trousers

http://m.local.stv.tv/glasgow/news/220638-council-says-stay-away-from-george-square-party-for-thatcher/

I disagree but can see how it can be interpreted in both ways. We "gave it a good go" vs Man Utd which I believe is what RM is accusing teams "all" teams of not doing. Anyway, we digress...

Possibly crap analogy alert... As Adkins (the manager we all loved) was ousted by someone within Southampton Football Club are you suggesting we shouldn't continue to love Southampton Football Club? (Haven't thought that through so probably full of more holes than a Labour Party manifesto...)

Anyone got a spare napkin?

The Wikipedia article I posted a page or two ago explains it quite well

Flags at half mast at City Hall... I'm sure Ken would have approve...

Germany's ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl praised the former PM for her "love of freedom, her incomparable openness, honesty and straightforwardness". Piers Morgan: Disagreed with Thatcher over many things (incl poll tax, miners, Hillsborough) but admired courage/leadership re Falklands, Cold War etc. Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, says "Britain was privileged to have a prime minister who understood the importance of entrepreneurs, aspiration and business". Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai pays tribute to "one of the greatest leaders the world knew." He says she will be remembered as a "strong leader who had truly served her country, particularly in strengthening the UK's economy". Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe says: "It is a human response to be sad when somebody dies, but many working-class people will be celebrating her death because of the absolutely destructive and long-lasting effect she had on the lives of millions of working class and poor people." Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has paid tribute to "an extraordinary politician who was a staunch defender of freedom, a powerful advocate of Nato and the transatlantic bond". He says: "She strongly supported Nato values and principles, believed in a strong defence and played a leading role in ending the Cold War. Throughout her tenure as British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher stood on principle and showed great courage, vision and leadership." Conservative MP Alun Cairns: I asked my 9 year old son, Henri whether he knew who Margaret #Thatcher was and he said 'Yes - a strict Prime Minister'. Irish President Michael D Higgins says the ex-PM's policies on Northern Ireland "gave rise to considerable debate at the time". "However, her key role in signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement will be recalled as a valuable early contribution to the search for peace and political stability," he says. The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, pays tribute to her legacy and says "you're bound to create enemies and division along the way. She had more than her share in that regard. But, I think history will look kindly on the transformative changes in the UK that she has been responsible for". Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says Lady Thatcher was one of the leading figures in politics in Europe in the 20th Century. "She governed in the UK during a key moment in our history. I think her commitment to democracy, to freedom and the rule of law together with her reformist vision, built up an extremely valuable legacy for current European leaders. Similar to the situation of the 1980s, the time during which Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, we are also facing huge challenges which require us to have political ambition and courage." Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has condemned the late Margaret Thatcher as ‘belligerent’ and ‘shameful’, accusing her of doing ‘great hurt’ to both Ireland and Britain. The ex-MP criticised her for backing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s and 1980s and also opposing sanctions against apartheid-era South Africa. And he described her Irish policy as ‘a failure’, causing ‘great suffering’ by a hardline stance against the Irish republican cause.

Another one for the anti-Thatcher team.... http://www.davidicke.com/headlines/82506-the-leader-of-one-of-the-most-paedophile-infested-governments-in-modern-times-so-much-competition-and-close-friend-of-jimmy-savile-has-died

http://magazine.topman.com/category/culture/welcome-to-the-puncheon/

The same people that went to work on the Jubilee holiday last year you mean....? (p.s. brace yourself for the "its not a state funeral you berk" ripostes...)

@SouthamptonFC: Mike Dean has been appointed referee for this Saturday's game against @whufc_official at St Mary's. #saintsfc

Ok. Maybe we'll never know whether she was going to be offered one or not, and thus whether "her wishes" actually changed whether she got a state funeral or not. I was simply echoing a report that she had requested not to have one. That is all. There's at least one example of a former PM being granted a state funeral and declining it (posthumously it would seem) so that'll do for me.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expresses his deepest condolences to her family members and the UK government. He says she was a "great model" as the first female prime minister, "who not only demonstrated her leadership but has given such great hope for many women for equality, gender equality in Parliament". He adds: "I hope that her leadership will inspire many people around the world for peace and security and human rights." The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, says he heard the news with sadness and his prayers are with her family and friends. He adds: "It is right that today we give thanks for a life devoted to public service, acknowledging also the faith that inspired and sustained her." Veteran Burmese journalist Po Thaut Kya tells BBC Burmese: "We were very interested when she became the British PM and we always followed her story very well. At the time, she was inspirational to Burmese people. She is a role model for women leaders and her death is a great loss to the world. We are covering the story and it will be our front page cover story tomorrow." German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "As a long-serving prime minister, she shaped modern Britain as few have before or since. She was one of the greatest leaders in world politics of her time. The freedom of the individual was at the centre of her beliefs so she recognised very early the power of the movements for freedom in Eastern Europe. And she supported them. I will never forget her contribution in overcoming Europe's partition and the end of the Cold War. "Margaret Thatcher was not a feminist but by proving herself as a woman in the highest democratic post when this was far from usual, she gave an example to many. My thoughts and sympathy are with her children." Entrepreneur Lord Sugar tweets: Margaret Thatcher died today. A great lady she changed the face of British politics, created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK.RIP US President Barack Obama says "the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend". Baroness Thatcher, he says, "shows our daughters" there is no glass ceiling that cannot be shattered, adding: "As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best"."As an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom's promise. "Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history - we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will. " Writer and comedian Alexei Sayle told the BBC: "She made a conscious decision to run down manufacturing and concentrate on two areas which were arms manufacture and financial services. I wonder in some ways if having financial services and arms manufacturing at the core of your country kind of corrupts you morally. This idea that she was a great reformer - in a sense she was a great destroyer."

