Margaret Thatcher dies at 87 after suffering a stroke

MARGARET THATCHER, Britain's first and only female Prime Minister, has died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. Thatcher, who served three consecutive terms as Conservative PM from 1979 to 1990, died peacefully this morning, her spokesman Lord Bell said.

Nicknamed 'The Iron Lady' – a reference to her personal and political fortitude - she was a divisive figure who emphasised "moral absolutism, nationalism, and the rights of the individual versus that of the state," says CNN. In 1987 she famously declared: "There is no such thing as society".

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Thatcher's government privatised several state-owned industries. She was also in power when the UK went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.

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David Cameron lead the tributes today saying the UK had "lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton". The Queen – who reportedly had a sometimes difficult relationship with the former PM – said she was sad to hear of Baroness Thatcher's death and would be sending a message of sympathy to her family.

There were accolades from some of the business leaders who flourished as a direct result of her government's policies. Lord Sugar described her as a "great lady" who "changed the face of British politics and created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK". Thatcher "kick-started the entrepreneurial revolution that allowed chirpy chappies to succeed," he tweeted.

The BBC's political correspondent Nick Robinson called Thatcher the "dominant figure of post-war British politics". He added: "Love her or loathe her, Margaret Thatcher shaped this country as few others did."

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said: "Margaret Thatcher transformed the face of Britain and of all political parties. We are all Thatcher's children."

Thatcher gave up public speaking at the age of 76 after suffering a "series of small strokes". By the time her husband, Denis, died in 2003, she had retired completely from public life.

Thatcher is survived by her daughter, Carol, and her son, Mark.

Baroness Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.