Thatcher closed down much dying industry, and she kept the lid on inflation while ending stop go for a good while. Brown was much worse of course and almost completely mistaken in his tolerance for house price inflation. Maggy was very good for the short run economy despite what Krugman writes! The British unions were abusive and overdid the job protective role at a time when no one really cared! Maggy's long term misunderstanding of the proper role Keynesian economics contributed to complacency about long term impact of liberalizing banking reform.
Thatcher rules for sure! Hip hip hurrah!