to think Thatcher's funeral procession will attract protesters throughout UK?

[Corygal]

Strikes me they're really pushing it with a full military fanfare and procession through the streets of London - it's catnip for every pissed off Briton in the country to come and have a go.

The last people who had this amount of fuss were Queen Mum and Diana, neither of whom exactly attracted violent dissent. But a parade through virtually every main thoroughfare of the capital for Mrs Thatcher...

[PeneloPeePitstop]

It's completely inappropriate to spunk this kind of money in times of austerity for someone who has the level of negative feeling against them that she has.

I don't see why ANY prime minister in my lifetime needs a quasi state funeral. Or does she 'deserve' it just for being female?

[greenfern]

Totally agree with Ifancy.

[twofingerstoGideon]

Excitable? Like the left element on here you mean? I've never seen so much hysteria and hyperbole on one website until I came here, if anything it's your lot who get excitable no?

As I was saying...

And who exactly is "your lot"? Perhaps you might like to consider that MN is not comprised of one single homogeneous mass.

[ajandjjmum]

Wantourroomback
Not now, but they did, and he took them to court to retain the priviledge.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Given the strength of feeling about Thatcher its probably the safest way to have the funeral.

[edam]

No, the safest way would be to have a funeral for her friends and family with private security, in line with her beliefs and policies.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

Given the strength of feeling about this do you believe that the media would let a "private" funeral happen?

[flatpackhamster]

edam

No, the safest way would be to have a funeral for her friends and family with private security, in line with her beliefs and policies.

She specifically stated she didn't want a state funeral or a flypast because it would be a waste of money.

[YouTheCat]

What Hamster said.

I really really do not like the woman but I do think her wishes regarding her funeral should be respected. I'd read somewhere that her children won't even be attending the ceremonial funeral.

Surely a funeral is for family and friends?

Also it's a bloody waste of money.

[edam]

flatpack - even more reason to stop this spectacle of a funeral at St Paul's with a military cortege, then. Drain on public funds AND against her own stated wishes, apparently.

[skratta]

To be fair, it'll easily be avoided by most people (well, they're hardly going to go from Ilford to St Paul's!) but regardless, I think, as disrespectful as it would be to disrupt a funeral (what harm can the dead do?), it's also incredibly disrespectful to go against the wishes if the person (to not have a ceremonial, state funeral).

I think the government should do what she would have wanted, cheaper for us and more in line with her final wishes.

[infamouspoo]

8 million? When people are choosing between heating and food? What a waste of money. I'm sure she, and the family would prefer a small private affair. Especially if thats what she requested.

[Stevie77]

The government will spend £8m on the funereal because that is protocol for the death of a former head of state. Regardless of what some people think about her, rightly or wrongly, educated or misguided, that is what is done. And just because some people disagree or hate her, doesn't mean she should not be accorded the same respect shown to all former leaders who have passed away.

Grow up!

[twofingerstoGideon]

Stevie77
...the death of a former head of state...

I thought the Queen was 'head of state'.

And "all former leaders who have passed away" have had nothing like this amount of fanfare.

[twofingerstoGideon]

flatpack
"...mentalist socialist posters who can't stop posting their marxist claptrap in AIBU. Why don't you all go over to the politics thread, Ttosca's keeping the Crazy Bench warm for you all."

Mentalist? Crazy bench? I see respect for genuine sufferers of mental health issues is not your forte then. What an offensive way of expressing yourself.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Stevie
The point is that it isn't protocol. Did Ted Heath have a ceremonial funeral, or Wilson, Callaghan maybe?

No PM since Churchill has had a state/ceremonial funeral.

This funeral is the exception not the norm.

[YouTheCat]

Nope, I don't remember such a fuss over Callaghan or Eden or Macmillan or Wilson or Douglas-Home or Heath.

So why should there be for Thatcher?

[YouTheCat]

Mentalist socialist and proud.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I am concerned that it will become a focus for trouble but I think we will get a feel for that over the next few nights.

stevie, she wasnt a head of state, prime ministers of this country are not.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

The Queen Mums funeral was estimated to cost over £4 million. That was some years ago and I suspect that the security required for this occasion will be even larger.