Her period in office saw the start of aggressive pro-market policies and a shift away from domestic manufacturing to globalisation. Despite the praise now heaped upon her she was not a widely popular prime-minister, propped up by military success and numerous tax handouts to her core voters, all sugar-coated by a pro-Tory press.
Though the 1980s did bring some welcome changes in attitudes, especially towards women and minorities, these were moves resisted by Thatcher and her Conservative government.
Even the suggestion that her economic policies revived and modernised the UK economy could be countered with the belief in deregulation and privatisation that her party embedded eventually leading to the problems we face now. A focus on individuals and the market system, as opposed to communities and public provision, has led to a discontent and fractured society.
Essentially the growth seen in the eighties was fuelled by privatisations, tax cuts and North Sea Oil revenues - a resource squandered for short-term gain. Even the much vaunted council house sales produced a bubble that now makes it hard for first time buyers to purchase their first home. What industrial policy there was targeted the London based financial sector at the cost of all else.
But Thatcher did have an ideology. Flawed as it was, she believed in what she was doing, unlike Major, Blair, Brown and Cameron who followed her tracks without thought or deliberation. The latter in particular has continued to apply the free market mantra despite the banking collapse and debt caused by that. He's talked of rebalancing the economy but resisted legislation to moderate the actions of banks. And he's blamed the poor and unemployed for the actions of those at the top of the pile, cutting benefits to force claimants back into work.
He applies her ideology without seeing it as such, regarding it as the only approach and that we have no alternative. At a time when debate on the future of the economy is needed he adheres to the policies of the eighties, now applied to a fragile and debt ridden country.
So Thatcher is dead. Some mourn whilst others celebrate. But the reality is her ideas are more alive than ever. Alive and being practiced with renewed vigour.