Maggie Thatcher has died

[trousers]

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.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

You're in good company....

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams tells RTE News: "Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister."

 

And George Galloway seems happy. Makes you think twice about what your opinion on politics surely if that's the kind of people you're agreeing with?

[hypochondriac]

And of course its all rosy today isn't it?

 

Thats what years of labour will do to you.

[alpine_saint]

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.

 

Blimey, even Pie-Face has managed to demonstrate a moment of grace. Tells you all you need to know about Galloway and Adams.

[trousers]

• 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.
   
  

[alpine_saint]

I cant imagine those on the political right taking such mouthy pathetic pot-shots if a political opponent died, like Adams, Galloway and Livingstone have. Truly without class..

[View From The Top]

Completely agree.

 

I celebrated the moment she was turfed out of office.

 

Same here. We are off to the pub in a minute to celebrate just as we did back then.

[ottery st mary]

A truly great lady...

The best leader we have had since Winston..

 

RIP Margaret Thatcher....our country owes you a great debt of gratitude.

[Hamilton Saint]

And George Galloway seems happy. Makes you think twice about what your opinion on politics surely if that's the kind of people you're agreeing with?

 

What a silly debating tactic. The key points of the comments on here are about Thatcher as a person, and about her political legacy. It is not about whether one is happy, or not, about her passing. Because one is extremely critical of Margaret Thatcher and her leagcy does not mean one is a fellow-traveller of Gerry Adams, George Galloway, et. al.

 

I would have thought that was quite obvious.

[trousers]

Same here. We are off to the pub in a minute to celebrate just as we did back then.

 

Have fun. Report back on how much you enjoyed it

[View From The Top]

Sums it up for me;

 

No attempt at ethical or social seduction can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.

Aneurin Bevan

[Pugwash]

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.

 

Blimey! Salmond says something sensible for once.

[View From The Top]

Have fun. Report back on how much you enjoyed it

 

Living up north it'll be a chuffing national holiday!

[Micky]

So when Osama Bin Laden died you were upset and had a bit of time for reflection. Or maybe your old man was gutted when he heard Hitler had topped himself.

 

Fool.

[trousers]

• 
   
  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.
   
  

[Hamilton Saint]

I cant imagine those on the political right taking such mouthy pathetic pot-shots if a political opponent died, like Adams, Galloway and Livingstone have. Truly without class..

 

You'd think so, eh? Our very right-wing Prime Minister had this to say about the death of Hugo Chavez: "at this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights." No condolences to his grieving family. Subtle, one might say, but still disrespectful and politically blind.

[trousers]

Living up north it'll be a chuffing national holiday!

 

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

[Minty]

I struggle to understand any attempt to justify being pleased that someone has died. At a very basic, human level, that's pretty unpalatable IMO.

 

I'll not mourn her passing particularly. I respect her role in British history, for better or worse (and that's still a major matter of opinion), and naturally pass condolences to her family and friends.

[Seaford Saint]

You'd think so, eh? Our very right-wing Prime Minister had this to say about the death of Hugo Chavez: "at this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights." No condolences to his grieving family. Subtle, one might say, but still disrespectful and politically blind.

 

I shouldn't bother mate....such words are beyond this poster. I have him ignore.

[pap]

Same here. We are off to the pub in a minute to celebrate just as we did back then.

 

I was fifteen. We got our mate with the deepest voice to buy some beer, as per.

 

Would have got more if Major hadn't succeeded her.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What a silly debating tactic. The key points of the comments on here are about Thatcher as a person, and about her political legacy. It is not about whether one is happy, or not, about her passing. Because one is extremely critical of Margaret Thatcher and her leagcy does not mean one is a fellow-traveller of Gerry Adams, George Galloway, et. al.

 

I would have thought that was quite obvious.

 

It wasn't a debating tactic.

 

If you are happy she has died, then you are agreeing with those people. That's all.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

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

 

They have been since the coal ran out, with their Sky TV and council homes.

[pap]

You're in good company....

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams tells RTE News: "Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister."

