Former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died of a stroke today aged 87.
Her spokesman Lord Bell revealed the news that the former politician had passed away after a long battle with poor health.
Lord Bell said: 'It is with great
sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother
Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.
'A further statement will be made later.'
Britain’s first and only
woman prime minister, who won three consecutive general elections, has
been in fragile health since she suffered a series of minor strokes more
than a decade ago.
She suffered acute short-term memory loss and had a series of strokes over a decade.
She spent 11 years in Downing Street, the longest run by any 20th century prime minister.
In
1990, a leadership challenge forced her to leave No 10 and two years
later she was made a life peer, as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.
In
recent years she has led a quiet life cared for by her loyal
housekeeper Kate. She suffered a minor stroke in 2002 which left her
with short-term memory loss.
Her beloved husband Denis died in 2003 and her children Mark and Carol both live abroad.
Her
health was thrust into the global spotlight this year with the release
of a Hollywood film about her with Meryl Streep in the lead role.
The Iron Lady drew criticism
from David Cameron and others for concentrating on the dementia she has
suffered. Miss Streep won an Oscar for the role.
Lady
Thatcher was not well enough to join the Queen for a lunch with former
and serving prime ministers as part of the Diamond Jubilee this summer.
And two years ago she missed an 85th birthday party thrown in her honour
by Mr Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
In
October she was sufficiently well, however, to mark her 87th birthday
with lunch at a restaurant in London’s St James’s district with Mark
and his wife.
by By Martin Robinson
source:www.dailymail.co.uk
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