Under Thatcher, council homes were sold off and taxes cut. Her Government was responsible for the launch of Personal Pensions and for the scrapping of compulsory occupational pension scheme membership in 1988, as well as the introduction of the Personal Equity Plan (PEP) the forerunner of the Individual Savings Account (ISA). 

Here, we look back at some of her infamous money-related quotes.

“Pennies don’t fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth.” Speech, Nov. 12, 1979.

“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well.” Weekend World, Jan. 6, 1980.

“My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; live within your means; put by a nest egg for a rainy day; pay your bills on time; support the police.” Interview September 1981.

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“Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.” Speech 1980.

“People want a home they can call their own. The last Conservative Government encouraged Councils to sell but all too often Labour Councils refused. This brought disappointment to many many people, but this time we’re going to make it a matter of the law of the land. If you’ve been a Council tenant for at least three years you’ll have the right by law to buy your house and that’s that.” Party Political Broadcast, 1974.

“Inflation is threatening to destroy our society. It is threatening to destroy not just the relative prosperity to which most of us have become accustomed, but the savings and plans of each person and family and the working capital of each business and other organization. The distress and unemployment that will follow unless the trend is stopped will be catastrophic.” Speech 1974.

“Why are so many people refusing to do even a small amount of overtime when it is so urgently needed? It is because the extra money they earn brings them up to a higher income-tax rate and by the time the Exchequer has taken its slice, the workman finds his overtime rate is less per hour than his normal rate.” Speech 1950.

“They are casting their problems at society. And, you know, there’s no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look after themselves first. It is our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbours.” – in an interview in Women’s Own in 1987.