Margaret Thatcher’s Legacy: 100 Years On, Conservatives Seek Inspiration and Direction

Thatcher’s Shadow at the Conservative Conference

Manchester, October 2025. The ghosts of political giants don’t linger quietly. This year, as the Conservative Party gathers for its annual conference, the spirit of Margaret Thatcher is not merely present—it’s everywhere. From cardboard cut-outs and commemorative mugs to an exhibition of her iconic suits, the conference feels almost like a pilgrimage to the Iron Lady’s legacy. Delegates queue for photos, mosaic tributes flicker on walls, and the air buzzes with anticipation ahead of the centenary of her birth on October 13.

But why does Thatcher’s memory still hold such sway? For party members and leaders alike, the answer is complicated. The party is searching for both inspiration and direction in a political landscape that feels more fragmented and uncertain than ever before. As BBC News notes, the centenary is more than a milestone—it’s a mirror held up to a party in flux, wrestling with the question of what it means to be Conservative in a world far removed from Thatcher’s 1980s Britain.

Kemi Badenoch: Invoking the Iron Lady

At the heart of this year’s conference is Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader now facing her own test. Opening the proceedings, Badenoch did not shy away from Thatcher’s shadow. Twice she praised the three-time election winner, quoting her famous line, “The facts of life are Conservative.” She lauded Thatcher for breaking the cycle of high inflation, low growth, and what she called the “stranglehold” of the trade unions in the 1980s (Sky News).

Yet, the mood in the hall was subdued. Badenoch’s delivery, measured and solemn, reflected the weight of recent national tragedies and the gravity of her task. She began with references to the Manchester synagogue attack, entering to somber music by Russian composer Kirill Pokrovsky. But soon, her speech pivoted to the present: fierce criticism of pro-Palestine protests and an ambitious, controversial announcement—the Conservative Party would seek to leave the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) if it wins the next election. The audience, quiet at first, responded with scattered applause as she staked out her position on immigration and national identity.

Badenoch’s invocation of Thatcher is more than nostalgia. According to insiders, she has been studying the Iron Lady’s early years in power, searching for lessons that might help her revive a party reeling from last year’s electoral defeat and persistent polling woes. But, as commentators and party grandees quickly point out, the challenges facing Badenoch are not the same as those Thatcher confronted. Where Thatcher battled unions and state-run industries, Badenoch faces a divided party, a restless electorate, and new economic realities.

Debate Over the Meaning of Thatcherism Today

Within the conference’s halls, the question on everyone’s lips is: does Thatcherism still offer a blueprint for success? Robert Colvile, co-author of the 2019 Conservative manifesto and head of the Centre for Policy Studies (a think tank Thatcher herself helped establish), suggests the answer is nuanced. At a fringe event, Colvile argued that while the economic context has changed, the party could still learn from Thatcher’s clear identification of political adversaries. Where Thatcher targeted powerful unions, today’s Conservatives, he said, should focus on cutting bureaucracy and “lanyard classes” that, in his view, stifle enterprise.

Former MP John Redwood, who once led Thatcher’s policy unit, sees parallels in the energy sector. He contends that government subsidies and net-zero regulations have made it resemble a nationalized industry, ripe for reform by a Conservative Party eager to reassert its economic credentials.

Esther McVey, another party stalwart, warned that Thatcher would be “spinning in her grave” at Labour’s new green energy company, GB Energy. For McVey and others, the party’s best hope is to reclaim its reputation as the reliable steward of the economy—a message they hope will resonate with voters wary of what they see as reckless spending proposals from rivals like Reform UK and Labour.

Internal Tensions and the Struggle for Identity

Beneath the surface, however, the party is far from united. Rumors swirl about defections and internal dissent. Andrew Rosindell, a self-described Thatcher devotee whose constituency office is named after her, brushed off speculation about joining another party. Yet, the mere existence of such rumors points to a party grappling with its own identity.

Meanwhile, figures like Michael Heseltine—whose actions played a pivotal role in Thatcher’s political downfall—return to the spotlight. Now 92, Heseltine addressed a European Movement event, likely to challenge Badenoch’s hardline stance on the ECHR. His presence is a reminder that the Conservative Party’s relationship with Thatcherism has always been complicated, marked by both reverence and rebellion.

As the party faithful toast “Maggie’s 100th” with disco hits and cocktails, the mood is not entirely celebratory. The anniversary serves as a rallying point, but also a test: can the party channel the Iron Lady’s determination without becoming trapped by her shadow?

Lessons from History—And Unanswered Questions

Margaret Thatcher led her party to three consecutive election victories, reshaping Britain’s economy and political landscape in ways that still provoke debate. But as several speakers reminded the conference, she too faced challenges from insurgent parties and a hostile press. John Redwood recalled how, during the rise of the SDP in the 1980s, the Conservatives succeeded by focusing on their own message rather than obsessing over rivals. It’s a lesson Badenoch and her team may find worth heeding as they try to carve a path back to power.

The true test, however, is whether the values and methods that defined Thatcher’s era can be adapted to the present. Economic circumstances are different, the electorate is more fragmented, and the problems—climate change, migration, culture wars—are not those of the 1980s. Yet, the longing for clarity, conviction, and leadership remains as strong as ever.

As the Conservatives mark a century since Margaret Thatcher’s birth, her legacy is both a guiding star and a heavy burden. Today’s leaders invoke her memory in search of inspiration, but the road ahead demands not only reverence for the past, but also the courage to confront new realities with their own vision and resolve.