Margaret Thatcher, the woman who has been described as "the most dominant British prime minister since Winston Churchill in 1940", has died, following a stroke. She was 87 years old.
A statement by her spokesman, Lord Bell, said on Monday: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning. A further statement will be made later."
The office of the prime minister has announced that Thatcher would receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.
David Cameron, the UK prime minister, who is currently on a trip to Europe, is cutting short that trip following the news of Thatcher's death.
He said: "It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton."
Queen Elizabeth also expressed sadness at hearing the news. She said that she would be sending a private message of sympathy to the family.
Thatcher was a figure admired and resented in equal measure. She was a pacesetter, as the first woman to lead a modern western nation. She was the prime minister for 11 unbroken years, making hers the longest premiership since 1827. She was only overthrown in 1990 by an internal Tory party coup in 1990.
Her health has been declining for some years, and the death of Sir. Denis Thatcher, her husband of 50 years and closest confidante further intensified her isolation.
She withdrew from public life in 2002 after a series of mini-strokes in 2002.
Tributes have been pouring in following her death:
The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said: "She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage.
"The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength."
The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics.
"Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics."
Also, former prime minister Sir John Major said: "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private."
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics."
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