![\"Thatcher_Manser_read_468\"](\"http:\/\/markylon.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Thatcher_Manser_read_468.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2\/ The Monopolies & Mergers Commission<\/strong> Although the Monopolies Commission came into existence before Thatcher became prime minister, its decision to declare mandatory minimum fee scales \u201canti-competitive\u201d was made at the beginning of her first term. This was compounded by an Office of Fair Trading ruling a few years later. Described by one architect as \u201cprobably the worst thing to happen to our profession\u201d, the declaration forced all professional bodies in the UK to withdraw official fee scales. Further rulings now prevent the RIBA from publishing even recommended or suggested fees. Margaret Thatcher with Stuart Lipton.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3\/ Deregulation of the city –<\/strong> the Big Bang One of the key moments of Thatcher\u2019s career was the Big Bang – the moment in October 1986 when her controversial deregulation of the UK\u2019s stock exchange and financial services sector took effect, changing banking forever. Wide-sweeping reforms were introduced in an attempt to re-establish London as a financial centre and make its market more competitive in an increasingly global market. This deregulation created a need for more office space and huge trading floors in London, sparking a flurry of new building in the City. It also created a whole new cultural approach to money, with yuppie culture and a desire to spend giving birth to, or indirectly supporting, a number of new design movements. Will Alsop explains his scheme for Riverside Studios at Hammersmith to RIBA president Michael Manser and PM Margaret Thatcher. Under Thatcher\u2019s government, the very concept of state funding for the arts came under attack, and everything from abstract sculpture to socially critical plays was condemned both for content and as a \u201cdrain on the public purse\u201d. So it was perhaps no surprise that Hammersmith & Fulham Council abandoned the scheme only days later.<\/p>\n
\n1\/ Privatisation of local authority services<\/strong> In the 1970s most of the biggest architecture practices in the UK were part of the public sector – architects\u2019 departments within local authorities and the health service. Under Thatcher, the vast majority of these services were closed or privatised, with their work soaked up by private architecture, planning and engineering companies which have since become some of the biggest in the world. Less than one in three local authorities currently employ architects as architects. Meanwhile, architecture has become one the UK\u2019s greatest exports. Margaret Thatcher was not popular with architects but she gave up more time to the profession than any of her successors, according to BD\u2019s archive, which is bulging with photographs from her 11 years at Number 10. This photograph was taken on the occasion of Michael Manser\u2019s inaugural reception as RIBA president in 1984 and also coincided with the RIBA\u2019s 150th anniversary. Thatcher had just arrived at Portland Place and was introduced to Manser by the cabinet secretary Robin Butler, who can be seen standing between the two, while Manser\u2019s wife Jos\u00e9 is just to the left of the picture. The occasion was a great success, recalls Manser: \u201cShe gave us a huge fillip.\u201d To mark the occasion the RIBA had been decked out in green foliage and white flowers and was lit by 500 candles. Guests included several dukes and captains of industry and there was supper afterwards. \u201cShe was dashing,\u201d says Manser of the former prime minster, \u201cwith a mind like a laser.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n