Minister hails Lady Thatcher - and the Spice Girls - as 'good role models' for young girls

And he predicted Gordon Brown would take a leaf out of their books by overcoming his troubles to stage a winning general election comeback.

The unlikely endorsement of two Tory icons by the Prime Minister's key ally came as he prepared for tomorrow's launch of the Government's ten-year Children's Plan.

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'Role models': Spice Girls are shining examples to young girls, according to Ed Balls

It is a key part of Mr Brown's fightback strategy after two torrid months which have left his credibility in doubt.

Mr Balls's vote for Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham and the other Spice Girls came only days after they started their sell-out reunion tour.

In September Mr Brown startled Labour MPs by inviting Lady Thatcher to tea in Number 10 in what critics said was an attempt to reinvent himself as a "conviction politician".

Since then a succession of disasters have seen Labour's poll advantage wiped out, leaving MPs predicting defeat for Mr Brown at the next election.

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But Mr Balls said the Premier would emulate the comeback staged by Lady Thatcher with her election win in 1987, just a year after her popularity was rocked by the Westland affair.

Mr Balls said: "Margaret Thatcher was the first prime minister to be a woman in our country.

"And whatever you think of her - and I dislike many, many things that she did - the fact is that she was a role model for women to see that you could reach the highest job.

"The Spice Girls delivered 'girl power' which inspired a generation of young girls to believe that they could do it."

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme Mr Brown could "turn it around".

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Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher could help thwart ladette culture, the Labour minister said

He said: "Just remember in 1986 when Margaret Thatcher was the prime minister, the Westland Crisis, she lost cabinet ministers. She'd lost Cecil Parkinson because of a scandal.

"At that time we had a new leader of the Labour Party. We were ahead in the polls. But she won the next election decisively.

"We will do exactly the same."