Essex Conservative MPs have paid tribute to Margaret Thatcher, who died this morning at the age of 87.
The former Prime Minister, who was the first woman to occupy the role between 1979 and 1990, suffered a stroke, her spokesman Lord Bell said.
Simon Burns, MP for Chelmsford, said: "It is very sad and it's the end of an era because she dominated political life for the 15 years that she was leader of the Conservative Party and influenced politics greatly thereafter.
"She is the reason that we held the Chelmsford constituency when I got elected in 1987 because I was defending the majority of 387 votes.
"She was a colossus on the political scene and completely changed the political landscape by rolling back the power of the state in a way that no government since has sought to reverse her policies.
"When she took over we were considered the sick man of Europe, but when she left the premiership in 1990 we were a key influential world leader."
Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haselhurst said: "She was a very great leader of our country at a particularly difficult time and she showed determination and strength of purpose in a way which was very necessary in dealing with the crisis that faced her.
"Her legacy and what she achieved has been on-going. It was a turning point in post-war British history."
Harlow MP Robert Halfon described Mrs Thatcher as "one of our greatest Prime Ministers".
He said: "Mrs Thatcher made Britain a power in the world, reformed our economy, established popular capitalism and enabled millions of lower earners to purchase their own Council Homes under Right to Buy.
She was a real One Nation Conservative.
"She was a huge influence on my own politics - and was one of the reasons I first decided to become a Conservative.
"Her influence on the Conservative Party as a whole is almost unparalleled."
Essex MP Priti Patel has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who passed away this morning (8th April 2013) following a stroke. Priti said:
Priti Patel, MP for Witham, noted Baroness Thatcher's "robust approach to foreign policy" in view of the Falklands Islands conflict.
She said: "Baroness Thatcher successfully restored Britain's status in the world, which had diminished following the Second World War and the economic troubles of the 1970s.
"Here in Britain the lives of millions of families were transformed for the better as Baroness Thatcher's Government empowered people to own their own homes for the first time.
"My heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with the Thatcher family today and she will be missed in Britain and throughout the world."
Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron also gave his reaction.
He said: "I am very sad to hear of Baroness Thatcher's death – my thoughts and feelings are with her family at this difficult moment."
"Many will argue over her legacy, but none of her major reforms have been overturned by successive Governments – whether Conservative, Labour or Coalition.
"A true conviction politician, she will be long remembered."What are your memories of Margaret Thatcher's reign? How will she be remembered? Leave your comments below.
