撒切尔夫人生平讣文: 政坛路上坎坷, 无奈退归议会

'Treachery with a smile'

“微笑的背叛”

It sparked some of the worst street violence in living memory. Tory MPs, alarmed that the tax could cost them their seats, saw no way of getting rid of it so long as Margaret Thatcher was in charge.

这一政策导致了人们记忆中最严重的街头暴力行为。保守党下院议员被警告称他们的议会席位会由于该政策而丧失，但这些议员认为只要撒切尔夫人执政，这项政策就不会取消。

She easily survived a leadership challenge from an unknown back-bencher in 1989 but the challenge was just a symptom of increasing dissatisfaction among Conservative MPs over her policies.

1989年，撒切尔夫人轻松化解了一位不知名的国会议员对其执政地位的挑战。但这一挑战表明，保守党议员对其政策的不满在增加。

It was the issue of Europe which, eventually, brought about her downfall.

最终是欧洲问题导致了撒切尔夫人的下台。

Returning from a fractious Euro summit in Rome, she let rip against her European counterparts, refusing to countenance any increase in the power of the European Community and outraging many colleagues.

撒切尔夫人参加完意大利罗马的一次欧洲峰会回国后，开始高调地与欧洲其他国家领导人唱反调，拒绝支持扩大欧共体的权力，结果令很多同事感到不满。

"The President of the Commission, Monsieur Delors, said at a press conference the other day that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the Community, he wanted the Commission to be the Executive and he wanted the Council of Ministers to be the Senate. No. No. No."

“欧共体委员会主席雅克•德洛尔在前几天的一次资讯发布会上说，他希望欧洲议会成为欧共体的民主机构，欧共体委员会成为行政机构，部长理事会成为参议院。这样不行，不行，不行。”

Sir Geoffrey Howe, resentful since being ousted as foreign secretary, seized his moment to quit the cabinet, deliver a devastating resignation speech and invite challengers for the leadership.

外交大臣杰弗里•豪因被撤职而心怀不满，他抓住这个机会从内阁辞了职，并发表了毁灭性的辞职演说，呼吁挑战者争夺领导地位。

The following day, Michael Heseltine threw his hat into the ring. Falling two votes short of preventing the contest going to a second round, Margaret Thatcher declared she would fight on.

第二天，迈克尔•赫尔塞廷宣布参加竞选。由于差两张选票，竞选将进入第二轮，撒切尔夫人宣布将继续战斗。

Told by close colleagues, the famous "men in grey suits," that she would lose, she used her next cabinet meeting to announce her resignation. Later, she mused bitterly: "It was treachery with a smile on its face."

撒切尔夫人在其亲密的同僚告知她会在竞选中失败后，利用随后召开内阁会议宣布辞职。后来，她有些苦涩的说：“这是面带微笑的背叛。”

John Major was elected her successor and Margaret Thatcher returned to the back benches, finally standing down as an MP in 1992 when the Conservatives, against all predictions, were again returned to power.

约翰•梅杰被选为撒切尔夫人的继任者，撒切尔夫人则回到议会任职，并最终在1992年放弃议员席位。那一年，出乎所有人的预料，保守党再次上台执政。

Margaret Thatcher, who has died following a stroke, was one of the most influential political figures of the 20th Century.

撒切尔夫人，20世纪最有影响力的政治人物之一，在2013年4月8日，因中风不幸逝世。

Her legacy had a profound effect upon the policies of her successors, both Conservative and Labour, while her radical and sometimes confrontational approach defined her 11-year period at No 10.

她深深影响了她之后的包括保守党和工党在内的历届英国首相。这样一位激进的，有时甚至带有攻击性的“铁娘子”担任了长达11年之久的英国首相。

Her term in office saw thousands of ordinary voters gaining a stake in society, buying their council houses and eagerly snapping up shares in the newly privatised industries such as British Gas and BT.

她在任职期间推动社会改革，成千上万的英国普通选民购买了政府公屋，抢购了诸如英国天然气和英国电信等新近私有化行业的股份。

But her rejection of consensus politics made her a divisive figure and opposition to her policies and her style of government led eventually to rebellion inside her party and unrest on the streets.

但她对舆论政治的排斥使她备受争议，同时她的政策也招致反对。最终她所领导的政党内部反声一片，社会也混乱不堪。