Editing Thatcherism (section)

=== Ideological definition ===
Thatcher saw herself as creating a [[libertarian]] movement,<ref>{{cite news |first=Robin |last=Oakley |author-link=Robin Oakley |title=Thatcherism's end begins debate over style and ideology |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=23 November 1990 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=d'Ancona |author-link=Matthew d'Ancona |title=Into the age of the individual&nbsp;– Labour's chance to write the next chapter of political history |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 March 1991}}</ref> rejecting traditional [[Toryism]].<ref>{{cite news |title=What Was Right With the 1980s |newspaper=Financial Times |date=5 April 1994 }}</ref> Thatcherism is associated with libertarianism within the Conservative Party,{{sfn|Heppell|2002}} albeit one of libertarian ends achieved by using strong leadership.<ref>{{cite news |title=Resignation of Thatcher&nbsp;– Strident heroine of the corner shop who fought for hard-headed virtues |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=25 November 1990 }}</ref> British political commentator [[Andrew Marr]] has called libertarianism the "dominant, if unofficial, characteristic of Thatcherism".<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Marr |author-link=Andrew Marr |title=Why unhappy British are yearning for days of order |newspaper=The Straits Times |date=3 January 1994}}</ref> Whereas some of her heirs, notably [[Michael Portillo]] and [[Alan Duncan]], embraced this libertarianism, others in the Thatcherite movement such as [[John Redwood]] sought to become more [[Right-wing populism|populist]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Shrimsley |title=Redwood Pushes for Populist Right |newspaper=Financial Times |date=17 August 1995 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Shrimsley |title=Think Right&nbsp;– The Thatcherites are Divided, but May Yet Rule |newspaper=The Times |date=18 August 1995 }}</ref>

Some commentators have argued that Thatcherism should not be considered properly libertarian. Noting the tendency towards strong central government in matters concerning the trade unions and local authorities, [[Andrew Gamble]] summarised Thatcherism as "the free economy and the strong state".{{sfn|Gamble|1988|p=38}} [[Simon Jenkins]] accused the Thatcher government of carrying out a nationalisation of Britain.{{sfn|Jenkins|1995|pp=29, 87}} Libertarian political theorist [[Murray Rothbard]] did not consider Thatcherism to be libertarian and heavily criticised Thatcher and Thatcherism, stating that "Thatcherism is all too similar to [[Reaganism]]: free-market rhetoric masking [[statist]] content".{{sfn|Rothbard|1995|p=229}} Stuart McAnulla said that Thatcherism is actually [[liberal conservatism]], a combination of liberal economics and a strong state.{{sfn|McAnulla|2006|p=71}}