by Joe Walker

Margaret Thatcher once attempted to stand as an MP in Canterbury – but her bid was knocked back over fears she would fall pregnant.

As the nation was left stunned by her death today, news emerged of the Iron Lady’s bid to stand in the city’s 1953 by-election while looking for a safe Tory seat.

But the only woman on the selection panel – former Mayor of Canterbury Evelyn Hews – is thought to have scuppered the young Lady Thatcher’s bid after predicting she would soon start a family.

Suzy Gale – wife of North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale and granddaughter of the late Mrs Hews – says the story is often told among family members.

She said: "Granny was the only woman on the selection committee.

"All the men thought she [Thatcher] was absolutely wonderful. They were all sat there discussing it when granny said ‘mark my words, she’ll be pregnant within a year’.

"That was that and she wasn’t selected."

Mrs Hews was proved right when Lady Thatcher fell pregnant shortly after and gave birth to twins Mark and Carol in August 1953.

Four months earlier the man who beat her to the Canterbury seat - Sir Leslie Thomas - comfortably won the by-election, serving until he stood down in 1966.

Lady Thatcher later became Britain's first and only female Prime Minister.

She died this morning after suffering a stroke.

Mrs Gale said: "We thought Maggie T was a wonderful woman and have so much respect for the old girl. It’s so sad to have lost her."

Lady Thatcher’s attempted bid for the Canterbury seat was portrayed in the 2008 BBC play The Long Walk to Finchley.