Senior politicians and councillors from the South Holland area have paid their respects to former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher who has died aged 87.
One of the leading political figures of the 20th century, Mrs Thatcher died on Monday after a stroke having led the country from 1979 to 1990.
John Hayes, MP for South Holland and The Deepings, said her death was “a great loss to the nation,” while South Holland District Council leader Gary Porter called her “the right leader for her time.”
He said: “Margaret Thatcher was the most iconic post-war Prime Minister to lead our country.
“She not only led the rebuilding of an England that was on its knees through the destruction of militant trade unionism and loss of self-belief, but she also gave an identity to a new political philosophy that has survived through her successor, John Major, two Labour Prime Ministers and now a coalition government.
“Mrs Thatcher showed millions of women there was no political glass ceiling that couldn’t be shattered and, love her or loathe her, nobody who lived through the 70s and 80s could fail to have an opinion about her and her politics.
“On a personal note, for me her greatest legacy for local government was the introduction of Right-to-Buy which has enabled millions of people to become homeowners - an aspiration shared by 87 per cent of the population - and gave some families access to capital for the first time in their history.
“Margaret Thatcher was most definitely the right leader for her time and despite in the end being brought down by a group of political pygmies, her leadership has inspired Conservative politicians at every level.”
Mr Hayes said: “Margaret Thatcher was, without doubt, one of the most significant figures of the 20th century and her death is a great loss to the nation.
“She was an important figure in my political development and that of countless others.
“I met her many times and had the highest regard for her but, whatever you think about her, she was one of those people who made you proud to be British.
“Mrs Thatcher made an immense difference, not only to those who met and knew her, but to the whole of our country.”