SIR – I wonder how many like George Galloway MP and others condemning Mrs Thatcher were actually working in UK industry when she came to power, because if they had been, like I was, they would know that the situation then was unsustainable.

Coal mines, car plants, printing, especially newspapers, etc, were handicapped by union militancy and excessive wage demands, making this country uncompetitive.

My first new car, a 1978 Morris Marina, is a good example. Being of such poor quality, I spent more time at a bus stop outside Appleyard’s on Canal Road than driving the thing, unlike subsequent models made in Belgium, Sweden, France and Spain – all trouble free.

Not that she didn’t make mistakes, like the infamous poll tax, which, although sound in the principle of everyone contributing to public services, was deeply flawed in its implementation.

But what people should really be considering is not what she did in 11 years, but what ‘New’ Labour did not do from 1997 to 2010.

Because anti-union laws were never repealed, utilities and public transport were not renationalised, the mines were not reopened and the remaining ones, eg Selby coalfield, were closed by Labour. Plus of course the bankers were still allowed to run riot by Gordon Brown.

Rightly or wrongly, we should never forget that Mrs Thatcher was the head of our democratically-elected Government representing the will of Parliament on behalf of the majority population. Now just a poor old woman suffering dementia in recent years, died of a stroke leaving children and grandchildren to grieve, so should be left in peace.

D S Boyes, Rodley Lane, Leeds