Posted on 03/08/2008 6:31:59 AM PST by ScaniaBoy
Baroness Thatcher has been released from hospital this afternoon after she was admitted overnight for precautionary tests.
The former Prime Minister smiled and waved as she walked out of St Thomas's Hospital in central London, where she was taken after falling ill last night.
The 82-year-old had been dining with friends in the Lords when she started feeling "slightly nauseous and faint", her private secretary, Mark Worthington, said.
"Her legs gave way a little bit under her," he said, adding that she had not fainted.
"We thought it safest to be sure about these things."
A close friend said: "She has always had low blood pressure. She is absolutely fine. She had a good night and all the tests were fine."
Lady Thatcher's daughter, Carol, said her mother was taken immediately to hospital given her medical history.
"You can see St. Thomas' hospital from [the Lords] and very wisely, at her age and with a history of little strokes, they decided to err on the side of caution," she said. "But it's good news today. She is doing well."
The former Prime Minister's health has been a concern since 2002 when she suffered a series of minor strokes.
She has become increasingly frail, prone to short-term memory lapses and has reduced the number of her public engagements.
In 2002 doctors advised her to stop making speeches in public. However she continued to do so, last appearing in public three weeks ago when she opened a new infirmary for Chelsea pensioners.
In January, she was presented with a lifetime achievement award by David Cameron, the Conservative leader, at a ceremony in London.
Mr Cameron described her as a "towering figure" who had "transformed our country".
Even in recent months the former prime minister has courted controversy, most notably after visiting Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street last autumn.
The visit caused Tory MPs to accuse Mr Brown of hypocrisy and sparked rumblings of protests among some Labour MPs.
Lady Thatcher's husband, Denis, died in 2003. She has two children, twins Carol and Mark.
The "Iron Lady" was prime minister from 1979, succeeding Labour's James Callaghan, until 1990 when she was effectively removed from office by her own party.
During her years in power Britain fought Argentina to regain control of the Falkland Islands, a raft of industries were privatised, trade unions were reformed, income taxes were cut and the government staged a massive programme of council house sales.
Her premiership was also hit by a series of controversies - including the 1984-85 miners' strike, the Westland helicopter crisis and the introduction of the highly controversial poll tax, which saw rioting on London streets. She was succeeded by John Major.
But what's it with the Telegraph. Even that paper seems to be headed for the death of the Dinosaur Media.
You go, girl!!!
Why is she “Baroness”? Is that a high honor?
Baron is a specific title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Frankish baro meaning "freeman, warrior", and that I think fits very well with Lady Thatcher. Don't you agree?
Speaking of women leaders, I would vote for a Mags clone in a heartbeat to be president of this country. Hillary’s lack of support has nothing to do with sexism.
Yes it is a high honor. A woman can not be a "SIR." Thus, she is a Baroness, and I must say she well deserves the honor. Thatcher, Regan and Pope John broke up the Soviet Union and freed Eastern Europe and did not fire one shot. That is one hell of a legacy. I wish she were my president.
I agree!
Well said.
No wonder she's called the Iron Lady. Chelsea Pensioners are Vets.
What a relief.
It also entitles her to sit in the House of Lords, the upper House of the British Parliament (her Parliamentary career culiminating as Prime Minister was as a member of the elected House of Commons).
The title of Baron or Baroness is considerably higher than the Honour of a Knighthood (which carries with it the honorific of Sir for a man, or Dame for a woman). But in addition to her title as Baroness, Lady Thatcher does hold a Knighthood (she is a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, England's most prestigious order of Knighthood), she also holds the Order of Merit, and is a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.
And finally, she was entitled to the honorific of Lady by virtue of her marriage to the late Sir Denis Thatcher.
In total, she is The Right Honourable Margaret, Lady Thatcher, Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Order of Merit, Privy Counsellor, Baroness of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire.
Thanks for the precise definition.
Lady Thatcher is one hell of lady. Here in the United States she is greatly admired. I lived in the United Kingdom when she was elected. At that time the economy of the UK was down the tubes. She created an economic recovery that lives on today even under a Labor Government.
History will treat her very kindly as will our President Regan. Together they were magnificent as world leaders. With the support of Pope John Paul they left their mark on history.
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