The industries she killed were zombies on life support. The attitude of the trade unions hastened the inevitable as they discovered that finally there was a prime minister who wouldn't capitulate to them. If you think she was brutal just ask the average guy what they think of the rail unions today. They are probably the most successful possible argument in favour of conservatism. Almost all my sympathy and support for trade unions has been effectively wiped out by them. And i do believe they historically had some success in bringing about positive change.

The economic situation in parts of scotland and the north is pretty dismal, but make no mistake that would have been the fate of the whole of the UK if not for Thatcher. Just look at the depressing state of the economy today after decades of unambitious rudderless governance with absolutely no prospect of improvement.