First Thatcher ministry May 1979. The Winter of Discontent had seen the Labour government's popularity slump during the previous four months, and the opinion polls all pointed towards a Conservative victory. The Tories won the election with a majority of 44 seats and their leader Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister. Thatcher inherited some of the worst economic statistics of postwar Britain. The nation was still feeling the effects of the numerous strikes during the recent Winter of Discontent. Inflation had recently topped 20%, and unemployment was in excess of 1.5 million for the first time since the 1930s. Thatcher's monetarist
I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher campaign to promote "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher". The campaign was initially understood to have been started by Thatcher supporters, and was endorsed by former Conservative MP and author Louise Mensch, but in fact was initiated by Notsensibles' singer Mike Hargreaves and promoter Suzie Delooze by way of a Facebook page. The Notsensibles' song was reportedly considered "more favourable to Baroness Thatcher", and at one performance in 2012, Hargreaves claimed that he had "great reverence for Thatcher". Hargreaves later said: "I find it hilarious that Tories have adopted it. The song is a sort-of tribute and sort-of not." Band