Lady Thatcher has just died. I did not agree with her policies, but admired her strength as a woman for her term in office.
Updated
David Cameron has led tributes to Lady Thatcher as he cut short a European tour to return to the UK on hearing news of her death.
In a statement he said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Lady Thatcher. We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton."
The news was broken to him while he was in Madrid, where he was meeting the Spanish prime minster, Mariano Rajoy.
The Queen was said to be saddened by the news. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family."
Tributes poured in from across the politicial spectrum. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said: "I send my deep condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, in particular Mark and Carol Thatcher.
"She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage.
"The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength.
"She also defined the politics of the 1980s. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and I all grew up in a politics shaped by Lady Thatcher. We took different paths but with her as the crucial figure of that era.
"She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime."
The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served.
"She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics. My thoughts are with her family and friends."
The former prime minister Tony Blair described Thatcher as "a towering political figure". He added: "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world."
Among senior Conservatives, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said Thatcher was "the reason I came into politics".
He said: "Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again. She bestrode the political world like a colossus."
The senior Tory MP David Davis said: "Margaret Thatcher was the greatest of modern British prime ministers, and was central to the huge transformation of the whole world that took place after the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Millions of people in Britain and around the world owe her a debt of gratitude for their freedom and their quality of life, which was made possible by her courageous commitment to the principles of individual freedom and responsibility. Her passing is a very sad event and she will be greatly missed."
The London mayor, Boris Johnson, said on Twitter: "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics."
The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said: "I have always said that Mrs Thatcher was a great inspiration to me personally. Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people. A towering figure in recent British and political history has passed from the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family."
Many took to Twitter to pay tribute to Thatcher. The Tory MP Therese Coffey said the former prime minister had transformed the country, "putting Great back in Great Britain".
The shadow international development secretary, Ivan Lewis, said: "Hoping all Labour supporters will respond with dignity + respect to news of Baroness Thatcher's death. Our thoughts with her family + friends."
And the former Labour minister and MP Tony McNulty tweeted: "God bless her and thoughts are with her family. RIP."
The Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood tweeted: "Sad news about Baroness Thatcher. Don't miss her policies but a towering figure in 20th c British politics, & made history UK's 1st woman PM."
Quotes from Margaret Thatcher death David Cameron leads tribute to Iron lady.
RIP Maggie
Update related article: Margaret Thatcher dead first female prime minister transformed a nation.
Updated
David Cameron has led tributes to Lady Thatcher as he cut short a European tour to return to the UK on hearing news of her death.
In a statement he said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Lady Thatcher. We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton."
The news was broken to him while he was in Madrid, where he was meeting the Spanish prime minster, Mariano Rajoy.
The Queen was said to be saddened by the news. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family."
Tributes poured in from across the politicial spectrum. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said: "I send my deep condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, in particular Mark and Carol Thatcher.
"She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage.
"The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength.
"She also defined the politics of the 1980s. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and I all grew up in a politics shaped by Lady Thatcher. We took different paths but with her as the crucial figure of that era.
"She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime."
The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served.
"She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics. My thoughts are with her family and friends."
The former prime minister Tony Blair described Thatcher as "a towering political figure". He added: "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world."
Among senior Conservatives, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said Thatcher was "the reason I came into politics".
He said: "Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again. She bestrode the political world like a colossus."
The senior Tory MP David Davis said: "Margaret Thatcher was the greatest of modern British prime ministers, and was central to the huge transformation of the whole world that took place after the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Millions of people in Britain and around the world owe her a debt of gratitude for their freedom and their quality of life, which was made possible by her courageous commitment to the principles of individual freedom and responsibility. Her passing is a very sad event and she will be greatly missed."
The London mayor, Boris Johnson, said on Twitter: "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics."
The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said: "I have always said that Mrs Thatcher was a great inspiration to me personally. Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people. A towering figure in recent British and political history has passed from the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family."
Many took to Twitter to pay tribute to Thatcher. The Tory MP Therese Coffey said the former prime minister had transformed the country, "putting Great back in Great Britain".
The shadow international development secretary, Ivan Lewis, said: "Hoping all Labour supporters will respond with dignity + respect to news of Baroness Thatcher's death. Our thoughts with her family + friends."
And the former Labour minister and MP Tony McNulty tweeted: "God bless her and thoughts are with her family. RIP."
The Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood tweeted: "Sad news about Baroness Thatcher. Don't miss her policies but a towering figure in 20th c British politics, & made history UK's 1st woman PM."
Quotes from Margaret Thatcher death David Cameron leads tribute to Iron lady.
RIP Maggie
Update related article: Margaret Thatcher dead first female prime minister transformed a nation.
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