Small and medium-sized business owners across the UK have said that Margaret Thatcher was the best Prime Minister for small businesses over the past 30 years, according to new research that Informi carried out.
We spoke to some 800 SME owners on a range of issues last month, including their feelings about current and past politics. Nearly two in five (38%) of respondents opted for Mrs Thatcher as the best recent Prime Minister for supporting small business, well ahead of her nearest challenger Tony Blair (24%).
While Cameron, Brown and Major were viewed less favourably, current Prime Minister Theresa May was named by only 4% of SME owners as the best for small business. This could, of course, reflect the fact that Mrs May has only been in office for less than a year, but equally may reflect her diminished image in the public eye, since losing the Conservative’s majority in the recent General Election.
It seems, therefore, that 30 years after her term in office finished and over four years since her death, Margaret Thatcher remains a controversial former Prime Minister who polarises opinions.
