Margaret Thatcher celebrates her 80th birthday

Friends and ex-foes pay tribute to Margaret Thatcher at 80

By George Jones, Political Editor
THE TELEGRAPH LONDON

Political friends and many former foes paid tribute to Lady Thatcher, the former Conservative Prime Minister, who celebrates her 80th birthday today.

Michael Howard, the outgoing Tory leader, placed her alongside Winston Churchill in the gallery of national leaders.

"What Churchill did in wartime, Margaret Thatcher did in peacetime. Her political will and her iron courage saw off the threats to our way of life that Britain faced in 1979. We all owe her an enormous debt. I wish her well for her birthday and for many years to come," Mr Howard said.
Lord (formerly Sir Geoffrey) Howe, whose attack on her in the Commons in 1990 played a key role in her downfall, said her "11 years of triumph, which ended in tragedy, still stand as a period of astonishing achievement."

Her real triumph was to have transformed not just one party but two, "so that when Labour did eventually return, the great bulk of Thatcherism was accepted as irreversible," Lord Howe said.

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Thatcher's 80th expected to draw royals and more

By BETH GARDINER
Associated Press

LONDON - Margaret Thatcher is holding an 80th birthday bash with a guest list that includes one of her successors at No. 10 Downing St. — current Prime Minister Tony Blair — and Queen Elizabeth II, Thatcher's office said.

Britain's first female prime minister has grown frail after suffering a series of small strokes, and she increasingly avoids the limelight.

But she'll turn 80 on Thursday, celebrating with about 680 guests at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, her assistant Gilly Penrose said. "She is very much looking forward to the day, it's a chance to see everybody that she has mixed with over the years," Penrose said.

John Major — who succeeded Thatcher when she was ousted by her party in 1990 — is expected to attend, and the queen will be there with her husband, Prince Philip, Penrose said. Many members of Thatcher's Cabinets will be present.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:

Margaret Thatcher is a 'giant in history' who in my opinion ranks with Winston Churchill as one of the greatest prime ministers in Britain's history.

I had the honor to meet Margaret Thatcher in 1975 and treasure a hand written note she sent to me.

I am very happy and delighted that Margaret Thatcher is being honored on her 80th birthday.

Lady Margaret Thatcher truly is one of the great world leaders of modern times. A very remarkable and extraordinary lady.

GOD BLESS MARGARET THATCHER !