 

Uncharacteristically dishonest debating tactic for yourself, trousers - but not for your ilk.

[scotty]

I was fifteen. We got our mate with the deepest voice to buy some beer, as per.

 

Would have got more if Major hadn't succeeded her.

 

Major actually carried on the main (and possibly only) beneficial achievement of her time in office, which was keeping the european federal superstate from our shores. Not that he had much choice in the matter, but credit where its due.

[Sour Mash]

I was fifteen. We got our mate with the deepest voice to buy some beer, as per.

 

Would have got more if Major hadn't succeeded her.

When you were 15, you went out to celebrate the change of tory Prime Ministers

[sussexsaint]

Living up north it'll be a chuffing national holiday!

 

 

As it has been declared a state funeral in the past will that not make it a public holiday anyway?

 

Not going to express political views today but RIP and thoughts with the family.

 

Astonishing how one person provokes such reaction in so many people either one way or the other, not sure anyone since would do that

[Pugwash]

Sums it up for me;

 

No attempt at ethical or social seduction can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.

Aneurin Bevan

 

Hmmm. There are no doubt many similar views expressed by Tories about Labour ideologies; and therein lies the problem.

 

The 20th century was defined by extreme politics of all colours. Most of the wars were 'political' wars from WW2, through the struggles for independence, Vietnam, Iran and the Falklands. Bevan was a reaction to pre-war Tory governments. The Unions were inspired by his political views. Thatcher, Reagan and co were polar reactions to those Left-wing 'de-stabilising' influences, and probably did as much harm.

 

Surely by now, in this 21st Century, we should be enlightened and educated enough to reject old tub-thumping politics and actually get behind reasonable people who actually want to manage and grow the country? Call me a cynic, but the views (by both Left and Right) being expressed on here, together with the clear lack of empathy and understanding from our current batch of politicians leads me to despair...

[trousers]

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."

[trousers]

Uncharacteristically dishonest debating tactic for yourself, trousers - but not for your ilk.

 

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

[Bath Saint]

[Seaford Saint]

Thats what years of labour will do to you.

 

"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.

 

Not saying unions didn't addressing, but it was the cruelty, the stupidity of selling council houses at knock down prices (that you and I had paid for) for a home "owning" ideal.

 

 

No, condolences to her family, of course, but honestly she had, for me, very few redeeming charactistics.

 

No such thing as society....will haunt her

[bridge too far]

As it has been declared a state funeral in the past will that not make it a public holiday anyway?

 

Not going to express political views today but RIP and thoughts with the family.

 

Astonishing how one person provokes such reaction in so many people either one way or the other, not sure anyone since would do that

 

From the BBC news website:

 

She will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

 

[trousers]

From the BBC news website:

 

She will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

 

 

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

[hypochondriac]

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

 

Humble as well. Put the great back into Britain.

[pap]

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

 

C'mon mate - don't insult the collective intelligence of people reading this thread.

 

The association with Adams is an under the radar dis'. We're all big boys here. Speak plainly.

[Dimond Geezer]

From the BBC news website:

 

She will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

 

 

She's got her perceived desire. Finally being recognised as a royal.

[saintfully]

A sad day for her family and supporters everywhere.

 

I am consoling myself with the knowledge that The Conservative Party will never win a majority in this country again.

[Dimond Geezer]

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

 

That' awfully big of her, when you consider that the only person actually entitled to a state funeral is the monarch.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

A sad day for her family and supporters everywhere.

 

I am consoling myself with the knowledge that The Conservative Party will never win a majority in this country again.

 

Too true, but that's not down to her...

[pap]

Too true, but that's not down to her...

 

I think a large part of it is.

 

I'd like the opinions of some old timers on this one. Were the Conservatives ever called the Nasty Party before she took charge?

[washsaint]

No doubt many on here are too young to remember what the country was like prior to Mrs Thatcher becoming PM. Anyone remember Jim Callaghan going off on vacation when there was a general strike? Do you remember the heaps of garbage that went uncollected for weeks? How about regular power cuts due to strikes by workers who were holding the country to ransom?

