The 1983 UK General Election

Margaret Thatcher on Nationwide questioned over the Belgrano 24th May 1983 during the general election campaign, Margaret Thatcher appeared on Nationwide and was questioned by a voter, Diana Gould, on the sinking of the Argentine warship the General Belgrano during the previous year's Falklands conflict. In 2011 it was revealed that the Belgrano was engaged in a pincer movement against the British when it was sunk, but as Defence Secretary John Nott later wrote: "I remain astonished...that anyon

#OnThisDay 1975: Margaret Thatcher became the first female leader of a political party in the UK after defeating Edward Heath in the Conservative leadership election. She spoke to Peter Hill of BBC Radio 4's PM show, broadcast on 11 February, 1975. Footage is taken from BBC News coverage during that same month. | BBC Archive