A recent Blighty's Blogpoll asked the question: "who was Britain's best recent prime minister?"

The leading contenders were conservative "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher and former Labour party leader Tony Blair. Tony Blair was featured in the British satirical magazine Private Eye. He was referred to as the "reverend Tiny Blur". Tony Blair is now an international statesman who appears to be positioning himself for the leadership of the European Union.

Our winner, though, is the Iron Lady. Margaret Thatcher was the 20th Century's longest serving British prime minister and the first woman to hold the office in Britain.

Mrs Thatcher served from 1979 until 1990 and led the country through the Falklands War in 1981. Following her resignation she was elevated to the House of Lords as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.