I wasn't going by ratings solely, Allan,

[nor by numbers, Dick -- do you really think then that there is nothing to choose between the popularity/unpopularity of any PMs, based purely on the consideration that none has ever enjoyed a numerical majority of the electorate as a whole? if so, then you are still being silly, I fear -- if you can't see where or why or how, then I just leave you to it]

but by my recollection of people's reactions in every day intercourse. People like decorators who came to paint the house, people one would get into chat with on trains ... so many such: wish I had a pound for everyone I met at the time who said, "Don't care what anyone says, I think she's great." There was an atmosphere of cheerfulness and patriotic pride around which I do not recall having sensed quite like that before or since. The Falklands had much to do with it; she stood her ground, committed us, and won; and before anyone starts going on about the bloody Belgrano, just remember the proverb about what he who fights & runs away does. I appreciate that things will have been different in other parts of the country; but even that didn't prevent her repeated re-election, and her having served the longest continuous time in office since I can't recall when: certainly not in the lifetime of anyone I knew; did it? Hubris overcame her eventually; everyone can get over-confident & make a misjudgment -- in her case, as I say, over the Poll Tax. But, until then...

~M~