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Following the 1979 general election, the Conservative Party gained power and Margaret Thatcher became Britain\'s first woman Prime Minister. During her period in office, which lasted until 1990, her style of leadership and the policies she promoted came to be known as Thatcherism. This was a loose concept which encompassed her policies of strengthening the powers of central government, curbing the powers of trades unions and local government, and the active promotion of individualism and private enterprise.
Thatcher systematically undermined trade union power, especially during the 1984-5 coal miners\' strike. Local government power was eroded by the abolition of certain metropolitan councils (such as the Greater London Council in 1986) and control of local government expenditure through \'rate capping\' and the introduction of the controversial community charge (or \'Poll Tax\') in 1989.
Her government also privatised previously nationalised industries such as British Telecom, British Steel and British Gas. The government hoped to promote consumer culture and individualism. Thatcherism is also identified with a strong tendency towards nationalism which was particularly evident during the 1982 Falklands Conflict.
Thatcher fell from power in 1990 as a result of cabinet splits over the issue of Europe, London Poll Tax Riots and her autocratic style as Prime Minister. The economy experienced a boom in the late 1980s but was followed, after she left office, by a severe economic recession and high unemployment.
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