Margaret Thatcher played a significant role in reshaping British politics during her tenure as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her policies, known as Thatcherism, emphasized free-market principles, deregulation, and privatization of state-owned enterprises. She sought to reduce the power of trade unions and curtail government spending, significantly altering the economic landscape of the UK. Thatcher's leadership style and policies sparked both vehement support and staunch opposition, influencing political discourse and parties in Britain and beyond for years to come.