Politics is at its best when there's a good debate to be had.
In recent years, dividing lines between the parties have become blurred. But the past week has been a reminder of the way it used to be, when we had a Prime Minister who you either loved or loathed. Other characters of the period, such as Arthur Scargill or Norman Tebbit, provoked reactions almost as extreme.
Labour today argues that the current government is going “too far and too fast”. In Lady Thatcher’s day, parties believed their opponents were wrong, pure and simple.
It’s been interesting to recall those days. But it was also a reminder that the quality of debate was low. Anger– even if it is justified – rarely encourages sensible argument.
Historians will evaluate Lady Thatcher’s legacy. But the challenges she faced in 1979 are not those we face now. Perhaps now, politicians can return to looking at the world of today.
