British politics. Drama, comedy, and horror, all mixed into one entity.
Throughout the years, we have seen a range of British Prime Ministers. Some have had real success, while some have been ridiculed and derided by the British public.
It is rare, however, that we will ever reach a consensus on just who is the best British Prime Minister.
In order to make up our minds, let's take a look at some of the most prominent PM's over the years.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill is renowned worldwide for his leadership throughout WW2, where he led the United Kingdom as it faced perhaps the biggest challenge ever seen by the country. Despite his successes, Churchill was a controversial figure and is still disliked by many to this day due to his views when it came to issues such as race and imperialism. Needless to say, Churchill remains one of the most popular leaders of the United \kingdom, and his legacy lives on today.
Margaret Thatcher
Known as 'The Iron Lady', Margaret Thatcher is to this day known as one of the most hard-nosed Prime Ministers we have seen. She divided opinion with her controversial treatment of the mining community and had less than favorable relationships with trade unions. Thatcher narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the IRA in 1984, which ended up endearing her to an even larger fervent support, who admired her resilience in the face of danger. As disliked as she is loathed, Thatcher certainly divided opinion in the UK.
Tony Blair
Tony Blair was PM from 1997 to 2007 - a long time indeed. Blair was a charismatic and personable leader, who ushered in a new era for the United Kingdom and the Labor Party. Tony Blair is perhaps best remembered for the role he played in strengthening the relationship between the UK and the USA. He struck up a friendship with then-president George Bush, and the two created an often-maligned foreign policy that would go on to accent both of their careers. While Blair has been criticized for his leadership during this time, polls indicate history will remember the Labor man well.
Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee served as PM from 1945-1951, and regularly tops polls when it comes to ranking Prime Ministers. An unlikely Prime Minister due to his unassuming and reserved public figure, Attlee took over leadership following Winston Churchill's resignation. His tenure as PM was marked by his success in transition Britain from a postwar economy, to a successful and peaceful nation, which gained him praise worldwide. Margaret Thatcher described Attlee as 'all substance and no show'.
Theresa May
Poor old Theresa May. While she will not be remembered fondly, and will almost certainly be perpetually among the lowest-ranked Prime Ministers, it has to be noted that she was left with a poison chalice in Brexit. Theresa May huffed and puffed, and truly did try her best to get a Brexit deal over the line, but it simply was not good enough. And that will be her legacy.
Who is your favorite Prime Minister? Let us know!
* Originally published in Sept 2019.
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