Margaret Thatcher Was Youngest Candidate To Stand For General Election In 1951

On this day in 1951 the then 26-year-old Margaret Roberts became the youngest candidate to stand at a general election.

The Tories won overall by a narrow margin but she failed to win her the safe Labour seat of Dartford, losing to Norman Dodds.

Margaret Roberts, aged 26, on the day of her wedding to Denis Thatcher

An election pamphlet from the time lists Roberts' ten points of Conservative policy, concluding with the statement the party: "Stands not for any section of the people but for all. Strong leadership and firm guidance from the government will help to overcome the difficulties into which our country has been plunged."

Roberts became a Thatcher in December that year after marrying Denis and was elected to Parliament in 1959 as Member of Parliament for the north London constituency of Finchley.

It was Thatcher's 87th birthday earlier this month and we "celebrated" with 87 pictures of the Iron Lady. So we're shamelessly wheeling out the same gallery for you to enjoy once more. You're welcome.

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