 

Like everyone, some things she did were great, others not so great and mistakes were made and her premiership probably went on 2 years too long.

 

Having said that she played a momentous role in the UKs modern history and for people to celebrate her passing is incomprehensible and says more about them personally than their politics.

 

She also made our Armed Forces feel respected again (and not just through the Falklands but through increasing pay beyond paupers salary) and was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to an end.

 

RIP

[saint lard]

Looking forward to hearing about who found all the horcruxes

[Dr. Kucho]

• 
  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.
  

 

I was only 3 years old when she left Downing Street, but wasnt aware it was her that caused all the problems we have today.

[trousers]

Speak plainly.

 

I thought I was. Not to worry.

Edited 8 April, 2013 by trousers

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Looking forward to hearing about who found all the horcruxes

 

Not even going to reference Frankie Boyle who said it originally?

[trousers]

That' awfully big of her, when you consider that the only person actually entitled to a state funeral is the monarch.

 

I guess it depends on the definition of "entitled"...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_funerals_in_the_United_Kingdom

 

Entitlement

 

The honour of a state funeral is usually reserved for the sovereign as head of state. Spouses and widows of monarchs usually receive a ceremonial funeral, which differs only in the fact that the gun carriage bearing the coffin is drawn by horses, as opposed to sailors. However, a few historical civilians of profound achievement, military leaders and politicians have also been honoured with a full state funeral, including Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Nelson, and Sir Winston Churchill.

Other state funerals

 

Several other notable people and former prime ministers have been awarded a full state funeral:

 

• Sir Philip Sidney (1586)
  
• Admiral Robert Blake (1657)
  
• Sir Isaac Newton (1727)^[3]
  
• The Viscount Nelson (1806)
  
• The Duke of Wellington (1852)
  
• The Viscount Palmerston (1865)
  
• Lord Napier of Magdala (1890)
  
• The Rt Hon William Gladstone (1898 )
  
• The Earl Roberts of Kandahar (1914)
  
• The Earl Haig (1928 )
  
• The Lord Carson (1935)
  
• The Rt Hon Sir Winston Churchill (1965)
  

Benjamin Disraeli was offered the honour of a state funeral, but refused it in his will. The famous nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale was also offered a state funeral, but her family opted for a private ceremony. Charles Darwin (died 1882) was honoured by a major funeral in Westminster Abbey, attended by state representatives, but this does not seem to have been a state funeral in the formal sense.

The most recent state funeral for someone outside the royal family was that of Churchill in 1965. His was the largest in world history, with representatives from 112 nations.^[4]The only difference between his state funeral and that of the sovereign was the gun salute: prime ministers get a 19-gun salute as a head of government; the sovereign receives the full 21-gun salute, as head of state.

There was speculation that Margaret Thatcher would be accorded a state funeral. After her death in 2013 the government denied she would receive a state funeral, "in accordance with her own wishes."^[5] She will be accorded a ceremonial funeral with full military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.

Edited 8 April, 2013 by trousers

[pap]

When you were 15, you went out to celebrate the change of tory Prime Ministers

 

Yeah, was a good night.

 

You should probably know that I have no shame when it comes to stuff like this. If you want a better rise than this, I'd suggest going to the bakers or downing some Viagra.

[Hatch]

She'll be blamed for being Harry Redknapps mother in this thread before the day is out.

[Hamilton Saint]

It wasn't a debating tactic.

 

If you are happy she has died, then you are agreeing with those people. That's all.

 

You don't see the distinction? You can agree with some of their opinions, without agreeing with all. You can agree with some of their opinions, without being "happy" that she has died. You can even be happy that she has died (which is NOT my view), without agreeing with any of their particular opinions.

 

As usual, things are nuanced, not black-and-white.

[solentstars]

I was only 3 years old when she left Downing Street, but wasnt aware it was her that caused all the problems we have today.

 

That's because she was loved by the super rich and the media barons.she was a nasty women but I for one will not be buying newspapers in .the next few days.she was a hate figure for a lot of working class people at the time. R.I p. To her but she doesn't deserve a state funeral .

 

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