Gordon Reece

Sir James Gordon Reece was a British journalist and television producer who worked as a political strategist for Margaret Thatcher during the 1979 general election, which led to her victory over then prime minister James Callaghan. Reece was credited with softening the tone of Thatcher's voice and improving her stuffy dress sense, to broaden her public appeal, and he also encouraged her to adopt and embrace the title of "The Iron Lady" to convey the strength of her unwavering political resolve and unbending character. These were services for which Reece was subsequently knighted. He was to correctly predict that Thatcher would not stand in another general election following her third (1987) landslide victory.