May 4th 1979: Election victory for Margaret Thatcher. The Conservative Party has won the general election making Margaret Thatcher Britain's first ever woman prime minister. Mrs Thatcher arrived at Downing Street to take over from James Callaghan after her party won an overall majority of 43 seats.

On the steps of Number 10, she quoted from St Francis of Assisi: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope." The Tories have won 339 seats, Labour 269, the Liberals 11, Ulster parties 12 and Nationalists four.