David Cameron places himself in Margaret Thatcher’s tradition

‘For many of us, she was, and is, an inspiration’, David Cameron said of Margaret Thatcher in his tribute to her. It was him, firmly — and proudly — placing himself in her tradition.

Cameron has moved in Thatcher’s political direction as leader. He has become —partly, through circumstance and necessity — less interested in being a unifying figure, and more interested in getting things done. There has, in recent years, been an end to any attempts to distance the party from her legacy.

Thatcher’s life-story is a truly remarkable one. Cameron rightly dwelled on the sexism she had to take on to become Tory leader. But she also had to overcome the class prejudice of large sections of the Tory party.

Parliament will be recalled on Wednesday. Party leaders and MPs from all sides will have their chance then to pay tribute to this remarkable lady who broke the mould.