Mims Davies MP and Iain Dale came together in East Grinstead for his new book on Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady, on the 100th Anniversary of her birth.
As we know, Iain Dale is an accomplished broadcaster, presents his own daily radio show on LBC and podcasts, including For the Many, Iain Dale All Talk and Where Politics Meets History.
Iain is also a regular guest on Question Time, Newsnight, and Good Morning Britain; a columnist for the Telegraph; and the author and editor of more than 40 books.
Iain Dale aimed to introduce a new generation to Margaret Thatcher – exploding myths along the way. Discussing how Thatcherism developed in 1978-1983 and people wanted to copy it across the world as she was a sign post, rather than à weathervane.
Who was the ‘Iron Lady’, and was her leadership style really as dictatorial as people believed? Did she transform Britain’s economy, and if so, how? What was her role in bringing about the end of the Cold War? Did she support Apartheid in South Africa? Did she only care about the rich? Did she U-Turn or was, as she famously said, ‘the lady not for turning’?
Iain talked about how the challenges Margaret Thatcher faced are the same for Kemi Badenoch. But The Iron Lady didn’t have anywhere near the same media environment we're currently in. And how she was the first world leader to warn of climate change, yet people didn’t realise at that time how important it was.
Iain also clarified that The Iron Lady did not in fact run a centralised government, No 10 became centralised under Blair.
Mims Davies MP said:
What a fabulous evening!
I was thrilled to have a lovely evening with residents of East Grinstead and close by hearing from broadcaster, author, political commentator, former publisher and book retailer, the one and only Iain Dale, on his new book on Margaret Thatcher.
We discussed all things Margaret Thatcher, 100 years on from her birth.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the evening - it was a completely sold out event - and made it so memorable with the brilliant Bookshop.
