'As for the NC, Mrs T. was the fist prime minister to accept that the education system was in a mess and was (still is) getting worse.'

They were reforming it when I started teaching (Plowden and Newsom reports), and they're still bloody reforming it. On the contrary -its the soft option - education, education, education. The kids can't complain. everybody reforms education.

I think you're going a little crazy - saying we should close the thread down. You've forgotten what Thatch was like. She relished a good fight. Certainly gave Kinnock a good biffing in debate every time I listened to Today in Parliament with my head in my hands. I bet she'd quite enjoy the thought that she was still drawing blood all these years after her fall from power.