I am convinced that had she gotten one more term in as PM, that the Brits would be in far better shape today. They certainly picked a dull witted loser in John Major.
On 1 November 1990 Geoffrey Howe, the last remaining member of Thatcher’s original 1979 cabinet, resigned from his position as Deputy Prime Minister over her refusal to agree to a timetable for Britain to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.
In his resignation speech on 13 November, Howe commented on Thatcher’s European stance: “It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease only for them to find the moment that the first balls are bowled that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain.”
His resignation was fatal to Thatcher’s premiership.
The next day, Michael Heseltine mounted a challenge for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Opinion polls had indicated that he would give the Conservatives a national lead over Labour.
Although Thatcher won the first ballot, Heseltine attracted sufficient support (152 votes) to force a second ballot. Thatcher initially stated that she intended to “fight on and fight to win” the second ballot, but consultation with her Cabinet persuaded her to withdraw.
After seeing the Queen, calling other world leaders, and making one final Commons speech, she left Downing Street in tears. She regarded her ousting as a betrayal.
THAT, marked the end of an era of great leaders IMHO.