MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Big party to celebrate Maggie's 80th birthday

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher celebrated Thursday in London her 80th birthday with a lavish reception attended by Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Tory leader Michael Howard and 670 other guests including Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands government representative in London.

Among other distinguished guests at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel near London's Hyde Park, were Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Tim Rice, Dame Shirley Bassey, June Whitfield, Jeremy Clarkson, Marco Pierre White, former Prime Minister John Major and Tory leader hopefuls David Davis and Liam Fox.

"What Winston Churchill did in times of war, Margaret Thatcher accomplished in times of peace. Her political determination, iron courage helped us improve the country since 1979. We are all enormously indebted to her and we wish her the best on her birthday", said Michael Howard.

Elected the first woman Primer Minister in 1979, the Iron Lady ruled for eleven years during which she battled trade unions, restored Britain's pride, particularly with the Falklands conflict, and helped, --with US President Ronald Reagan?to end the threat of the Soviet Union.

However she remains a divisive figure since she's also accused of running down vast sectors of British industry, privatizing public services and isolating Britain from Europe. Birmingham Northfield Labour MP Richard Burden said: "I will remember her for destroying much of our industry and her contempt for the public services."

But Sutton Coldfield Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said: "She transformed the face of Britain, ended our decline and set the parameters for 25 years of economic success."

Photo:Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, shakes hands with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, after arriving for the former British Prime Minister's 80th birthday party in central London.