Mrs Thatcher made her last, tearful speech from the steps of Number 10 Downing Street

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Britain has a new prime minister for the first time in over 11 years.

Margaret Thatcher formally tendered her resignation to the Queen early this morning after leaving Downing Street for the last time.

John Major was elected her successor yesterday by Conservative Party members.

The womandubbedas the Iron Lady during her premiership made her last tearful speech as the leader of the country from the doorstep of Number 10.

Mrs Thatcher told reporters the country had become a much improved place in which to live since she took office in 1979.

"We're leaving Downing Street for the last time after eleven-and-a-half wonderful years and we're happy to leave the UK in a very much better state than when we came here," she said.

She also gave her support to her successor: "Now it's time for a new chapter to open and I wish John Major all the luck in the world."

After the speech she and her husband, Denis, were driven to Buckingham Palace, watched by a small crowd keen to witness this significant moment.

"It's part of history and we'd just like to say good bye and wish her well," said one onlooker outside the gates of the palace.

Mrs Thatcher had a half-hour meeting with the Queen before returning to her private home in Dulwich, south London.

Fifteen minutes later Mr Major arrived at the palace and was formally invited by the Queen to form a new administration.

The premiership of Britain's first female leader - and the longest since 1827 - was at an end.   

The cancellation of race meets across the country has thrown the racing world into uncertainty

The decision was taken by the National Hunt Committee, on the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture.

It means the certain cancellation of two of National Hunt racing's top races: the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup on 9 December, and the highly prestigious King George VI Cup at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

It also throws thousands of jockeys, stable lads, trainers and bookmakers into a state of uncertainty.

Top jockey Stan Mellor said he would be ?00-?00 a week out of pocket due to lost earnings, while lesser-known jockeys without steady work from trainers could find themselves out of work altogether.

Racehorse trainers have particularly difficult decisions to make, as racing can be re-started at any time with seven days' notice.

Lambourn trainer Fulke Walwyn spoke for many when he said he was disappointed that there had been no time limit set.

"I would be happier if we knew how long this would last," he said.

Most trainers, however, were accepting of the decision, saying that they would do whatever it took to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Bookmakers are also expected to be hit badly. William Hill estimate they stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds each week.

The government is also expected to lose millions of pounds in tax revenues, normally collected from betting. As recently as two days ago, the Ministry of Agriculture was still saying that no immediate shutdown of racing was necessary.

But it is now thought the situation has become so critical that any movement of animals around the countryside could spread the disease.

The latest figures show the number of foot-and-mouth cases still climbing to record levels.

There were 52 new outbreaks reported today, bringing the number of cases to more than 1,200 since the beginning of the epidemic. More than 200,000 animals have so far been slaughtered.

The Agriculture Minister, Fred Peart, told the Commons the government was preparing a vaccination programme as a last-ditch weapon against the disease. However, he said, he was still convinced that the slaughter policy was in the best interests of the country.

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