Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain

[V8mate]

This has been running for a few weeks now.

Tonight's really reminds you just how lame contemporary politicians are. It's about Thatcher from 1979 and through the 80s.

Utterly determind person. Whether dealing internationally, with the Europeans, with the Unions or her own Cabinet, she simply didn't take any crap and was determind to improve the country and deliver a vision of small government.

Reinforces the complete lack of choice at the impending General Election.

All IMO, naturally.

[Halb]

Missed most of these
I found Marr can tella good story in his other series.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I don't think it is surprising that Marr seems to like Thatcher. She had ideas, and she saw them through. Right or wrong she did not pander or prostitute herself. She ideas soar her rocket, and her same ideas doomed her in the end. Unlike Blair/Brown/Cameron who will say any old trash to slide up the pole.

I enjoyed the story of how she kept the Euro leaders in a meeting for four hours...shame we don't have many leader politicians like her and the others in the making of. If you wish to see politicians with balls take a look at that series!!

[youngsyr]

Would be interesting to see if he'd have changed his views any given the credit crunch in late 2007 and this series being filmed in, presumably early, 2007.

[mikeyr]

The book of the series is throughly interesting too - I know a lot of people on here think Andrew Marr is a lefty labour apologist* but I find his stuff really interesting.

_* the worst thing you can be on PH apparently!

[nutsnipe]

Not sure Thather was that great : things seem to look better when you look back.

The 80s removed most of our manufacturing base and while useless 80s French owned car manufacturing survived through intervention we lost ours long term.

I met her once : worked for a US company when she visited and must say she was impressive asking the American owners how much British stuff they used etc

[nutsnipe]

Not sure Thatcher (must spell her name right) was that great : things seem to look better when you look back.

The 80s removed most of our manufacturing base and while useless 80s French owned car manufacturing survived through intervention we lost ours long term.

I met her once : worked for a US company when she visited and must say she was impressive asking the American owners how much British stuff they used etc

[Halb]

nutsnipe said:

Not sure Thatcher (must spell her name right) was that great : things seem to look better when you look back.

She had billions flooding in from oil, privatisation, council house sales and she put VAT up twice. Makes me wonder why didn't the UK end the 90's in a different situation...
I think Marr explained it sadly away as the rise of personal mass consumption to excess and credit idiocy which started under Thatcher which was perversely anathema to her own values...you give people their freedom, and they fk it up.

[DJC]

Alas our manufacturing base was worse in worse shape than the French, which was why a lot of it went to the wall during the period late 70s - early 90s.

[V8mate]

nutsnipe said:

Not sure Thatcher (must spell her name right) was that great : things seem to look better when you look back.

Policies and their impact is subjective, of course. I was, rather, lamenting her leadership skills - at all levels as I described in my OP - and the absence of a contemporary politician you can really get behind. (no smut, chaps!)

I appreciate that any leader of her style will, however, always have people who detest them just as vehemently; goes with the territory.

But it has to be better than bland.

[HereBeMonsters]

Anyone watch last night's episode?

Well done BBC for managing to sneak Cypress Hill's "When The st Goes Down" unedited at 7pm on BBC 2.