The Free Press
NewslettersSign InSubscribe
Things Worth Remembering: When Margaret Thatcher Refused to Jump
Margaret Thatcher stood apart. (Photo by Hilaria McCarthy via Getty Images)
In a 1995 interview, the Iron Lady gave a lesson on the perils of popularity.
By Douglas Murray
05.26.24 — Culture and Ideas
329
816

Welcome to Douglas Murray’s column, Things Worth Remembering, in which he presents great speeches from famous orators we should commit to heart. To listen to Margaret Thatcher react to a Swedish journalist telling her to jump in a TV interview, scroll to the end of this piece.

One of my first political memories is being on my school playground in London in 1990 and hearing that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had resigned. She had ascended to power just before I was born, in 1979, so I had never known any other prime minister, and I was alarmed. 

“But who else could do the job?” I remember saying to a friend. 

This may have been one of my first political insights, but it also turned out to be one of my best. Because the answer for 34 years since has been: no one.

Continue Reading The Free Press
To support our journalism, and unlock all of our investigative stories and provocative commentary about the world as it actually is, subscribe below.
Annual
$8.33/month
Billed as $100 yearly
Save 17%!
Monthly
$10/month
Billed as $10 monthly
Already have an account?
Sign In
To read this article, sign in or subscribe
Douglas Murray
Douglas Murray is the best-selling author of seven books, and is a regular contributor at the New York Post, National Review, and other publications. His work as a reporter has taken him to Iraq, North Korea, northern Nigeria, and Ukraine. Born in London, he now lives in New York.
Comments
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts and connect with other readers by becoming a paid subscriber!
Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

No posts

For Free People.
LatestSearchAboutCareersShopPodcastsVideoEvents
Download the app
Download on the Google Play Store
©2025 The Free Press. All Rights Reserved.Powered by Substack.
Privacy∙Terms∙Collection notice