“I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but should get you pretty near.” - Margaret Thatcher

There are few prime ministers who have had the courage to change Britain and its place in the world as radically as Margaret Thatcher did during her time in office.

As the first ever woman to take the role and the longest serving prime minister for more than 150 years, Thatcher broke through barriers to lead the country from 1979 to 1990. At this event, Edwina Currie will offer her first-hand insights into life in Thatcher’s government. She will reveal how Thatcher led from the front and never avoided responsibility when things went wrong. Her clarity of purpose, her indefatigable energy and her self-belief, meant that all her Ministers knew what they should be doing and the voters knew what to expect.

This is a unique opportunity to hear about Thatcher’s leadership from someone who experienced it. At a time when the question of leadership is more important than ever, discover what we can learn from one of the most influential leaders of modern times.

About Edwina Currie

One of only 23 women in the House on election (out of 656 Members), Edwina Currie understands just how extraordinary Thatcher’s achievement was. Edwina served as MP for South Derbyshire from 1983 to 1997 and has been described as “the best communicator the Tories have.”

From 1986-88, Edwina was a government Minister at the Department of Health and Social Security under Margaret Thatcher, with responsibility for campaigns on women’s health and the promotion of healthier lifestyles. Her greatest achievement was bringing in nationwide screening systems for breast cancer and for cervical cancer, with associated treatment services, all free of charge on the National Health Service, making Britain the first in the world to have both. She resigned over food safety (salmonella) in December 1988, and turned down John Major's request to return to government in 1992.

Edwina is now a well-known radio and TV presenter and is also a frequent contributor to news and current affairs programmes. She has published ten books, including several best-selling novels and her Diaries 1987-1992, which were published in 2002.