Despite recent criticism of her policies, the Thatcher succeeded. Her attack on inflation, her reform of spending and taxes, of labour laws, the exiting of government businesses, and the re-creation of a Britain that worked, worked.

Margaret Thatcher, Great Britain's prime minister between 1979 and 1990, understood perhaps better than any other leader in the modern world, why governments ought not to have day-to-day control over the economic aspects of citizens' lives.

Canada's recent move week to share embassies with Britain as a cost-cutting measure would only confirm the country's international reputation is in trouble. While the Harper Government might be promoting this as a savings measure, globally it is being perceived that our best diplomatic days are now part of our history books as a nation.