Britain's "iron lady," Margaret Thatcher, securely at the helm for the last 10 years, is in political trouble. But don't look for a sudden collapse.
In the past three years, she has consistently alienated key supporters over European issues. Her most recent conflict was the much publicized resignation of Nigel Lawson, chancellor of the Exchequer, who insisted that she fire Sir Alan Walters, her part-time personal economic adviser.Walters publicly disagreed with Lawson over economic issues, and Lawson thought he needed Walters gone in order to maintain credibility as treasury chief.
Stubbornly, Thatcher refused, then Lawson stepped down. Some of her staunchest supporters thought she had unnecessarily created her most serious political crisis. Then Sir Alan resigned anyway.
Thatcher must now work with a hastily restructured team of senior ministers who have decreased confidence in her leadership.
In the past, she has succeeded by single-mindedness and absolute faith in her own ability. But many think that British problems now call out for cabinet consensus and collective responsibility.
Some object to her habit of isolating herself on the world stage. At last month's Commonwalth conference in Malaysia, for instance, she was the lone voice opposing stiffer economic sanctions against South Africa.
This is not to say she was wrong. The issue of sanctions is mostly an emotional and political one in which logic is sometimes the first casualty. Sanctions historically have not worked and in South Africa have probably done more harm to the people they supposedly were helping.
European problems now present the biggest challenge. Thatcher refuses to make Britain an early member of EMS (the European Monetary System). More and more people in Britain are pushing for European integration, an issue that promises to dominate the next decade.
So far, in the face of increasing criticism, the prime minister has retained her unique self confidence and promised to stay her "own sweet reasonable self."
She maintains that her positions are in perfect harmony with those of the people of Britain. Only time will tell. But the fact that she is under fire does not necessarily prove that she was wrong. And a decade-long hold on the British government will not be easily broken.
She does not have to hold national elections until mid-1992, and by then, this crisis may have blown over. Even though currently troubled, the indomitable Thatcher is not likely to depart the world stage any time soon.