"The Iron Lady"

I saw "The Iron Lady” last week which, for me, reaffirmed the some of political and personal traits for which she stood – with some paraphrasing:

• Personal responsibility
• The idea of a balance of exercising rights and accepting responsibilities
• “One’s life must make a difference”
• You become resolute if you have to fight for things rather than having them given to you on plate
• It’s possible to achieve things even when you don’t quite fit in to the prevailing mood of an environment.

Some have criticised the insensitivity of the approach ie flashback by someone suffering from the privations of old age. But it does address an issue which is difficult and sensitive. Mental deterioration is no respecter of wealth, race, gender, class or position. And access to public services for the elderly and their treatment by providers, and particularly in the case of chronic and incurable conditions, continues to be in public focus. The extent of Margaret Thatcher’s need for care may in a sense help raise awareness of the demands for public services of the many who need them.