when did margaret thatcher resign

Margaret Thatcher resigned on November 22, 1990. This marked the end of her 11-year tenure as the United Kingdom's first female Prime Minister, following a leadership challenge within the Conservative Party.

Key Timeline

Margaret Thatcher's resignation unfolded over several dramatic days in late 1990, driven by internal party rebellion amid the poll tax controversy and European Union tensions.

• November 14 : Michael Heseltine launched a leadership challenge against her, forcing a vote.

• November 20 : Thatcher narrowly won the first ballot (204-152 votes) but fell short of the required threshold, prompting cabinet pressure to step down.

• November 22 : She announced her intention to resign as party leader and Prime Minister.

• November 27 : Delivered her final Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament.

• November 28 : Formally tendered her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II and left Downing Street tearfully.

Background Story

Thatcher's downfall, often called the "November 1990 crisis," stemmed from her polarizing "Thatcherism" reforms—privatization, union curbs, and Falklands War victory—that won three elections but alienated colleagues. A tearful farewell speech outside No. 10 captured her defiance: "We fought very hard for what we believed in," she said, as crowds cheered. John Major succeeded her on November 28, stabilizing the party temporarily.

Multiple Perspectives

• Supporters' View : Thatcher was ousted by betrayal, having modernized Britain's economy; her exit weakened conservatism.

• Critics' View : Resignation reflected poll tax riots and hubris; it ended an era of divisive leadership.

• Historical Context : As of January 2026, her legacy endures in debates over free markets, with recent articles revisiting the "treachery" of her fall.

TL;DR : Thatcher announced resignation November 22, 1990, after a party challenge, formally leaving office November 28. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.