I guess it depends on the definition of "entitled"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_funerals_in_the_United_Kingdom

I thought I was. Not to worry.

"The start date for the two-day hearing at the High Court in London is expected to be announced this week" Only "expected" to be announced....? Doesn't sound very definitive...

Yep. It was one of her wishes not to have a state funeral (something I assume she was entitled to?)

I wasn't debating anything. Just observing two people expressing the same sentiment: that Thatcher was harmful to the British people.

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso described her as "without doubt a great stateswoman... a circumspect yet engaged player in the European Union". Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah have sent messages of condolences to Lady Thatcher's son Mark and daughter Carol. He said: "She will be remembered not only for being Britain's first female prime minister and holding the office for 11 years, but also for the determination and resilience with which she carried out all her duties throughout her public life. Even those who disagreed with her never doubted the strength of her convictions and her unwavering belief in Britain's destiny in the world." Lots of comments from BBC Russian followers, including this one from Radif Garipov on social network V Kontakte: "She was the Iron Lady who had our Gorby [Mikhail Gorbachev] under her high heel."

Given all Northerners are unemployed aren't they already on holiday 24x7...?

Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh tweets: "I express my deepest sadness on the passing away of former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher. She was a transformative figure under whom the United Kingdom registered important progress on the national and international arena." Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair says she was a "towering political figure". "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world," he adds. The former leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, says the former UK PM was a great politician, who will go down in history. Baroness Thatcher had famously called Mr Gorbachev a leader "the West could do business with", as he laid the foundations for an end to the Soviet era.

Have fun. Report back on how much you enjoyed it

Former political opponent Lord Neil Kinnock says: "I recognise and admire the great distinction of Baroness Thatcher as the first woman to become leader of a major UK political party and prime minister. I am sorry to hear of her death and offer my sympathy to her family." Labour will suspend campaigning in the local elections until further notice as a mark of respect following Baroness Thatcher's death, a senior party source tells the Press Association. Ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone tells Sky News Baroness Thatcher's policies were "fundamentally wrong". "She created today's housing crisis, she produced the banking crisis, she created the benefits crisis. It was her government that started putting people on incapacity benefits rather than register them as unemployed because the Britain she inherited was broadly at full employment," he says. Jeffrey Archer, Tory party deputy chairman in the 1980s, says Lady Thatcher's greatest strength was that when she believed in something for the good of the country she did not take any notice of opinion polls or focus groups. "She had a strength of character I have never seen equal in my life," he says. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls tweets: Very sad to hear of the death of Margaret Thatcher. Our first woman PM, she was the one who truly 'broke the mould' of British politics. Nick Robinson Political editor What is clear from all the reaction we are getting is that you simply can't - and couldn't be - indifferent about Margaret Thatcher. We are hearing reactions from across the political spectrum and from people who believe that she shaped, not just the country and British politics, but also them - that so much of the politics that followed was influenced by what Margaret Thatcher did. I think if I had to add just one word it would be belief. For live coverage from the BBC News Channel, click here. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in a statement: "Today I mourn the passing of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She was truly a great leader, a woman of principle, of determination, of conviction, of strength - a woman of greatness. She was a staunch friend of Israel and the Jewish people and she inspired a generation of political leaders. I send my most sincere condolences to her family and to the government and people of Great Britain." Labour leader Ed Miliband tweets: I send my deep condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, in particular Mark and Carol Thatcher. UKIP leader Nigel Farage says Lady Thatcher was a "great inspiration". "Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people," he adds.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond describes Baroness Thatcher as a "truly formidable prime minister whose policies defined a political generation". "No doubt there will now be a renewed debate about the impact of that legacy. Today, however, the proper reaction should be respect and condolences to her family," he adds.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown says: "If politics is defined as having views, holding to them and driving them through to success, she was undoubtedly the greatest PM of our age."