At the Conservative Party conference this year, Margaret Thatcher's influence was on full display, with exhibits including her actual outfits in glass cases and opportunities for delegates to contribute to a Thatcher mosaic. The former prime minister, who would have turned 100 this year, continues to inspire a level of devotion among Tories that some observers describe as cultish.
An exhibition titled 'The Iron Lady: The Legacy Paintings' by artist Lorna May Wadsworth has drawn particular attention. One of her works previously sold for £400,000 in 2014 and now hangs in Conservative Campaign Headquarters. The paintings, with variations in gold, blue, and iron backgrounds, have taken on an iconographic significance that transcends politics.
This year's conference featured cardboard cutouts, branded mugs, and a photo mosaic project, alongside the display of Thatcher's preserved clothing. The reverence for Thatcher's image and style has been a recurring theme in recent Conservative leadership contests, with candidates like Liz Truss emulating her signature pussy-bow collars and fur hats.
Critics note that the current obsession with Thatcher feels more devotional than nostalgic, raising questions about whether the pragmatic former leader would have approved of such treatment. The phenomenon has drawn comparisons to the Marcos family's political tactics in the Philippines, where nostalgia for past leadership was used to garner support.
