In 2025, the Margaret Thatcher Centre launched a series of annual academic symposiums based around key anniversaries of landmark events during Margaret Thatcher’s premiership.

Under the chairmanship of the Academic Director of the Margaret Thatcher Centre, Dr Tim Aker, the first symposium, held in the centennial year of her birth and during the 35th anniversary of her departure from Downing Street, centred on exploring Margaret Thatcher’s legacy.

The symposium comprised a one-day conference, starting with tea, coffee and pastries, and included a buffet lunch. The conference was followed by a sponsored drinks reception.

Among the eminent speakers who explored issues with an engaged audience of some 100 academics, students, politicians, journalists and supporters were:

• Historian & Presenter, Dr David Starkey CBE

• Biographer, Author, Historian and Educationalist, Sir Anthony Seldon

• Former President of the Board of Trade & Secretary of State for Social Security, The Rt Hon The Lord Lilley PC

• Former Thatcher Adviser, John O’Sullivan CBE

• Archives Centre Manager, Churchill College, Cambridge, Dr Andrew Riley

• Vice-Chancellor, The University of Buckingham, Professor James Tooley

• Chair, The Thatcher Network, Dr Antony Mullen

• Professor in Business & Political Economy, Middlesex University, Dr Tim Evans

• Broadcaster, Author & Publisher, Iain Dale

• Assistant Headteacher of a leading grammar school & Fellow, Adam Smith Institute, Anthony Boutall

• Deputy Political Editor, The Spectator, James Heale

• Former Minister of State, Trade & Industry, Neil Hamilton

• Executive Director, The Freedom Association, Tim Scott

• Director, Popular Conservatism, Mark Littlewood

• Chairman, The Margaret Thatcher Centre & Former Minister of State, The Rt Hon Sir Conor Burns

• Honorary Research Fellow, The University of Buckingham, Dr Daniel Pitt

• The Thatcher Network, Dr Sam Blaxland

• The Thatcher Network, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay