MARGARET Thatcher may be gone, but in Tory circles she is far from forgotten.

Julie Kirkbride proved the point during a debate on International Women's Day.

She accepted Cabinet Minister Patricia Hewitt's argument there should be more female MPs, but wasn't happy the Trade Secretary and Women's Minister had failed to acknowledge the Iron Lady.

After Ms Hewitt left the chamber, Ms Kirkbride said: "It is sad that the Secretary of State is not here to hear me say that it was a shame that, in listing the achievements of women in politics, she failed to mention that we have had a lady Prime Minister - the Conservative Margaret Thatcher.

"That proves that there is not really a glass ceiling in politics if one is good enough."