To wonder why thatcher was at the ritz

[Lockedout434]

I understood that she was very ill with alzimers and had been suffering since 2000 ish. Was she living there or had she been taken out by someone.

Anyone any ideas?

[reluctantmover]

Just reading back, the comment about her dying alone, well that's nothing compared the comments that she should have sold her house, she was paying X amount to stay in the Ritz etc etc. Do these details really matter to you all?

[tiredemma]

Her son and daughter plan to remain in Switzerland and Barbados for the immediate future apparently.

That is very sad. I abhor Thatcher - I am not 'sad' that she has died- but it does anger me that her children could not find time to spend last few weeks with her or even present themselves after her death.
That Mark one is an utter shit.

[edam]

Nice for her and her family that she was able to live in comfort. Sadly a comfort that was denied to the thousands of elderly people who died of cold when she was PM because they couldn't afford to put the heating on, and because of NHS cuts. That would never happen under the current Tory government of course...

[ajandjjmum]

I think Mark is totally self-centred, and Carol's relationship with her mother seems to have been damaged by her unavailability as the children were growing up.

But...MT has been very ill for a very long time, and I don't think they could have been expected to wait in the UK waiting for her to die.

Surprised they're not coming back now.

[Owllady]

I am rather at the security comments. My Gran has had her council bungalow burgled several times, once when she was in it. She gets a carer that goes in to make her a sandwich in the morning for 15 minutes and then one to make sure she is in bed at night. It's a good job she has a loving supportive family. The divide between the rich and the poor in this country is really quite disgusting.

My comments are really not personal to M Thatcher. I have just learnt something new today

[mindosa]

She didn't have masses of money as she didn't personally capitalise on her position - quite a rarity in politicians today!

Ok so 250k as a director of Philip Morris ( a tabacco company!!) isnt cashing in.
It always amazes me when Tory leaders are simply expected to hoover up speaker and director money (John Major, Margaret Thatcher) whereas Labour leaders (Tony Blair, Gordon Brown) are said to be grubby money chasers. Bizarre

[Chipstick10]

So maggie was rich...and? So what, it's not a crime. She wasn't born rich btw.

[AmberLeaf]

but it does anger me that her children could not find time to spend last few weeks with her or even present themselves after her death

Im sure I read that Carol came over the day/day before she died and was with her when she died?

It is bad that they didn't appear to spend much time with her prior to that, but maybe its a case of reaping what you sow?

...and yes, what edam said.

[mummytime]

I do find that sad, that her kids didn't visit her.

But then Carol could feel at home on the Stately homes thread.

[tiredemma]

yes yes- agree with edam also.

[mindosa]

So maggie was rich...and? So what, it's not a crime. She wasn't born rich btw.


I have no issue at all with her being rich, just that it doesnt seem that all ex PM's are treated the same when it comes to making money! I was also correcting another poster who implied she didnt 'cash-in'. She did, they nearly all do and really why shouldnt they

[WilsonFrickett]

I thought she had full-blown Alzheimer's? Her children would not be the first to stop visiting in that situation. It is absolutely heart-breaking when a relative doesn't recognise you. There's plenty to judge her children on (Mark especially), we don't need to be judging them on that.

[Lockedout434]

She was born to shop keeper who was doing ok
She married into inherited wealth ( Denis family made their money from paint)

[ajandjjmum]

She did not cash in - she created a foundation which closed down when she became increasingly frail. She earned $250,000 pa from Philip Morris - pretty much what some ex-leaders earn from one speech.

[mindosa]

They all have foundations - please

[HarrietSchulenberg]

A suite at the Ritz? Free to those who can afford it, very expensive to those who can't.

[montage]

I think it's very hard to know what goes on inside any family from the outside. Snippets can be fairly misleading.

[ajandjjmum]

They do now - they didn't before MT!

[squeakytoy]

Is there any proof that she was staying for free?

[AmberLeaf]

That is a fair point WilsonFrickett.

[HazeltheMcWitch]

She did't live in a new build! She lived in Chester Sq, Belgravia. It often tops the /most expensive street in the UK' lists. Abrammovitch and Nigella Lawson/Charles Saatchi have previously lived there. And it is listed.
Her house would have been worth about 12mil.

[saulaboutme]

As much as I didn't like her u do resent the luxury in which she lived and died. In my memory she was a symbol of the rich will be richer and fuck the poor.

Unless I've missed it, who is paying for her funeral? Her family? Plus taxes for all the security and pomp?
Considering how ths public feel about her she should be having a quiet send off.

[mindosa]

Ajandjjmum Her foundation closed in 2007 because of 'financial difficulties'. Edward Heath also had a foundation.

[Bridgetbidet]

Tony Blair started a war which killed tens of thousands of people and has become insanely rich after leaving office by accepting money from people who benefited from his policies whilst in office. He has a house in London worth tens of millions and a huge country estate which costs similar.

It's not just Thatcher....

[ajandjjmum]

She didn't earn so much money then mindosa - I'm surprised really.

Apparently the cost of her funeral is being met by her estate and the state.