrival in Downing Street, many British people have concluded that once again “a 30-year experiment” has “plainly failed”. This time, however, it is the experiment with Thatcherism.
