Why was Margaret Thatcher the best prime minister the UK ever had? Forget the Queen, Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s best leader. Margaret Thatcher remains one of the most talked-about and influential leaders in modern political history. Whether admired or criticised, her leadership style, work ethic, and results continue to set her apart from other British prime ministers.
For those who value strong direction, discipline, and action over political fluff, Thatcher remains unmatched. Even in Netflix’s The Crown, one scene perfectly captures the essence of her approach — get to work, not talk about work.
This article explores why I respect her deeply, and why her style of “doing over fluff” made her Britain’s most effective modern leader.
Margaret Thatcher’s Work Ethic: The 20-Hour Days That Defined Her Leadership
A Routine Built for Maximum Productivity
One of the most defining aspects of Margaret Thatcher’s leadership was her extreme discipline. According to Lord Charles Powell, her private secretary from 1983 to 1990:
“She never stopped. The working day began at 6am with Farming Today and rarely ended until the last red box was completed at 2am or 3am.”
This wasn’t a political stunt — it was simply how she operated.
Weekends Were Not Days Off
For Thatcher, weekends were simply another opportunity to work. Chequers — the prime minister’s country residence — effectively became her second office.
She didn’t believe leadership was bound by business hours or calendars.
Always Early, Never Waiting
Powell also recalled her “excessive punctuality” — so extreme that her car would often arrive at engagements too early, leaving the police escort scrambling and locals bewildered at the sight of the prime minister sitting in a layby waiting for everyone else to catch up.
This trait tells you everything about her: time wasted was mission wasted.
Thatcher’s Leadership Style: Direct, Relentless, and Driven by Purpose
A Leader Who Believed in Doing, Not Posturing
In The Crown, Thatcher is portrayed as someone uninterested in ceremony or niceties. That wasn’t exaggerated — it was entirely accurate.
She didn’t care about political fluff.
She didn’t care about optics.
She cared about outcomes.
“I Argue Therefore I Am”: How She Thought Through Conflict
Powell also described her argumentative style:
“She could turn almost anything into an argument… It was how she arrived at her views… I argue therefore I am.”
To Thatcher, debate wasn’t hostility — it was thinking.
She sharpened her ideas through confrontation, which baffled her public-school-educated male cabinet, who were raised to politely defer to women.
But Thatcher didn’t want deference. She wanted clarity and conviction.
Why Margaret Thatcher’s Toughness Produced Real Results
Conviction Above Comfort
Thatcher was not a leader who softened her ideas to avoid criticism. She believed leadership required direction, not dilution.
Whether one agrees with her policies or not, her legacy — economic recovery, increased competitiveness, strengthened global standing, and a restored national confidence — came from her unshakeable conviction.
She Wasn’t Trying to Be Liked — She Was Trying to Lead
Modern politics is filled with leaders obsessed with optics, diplomacy, and public relations. Thatcher operated from a different universe:
Being liked was optional.
Being effective was essential.
This is a key reason she still commands respect decades later.
Why I Respect Margaret Thatcher (And Why Many Still Do)
I respect Margaret Thatcher because she embodied a rare form of leadership — one built on purpose, discipline, and unapologetic focus.
She showed what it looks like when a leader:
- Works harder than anyone else
- Refuses to waste time
- Argues for clarity, not ego
- Acts with conviction, not convenience
- Puts mission before optics
In her own words:
“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.”
Her leadership wasn’t perfect, but it was powerful — and it changed Britain.
Conclusion: Thatcher’s Legacy Still Matters
Margaret Thatcher’s leadership style — direct, intense, disciplined, and work-driven — remains a benchmark for effective leadership worldwide.
For anyone interested in what makes a leader not just visible but transformational, her story offers lessons that are as relevant now as they were in the 1980s.
Thatcher believed in doing, not talking about doing.
And that is why she remains, in my view, Britain’s greatest modern leader.
