Any Londoners here?

[JBR]

It certainly is. There are plenty who regard her as toxic. Few mining communities would agree with you for sure.

I believe that Wilson closed more coal mines than Thatcher.  Funny how no-one talks about that.

[klondike]

I've no idea how many he closed but I don't think he faced down a strike that lasted months and policed the protests with mounted riot police. At least I don't recall seeing that in the press but I probably wasn't old enough to notice and certainly nowhere near any mines.

I asked ChatGPT

The number of coal mines closed under Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher is a topic often discussed in the context of British industrial history. Here's a comparison based on historical records:
Under Harold Wilson (Labour Prime Minister: 1964–1970 and 1974–1976):

• Approximately 253 coal mines were closed.

Under Margaret Thatcher (Conservative Prime Minister: 1979–1990):

• Approximately 115 coal mines were closed.

Important Context:

• Wilson's closures were part of a broader long-term decline in coal use and a policy of modernizing the industry, often with union cooperation.
• Thatcher's closures were more politically charged, especially after the 1984–85 miners' strike, and were tied to a shift away from state-owned industries and confrontation with trade unions.

[Michael Rolls]

Scargill is as much to blame as Thatcher and when she left office the country was in far better shape than it was when she assumed office

[Diasi]

Oh dear. Sadiq really Khan't. 😱

[klondike]

Scargill is as much to blame as Thatcher and when she left office the country was in far better shape than it was when she assumed office

I agree. I'm just pointing out that many don't.

[JBR]

Scargill is as much to blame as Thatcher and when she left office the country was in far better shape than it was when she assumed office

That is certainly true.  She really did improve things in this country generally, and after her colleagues stabbed her in the back (presumably due to jealousy), the country began to deteriorate again.

Another thing that makes me respect her is that she is the only leader since Churchill, who conducted a war with a foreign country and succeeded.  I know of many leaders who wouldn't have dared to do that.