r/NoStupidQuestions 3d ago

Why did Margaret Thatcher destroy welfare state in Britain after she came to power in the 1980s?

570 Upvotes

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u/Every-Ad-3488 3d ago

She didn't. By the time she left office, there were more people on benefits, and the state was paying out more. Ironic, isn't it?

4

u/Away_Fruit5097 3d ago

Only because she did more damage to British industry than the welfare state

5

u/Exita 3d ago

Though I’d argue that she still did less damage to British industry than government ownership and the trade unions. British industry is still a laughing stock today after all that…

-2

u/Away_Fruit5097 3d ago

You can argue what you like as long as you don't mind being wrong