The Iron Lady returns to No10: Cameron welcomes Maggie back to Downing St

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By Daily Mail Reporter

Baroness Thatcher arrives at Number 10 where she was greeted by Prime Minister David Cameron


Baroness Thatcher was welcomed back to 10 Downing Street yesterday for a historic private meeting with the Prime Minister.

David Cameron came to the door of Number 10 to welcome Lady Thatcher and helped the visibly frail former premier from her limousine.

The 84-year-old 'Iron Lady' waved to waiting photographers but made no comment as she entered the address from which she led the UK between 1979 and 1990

Wearing a powder-blue dress and coat, the former PM briefly held on to the railings outside Number 10 as she mounted the doorstep to pose for pictures outside the front door.

Lady Thatcher famously visited Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at Number 10 shortly after their elevation to the premiership in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

She was last in 10 Downing Street in November last year when she attended the unveiling of her portrait - the first painting of a living politician to be hung in the official residence of the Prime Minister.

But this was her first time there since Mr Cameron's arrival in office as the first Tory premier in 13 years and she enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat with the new premier before heading home


The former premier holds on to a railing as she turns to go inside Number 10 with David Cameron


Mr Cameron gives Baroness Thatcher a helping hand as he leads her inside Number 10


Her graceful entrance was in sharp contrast with Education Secretary Michael Gove earlier in the day, who tumbled on the slippery pavements in Downing Street on his way to the Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile Labour leadership contender John McDonnell has apologised for saying he wished he had assassinated Mrs Thatcher in the Eighties.


David Cameron and Baroness Thatcher enjoy a cup of tea and a chat inside Number 10


David Cameron escorts the former Prime Minister to her car after their meeting


The Hayes and Harlington MP made the quip about the former Tory Prime Minister as he took part in a hustings event run by the GMB union.

Mr McDonnell told delegates in Southport he had been asked what he would do to make the world better if he could go back in time to the Eighties.

'I was on the GMC that Mrs Thatcher abolished, I worked for the NUM and we had the NUM strike, I think I would assassinate Thatcher,' he said.

The Left-winger was applauded by union members in the audience, but heavily criticised by Conservative MPs and commentators afterwards.

He told the BBC: 'I'm sorry if I have caused offence to anyone. It was a joke and in that audience it was taken as a joke.

'It was taken out of context, I can see if people are upset about that and if I have caused offence to anyone of course I apologise.'

He added: 'I'm not the sort of person that would want to upset people.'


Education Secretary Michael Gove takes a tumble on the way to the Cabinet meeting in Downing Street

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