Theresa May made her bid for the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain shortly after David Cameron’s resignation in late June and made history just weeks later. She was officially sworn in as the second female Prime Minister on July 13th, 2016.

At first glance, it seems as if May might be a spitting image of Margaret Thatcher, Great Britain’s first female Prime Minister. There are many similarities between the two empowering women, but two are strikingly identical.

State of Britain (Upon Election)

Both ladies entered the political ring during times of despair.

Thatcher came into power in 1979. At the time, Britain had swarms of economic issues. Tax rates were as much as “98 percent” on some incomes and “inflation seemed impossible to contain.” Thatcher was the first woman to be elected to the highest position in Britain and it seems as if it may have been as a last ditch effort to try to fix the issues faced at the time.

May has recently come into power after the Brexit referendum, where Great Britain decided to leave the European Union (EU). This decision, although made by the people, looks like it may have serious implications on the British economy. Although Britain contributes money to the EU, it reaps economic benefits in trade and investment that cannot be measured. Leaving that economic sanctuary creates problems. Britain’s economic is "at risk" and there are calls for Scotland, an area that mostly voted to remain in the EU, to secede.

Rise to Power

It can be argued that both women rose to power because of weak opposition.

When Thatcher won her election in 1979, she found herself pinned against the likes of Labour Party. At that time, the opposition was weak and bickering. They were in no shape to be running the country.

May was able to surpass former Prime Minister David Cameron within days because of the outcome of the Brexit referendum. Cameron, when elected to his second term as Prime Minister, promised to hold a referendum on Britain’s partnership with the EU. Months leading up to the referendum, he remained quiet on his party’s opinion until the last moment when he urged the people of Britain to vote to remain in the EU. When they voted to leave the EU, much support for Cameron fell.

May has already beaten Cameron, but as she takes office, elections loom over the British Parliament. With support for Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn falling steadily, it seems like May might also benefit from weak opposition.

Despite these timely similarities, there is one strong difference that sets these two ladies apart.

Policy

USNews describes Thatcher as “not your ordinary, world-weary, pompous, self-important, thinking-inside-the-box, slightly defeatist, pragmatic, cautious, Tory politician.”

Thatcher’s policies held a strong belief in “free markets and a small state.” In simple terms, Thatcher wanted less government involvement in the economy. She was notorious for austerity measures; even as Education Secretary she obtained the nickname "milk snatcher" because she removed free milk from schools.

Thatcher believed that the government should not get involved in people’s lives unless it was for defence reasons. Above all else, Thatcher would defend her home country.

According to Thatcherism, it was up for the people to decide their own lives.

In contrast, May is identified as a “pragmatist.”

At times, she can even be seen as “a traditional Labour politician.” May, unlike Thatcher, believes that the government should intervene in the economy when there is a gap between workers. She believes that the economy should benefit all of Britain, not just a select few at the top.

A recent speech shows that May takes ideas from both Labour and Conservative leaders.

She mentions that she wants to tackle the “unhealthy” gap between bosses and workers to even the playing field. Many thought that a Conservative government under May would “not be an interventionist,” but that is exactly what she plans to do.

However, like Thatcher, she wants to ensure that the government is not too involved. She doesn’t want to create markets, but instead communities. She wants to create bonds of the people, not markets of the government in true Tory style.

Will Theresa May have the same legacy as Margaret Thatcher? Is she the next Iron Lady? Stay tuned to British politics to find out.