LONDON (voa) – A large crowd of admirers came out to see former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in her first appearance since doctors ordered her to give up public speaking for health reasons last month.
Long lines of fans awaited Mrs. Thatcher when she showed up in London’s central book store Wednesday to sign copies of her new book Statecraft. The controversial volume contains her insights into Britain’s past and future relations with the outside world.
She recently made headlines with her book that calls for Britain to pull out of what she called a fundamentally unreformable European Union.
Aides of the 76-year-old former prime minister announced in March that a series of small strokes prompted doctors to advise her to avoid public appearances.
Among her perspectives on British international affairs, Mrs. Thatcher suggests a future in which her country moves away from European politics and joins North America in a trade union.
Former British Prime has announced her retirement from public speaking after suffering a series of small strokes in recent months.
Her office said that she may will no longer speak in public following doctor’s advice to avoid the undue strain that public speaking places on her.
She suffered a minor stroke shortly before the New Year while she and her 86-year-old husband Denis were celebration their 50th wedding anniversary on the island of Madeira. Mrs. Thatcher, who became Europe’s first female prime minister in 1979, transformed her country during 11 years in power from 1979 to 1990. Her views still carry considerable political weight.
Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World
by Margaret Thatcher
Hardcover – 512 pages (April 16, 2002)
Hardcover Price: $24.47 (US)
HarperCollins; ISBN: 0060199733
