Margaret Thatcher didn’t just lead Britain — she rewired it. From slashing top tax rates and privatising utilities, to crushing inflation, curbing unions, and selling council homes under Right to Buy, her 1979–90 premiership remade the economy. The costs? Inequality rose, industrial jobs vanished, and social housing shrank. Love her or loathe her, modern Britain still lives in Thatcher’s shadow.

Neoliberalism gets thrown around a lot — usually with a raised eyebrow. This clear, balanced explainer cuts through the noise. We sketch the core ideas (markets first, the state as referee), show how it works in practice (from public–private partnerships to the UK’s renewables), weigh the arguments for and against, and add a human lens: the modern neoliberalite — the “entrepreneur of the self”, fluent in metrics, choice, and flexibility. If you’ve ever wondered why your energy bill, housing market, or healthcare options feel the way they do in 2025, this is your coffee-length guide. Measured, accessible, and quietly provocative.