Today, and for the last time, Margaret Thatcher dominated the national media. For a Prime Minister who supposedly never read the newspapers, her grasp of communication and ability to connect with voters set the benchmark for the politicians who opposed or followed her. But while some of her advocates celebrate her achievements and dream of someone in her mold emerging to lead the country once again, would her approach really work today?

Although the channels and technologies have changed since the 1980s, many of Margaret Thatcher’s strengths remain good communication principles.

She was relentless with her message and vociferous in making her case. Her consistency allowed her to control the media output, avoiding the uncertainty and – most famously – the U-turns, which characterise the current government.

She could use simple language to communicate complex concepts.  Her parallels between household budgets and the national finances made some economists tear their hair out, but brought many people along with her determination to balance the books (George Osborne uses the same analogy today). And her speeches, once crafted with elocution lessons to lower the tone of her voice, are referred to today as lessons in managing an audience and communicating clarity of purpose.

These strengths transfer well to the political theatre of today. But for reasons of political circumstance and public expectation, the Margaret Thatcher of the 1980s would soon flounder in 2013.

Broadcasting your message is no longer enough. Online and social media mean that people both respect and expect a dialogue with the people who seek their vote. Margaret Thatcher’s aversion to criticism and refusal to budge on her policies led to her downfall in the early 1990s in the wake of the Poll Tax – but with social media’s knack for stimulating dissent, that fall would come much quicker today.

The Iron Lady also benefitted from the unity that existed to the right of the political spectrum during her Premiership. She could afford to set out clear dividing lines, because even those in her party who had reservations had no-where else to go. The same isn’t true of David Cameron today, who is beset by the growing force of UKIP. And while she was in many ways a divisive force, Margaret Thatcher faced external threats that served to unite the majority of the electorate. The IRA, the Falklands War and the Cold War kept people fearful of conflict and grateful for a strong dogmatic leader to deal with its dangers.

But this isn’t to denigrate her achievements. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. Those wistful for a Margaret Thatcher for our age should not be looking for a replica. They should be searching instead for someone who so closely matches the demands of our time.