Epsom’s MP has paid tribute to late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whom he believes will be remembered as "one of the greatest" in Britain’s political history.

Chris Grayling, who is also Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, said Baroness Thatcher - who died of a stroke yesterday - "transformed" the country while in office.

He said: "She will be remembered most of all for having transformed the country and having more of an impact than any other peace-time Prime Minister.  

"If you look back at a world where local removal companies were run by the Government and British Airways was controlled by civil servants, you realise how much Britain has changed since she took office.

"There is a real sense of the passing of one of the greatest in political history."

Mr Grayling said that Baroness Thatcher had "captivated" an audience in the Queen's Stand, at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 2001, when she was the guest speaker at a tribute party for her former parliamentary private secretary, Archie Hamilton, who was made Baron Hamilton of Epsom in 2005. 

The party marked Mr Hamilton's retirement as chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Conservative Association, a position Mr Grayling succeeded him in.

He said: "She still captivated the audience and was right on the money about the challenges the country faced."

Epsom Tory: "I spent most of yesterday in tears"

A woman whose 21st birthday party was delayed due to the miners’ strike has paid a tearful tribute to late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who she believes was a "true democrat".

Tina Mountain, chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Conservative Association who is standing as a candidate for Epsom town in the Surrey County Council elections in May, said she met Baroness Thatcher in 1986 at a Conservative party fundraising event, The Blue Ball, in London.

She said the Iron Lady was a "complete inspiration" to her and encouraged young women's aspirations for success.

Surrey Comet: Tina Mountain, coordinator of the Save Epsom campaigning group

Tina Mountain: Arthur Scargill ruined my 21st birthday

She said: "I spent most of yesterday in tears. She inspired young women to realise their dreams. 

"They talk about the 60s being this wonderful time, but women didn’t have equal pay with men, we didn’t have equal rights. 

"But this woman became leader of the country in 10 years and women realised they could get to the top."

Ms Mountain said Baroness Thatcher was a "true democrat" for removing the power of unelected trade unionists who, she believes, were holding the country to ransom.

She said: "We had Arthur Scargill dominating the country for the best part of a decade and he was unelected.

"Margaret Thatcher was a true democrat.  She removed the power of the unelected unions.

"I remember my 21st birthday party couldn’t start until 9pm because the miners were on strike and we had three hours on and three hours off with the electricity."

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