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...

I will be protesting. I won't be taking part in any violence or anything, and I hope that other protestors will do the same.

Its a public occasion, the public are footing the bill, so the public can protest there if they want to. If they don't like it, then thats too bad, they can avoid it by doing it privately and paying for it themselves.

I have limited sympathy for her arms dealer and racist children anyway.

PeaceandFUCKINGLove Well said. If they want a public occasion, then they have to accept that the public may not agree with them. If they want dignity and civility, then keep the funeral private and no-one will make a murmur.

You do realise that money that is spent is then effectively a part of the economy again? So that £8 million will go to pay those involved in the funeral proper, the policing, the media circus, etc.

Let me see:
Undertakers
Mortuary
Coffin
Floristry
Security/policing
Cremation
Donation to religious overseer of choice
Payment of any celebretaries who appear/speak, etc
Payment of said celebretaries staff
Interment costs
Notices of death
Tailoring costs for mourners

That's a lot of people who will be making money out of this. About £8 million worth actually. Any florists/media types out there? Anyone who sells clothing? Manufactures textiles?

Just pointing out the obvious...

£8 million would go a massive way to helping my town (incidentally an old mining town).
We no longer have any youth workers in the council. £8million would go a massive way to supporting the troubled youths in this area. 75% of our council workers have been made redundant. £8 million would go a long way to solving that.

It might not be a huge amount of money nationally but it doesn't mean it wouldn't do a huge amount of good somewhere. It's a dispicable amount of money to spend on a funeral. I am sure the family would prefer a private goodbye as would Thatcher herself. Absolutely crazy.
It might have been a labour government who set out the plans but plans can change. It is no longer the time to be wasting money when so many people are suffering: having to use food banks, redundancies etc.

I hope common sense prevails and there aren't riots or dangerous protests but I can certainly see why many would be pissed off and would consider causing a 'fuss'.

Yes Ullena. We all know those celebrities need more money. I am also sure they will choose a florest who is really struggling due to the recession. I am sure the order will save his/her shop. I am equally sure the tailoring will be done in stores that are having problems too. Ummmm maybe not.

Tailoring costs for mourners what so we have to pay for Mark Thatcher's suit.

I suspect the majority of the budget will go on police overtime costs.

I find it laughable that many of those asking for respect for Thatcher on these threads are the people that treat those on benefits as though they were shit on their shoe. Publicly too.

I do have a lot of respect for Margaret Thatcher and think she was a very strong leader who did some great (as well as some terrible) things.

However, I disagree with 8 million pounds being spent on anyone's funeral, it's ridiculous. It won't ease her families pain and she won't know about it (and didn't even want it!) so what's the point? I would feel the same about any state funeral, even the queen's.

It might not be a huge amount of money but I think the government are being foolish here. They could do a lot of good for a few with this money. They'd probably benefit from the good public feeling they'd receive if they picked an area that had really suffered under Thatcher and regenerated it with that money instead of spending it on the funeral.

Completely agree manic. I would feel that 8 million was rediculous for anyone's funeral. Picking an area to start regnerating with this cash would be a great idea.

I'd bet 8 million quid not one of the people on here saying they'll protest, protest dammit will be within judgeypant flinging distance of the capital on the day of the funeral.

And how would anyone pick a cause to spend the 8 million quid on.

Cameron: lets give it to X

Great Britain outside X goes fucking bananas.

Local radio has behaved supidly 12 hours brodcast in 2 days. Wke up BBC Local radio

I dont respect normal Tory leaders. Why should I respect Mrs Thatcher dead or alive? I like her daughter Carold.

No need to respect Mrs Thatcher. Lots of good reasons to respect a funeral.

I'd bet 8 million quid not one of the people on here saying they'll protest, protest dammit will be within judgeypant flinging distance of the capital on the day of the funeral.

I don't think many have said they will protest, but have said they would understand if other people were to protest and who feel it's immoral to spend so much money celebrating this woman.

There's a massive difference. For example:
Q: Do I find it completely out of order that so much money will be spent on a ceremony for a woman who divided communities, supported apartheid etc. etc.?
A. Yes.
Q: Would I object by, say, writing to the press/signing a petition, eg. exercising my democratic right to protest?
A: Yes.
Q: Am I going to take to the streets screaming and waving banners/rioting/throwing petrol bombs?
A. No. Of course not.

Oh well, so long as it's other people protesting. If we all wait for the other people to protest that'll be a properly notable protest

I agree £8 m is a lot of money. I also agree that alot of it will be spent buying flowers, allowing police overtime etc

Its funny, people dont want £8m spent on this, some are asking for it to be spent on themselves and their home towns! What a surprise. We could all make a case for spending £8 m within our home towns (yes, all of us - there are good causes everywhere)

And lets watch rent a crowd re the protestors. What exactly are they protesting about. Is it really about the cost of the funeral or is it an excuse for a day out for them. The London riots were the same a few years ago. People werent protesting about being unable to feed their families, they were piliging and robbing the mobile stores, stealing designer trainers and burning down a family furniture store which had been in place for over 100 years.

I would never protest at any funeral, it is crass and in very poor taste, but it is also in poor taste to spend £8 million pounds on the funeral of a politician who divided the country so much that we are still arguing about her 20 years after she left power.
I understand that people will be very angry about this, as am I but also realise that a lot of people hold her dear (mistakenly in my view but that is neither here nor there.) Maybe a memorial service would have been a better idea, allowing people to pay their respects at less cost to the public purse and allowing the private funeral Mrs Thatcher actually wanted. Gordon Brown got this very wrong imo.

All the low life's rioting while the SWP morons and chattering classes on here encourage it while sipping their lattes in their local costs in north London

Oh fuck off

Im working class from south London and if there was anyone to care for my disabled child in my absence Id go and peacefully protest.

Bored of hearing the 'middle classes from Islington' stereotype on here.

£8million is fucking obscene

There is a petition

submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45966

Although it is badly worded asking for 'no state funeral' and she is not having a state funeral anyway. Hopefully they get the intention.

I've signed

I find it strange that people are demanding respect for Thatcher...usually the same people who didnt show any respect for the Philpott children and the way the Daily Mail and Gov. used them last week.
And the fact that Thatcher supported apartheid and yet is getting all this compassion from the Daily Mail while at the same time they are vilifying Paris Brown (Paris was wrong to tweet what she did) but bloody hell this hypocrisy is mind boggling.

There is a petition

submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/45966

Although it is badly worded asking for 'no state funeral' and she is not having a state funeral anyway. Hopefully they get the intention.

I've signed

If you want to do something sign the petition and post it on facebook, that will show your opposition without even having to leave the house.

YANBU i think a private funeral would have been better for everybody has any other PM apart from churchill get such a fuss made ?