AliUK: Thatcher didn't retire. She was booted out as leader of the Tories when they saw that there was a possibility that they would lose the election if she remained. Anyone watching at the time could see the thinly disguised tears of rage on the "lady's" face. As for her winning the election in 1979, I recall speaking to a strong Labour supporter the morning after and he was incandescent. I quote what he said. "Carlyle said that England was populated by 20 million fools. Well there are now 60 million." Don't know if the good Thomas ever said that, but it summed up what many of us thought at the time and boy were wwe proved right.