The Thatcher era, three decades on

Margaret Thatcher: 1980: Margaret Thatcher at the Wistow colliery in the Selby coalfield

1980: Margaret Thatcher at the Wistow colliery in the Selby coalfield Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1980: Margaret Thatcher on the last day of the party conference in Brighton

1980: On the last day of the Conservative party conference in Brighton Photograph: Peter Johns

Margaret Thatcher: 1981: Margaret Thatcher on the Conservative front bench

1981: Thatcher, Geoffrey Howe, Keith Joseph, John Nott and Norman Tebbit on the Conservative frontbench in the House of Commons Photograph: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty

Margaret Thatcher: 1981: President Reagan chats with Margaret Thatcher

1981: With the US president, Ronald Reagan, at an arrival ceremony at the White House Photograph: AP

Margaret Thatcher: 1982: Margaret Thatcher outside No 10

1982: Facing an enthusiastic reception from well-wishers outside No 10 on her return from the Commons after telling MPs talks on an Argentinian surrender of the Falklands were in progress Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1992: Margaret Thatcher at a party conference

1982: At party conference Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1983: Margaret Thatcher after voting at a polling station

1983: With Denis after voting at a polling station Photograph: Peter Jordan/Time Life Pictures/Getty

Margaret Thatcher: 1983: Margaret Thatcher at the party conference

1983: Thatcher at party conference Photograph: Don McPhee

Margaret Thatcher: 1983: Margaret Thatcher visiting British troops on the Falkland Islands

1983: Visiting British troops on the Falkland islands Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1983: Minister Margaret Thatcher waves to well-wishers after her win

1983: Waving to well-wishers after her second election win Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1984: Margaret Thatcher returns to the scene of the Brighton Bomb

1984: Thatcher returns to the scene of the Brighton bomb on the afternoon after the explosion Photograph: Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1985: Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis enjoy a cup

1985: Enjoying a cup of tea with Denis Photograph: John Downing/Hulton Archive/Getty

Margaret Thatcher: 1986: Kenneth Baker and Margaret Thatcher at the party conference

1986: Kenneth Baker and Thatcher at party conference in Blackpool Photograph: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty

Margaret Thatcher: Politics - Channel Tunnel Agreement - Canterbury Cathedral - 1986

1986: With Francois Mitterrand at the Chapter House, in Canterbury Cathedral as Britain and sign the agreement that will result in the Channel tunnel Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1986: Margaret Thatcher rides aboard a tank

1986: Riding on a tank during an official visit to British forces in West Germany Photograph: Joel Fink/AP

Margaret Thatcher: 1987: Margaret Thatcher during her campaign for the general election

1987: Election campaigning in Scotland Photograph: Derek Hudson/Sygma/Corbis

Margaret Thatcher: 1987: Margaret Thatcher speaking in Perth

1987: Speaking in Perth Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Margaret Thatcher: 1987:Margaret Thatcher acknowledges the standing ovation after her speech

1987: Acknowledging an 11-minute standing ovation after her speech closing the Conservative party conference in Blackpool Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1988: Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev

1988: Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1988: Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in Washington, US

1988: With Reagan in Washington Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1988: Margaret Thatcher at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton

1988: In listening mode at party conference in Brighton Photograph: PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1989: Margaret Thatcher and George Bush outside Number 10

1989: With George Bush senior outside No 10 Photograph: NWI/Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1989: Margaret Thatcher speaks to the press after the Kegworth air crash

1989: Speaking to the press after the Kegworth air crash Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Empics/PA

Margaret Thatcher: 1989: Margaret and Denis Thatcher signal a third victory

1989: With Denis, hailing a third Tory victory at the polls Photograph: Anne Katrin Purkiss/Rex Features

Margaret Thatcher: 1990: Margaret Thatcher at the Conservative Party conference

1990: At the Conservative party conference Photograph: Peter Jordan/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Margaret Thatcher: 1990: Margaret Thatcher opens Torness Nuclear power station

1990: Opening Torness nuclear power station Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Margaret Thatcher: 1990: Margaret Thatcher leaving Downing Street

1990: A funny old world: Margaret Thatcher leaves Downing Street Photograph: Graham Turner