Margaret Thatcher to be given state funeral.

[S1ur]

Is this true? because the Daily Mail reported it so obviously I need something more reliable than that

Last year Guardian reported 'there were no plans' for a state funeral.

Anyone heard this from anywhere other than the DM?

Thank you spokette, although I fear UQD may accuse you of over-simplifying the issue!

Well, there spokette (albeit in emotive language) has at least outlined why she objects to MT's policies rather than ranting about her being an "evil old cow". It's progress.

agree with UQD

just a point about the upcoming Glasgow by-election. Labour council for donkeys years I believe yet the life expectancy is 53.9 years! Why do they keep voting the buggers in? They're obviously not doing very well for their constituents.

martianbishop-i actually do love you! spokeete, elequantly put-if that bitch gets a state funeral i will leave the country

JT didnt cameron tell them it was ther fault that they were fat and poor though?? so nothing to do with the labour party

Stop patronising anyone who disagrees with you, UQD. Thatcher has earned plenty of venom in her time - and I doubt the old battleaxe would be particularly grateful for people treating her as if she's in need of gentle treatment.

"Reducing politics to the level of the playground" is a terrible old cliche unworthy of a professional writer. AND very pompous. Adults are allowed to dislike people, you know, we don't have to pretend that every politician is a saint.

Have you ever been inside the House of Commons? FFS, the people who represent us their spend their whole time playing games. Remember Thatch herself screeching 'you're frit, you're frit' across the floor of the house? (Think it might have been aimed at Labour over the Falklands.) Or, recently, the Tories pointing at the Ulster Unionists playground-stylie over the vote on 42 days?

I don't think Thatcher should have a state funeral. It would be too controversial and might be sabotaged.

In the late 80s, educationalists in the establishment hated the idea of the National Curriculum and exhorted us to vote her out. She lost power soon after, but the National Curriculum continued and became more and more of a straightjacket. Moral: it doesn't matter who you vote for - the government always gets in.

UQD - I don't find your views patronising.

Lol, UQD, I also outlined why I disagreed with Thatcher's policies and got accused of being 'simplistic'!

You pick and choose don't you!

my dad met her in the Elgar Birthplace Museum a couple of years ago

they chatted about Elgar and my dad (being a man of the people) made the point that Elgar became viewed as THE establishment composer despite coming from 'nothing'

she said in throbbing tones "We all come from nothing, Mr Glossop"

I guess it's just some of us have more nothing than others

edam. Funny you should ask. I've been on research trips inside the House of Commons in the last three months actually. PMQs is theatre - it has little or nothing to do with the everyday business of politics. I was there on St George's Day - Gordon was on the ropes over the 10p Tax thing, the English Parliament guys were demonstrating outside and Cameron was on form.

"Reducing politics to the level of the playground" may be a cliche, but it's precisely what is happening here. ("Battleaxe, bitch, evil witch", yawn yawn yawn. You don't have to use venom to criticise someone - it's far cleverer to be able to do so without being spiteful. Ever read Matthew Parris? Or Simon Hoggart? Their satire is more cutting than cheap insults could ever be.)

UQD, you are the internet equivalent of the little boy with his finger in the dyke, give it up, they will rant unchecked. I salute your attempts though.

I think the old boot would be delighted that the lefties are still so het up about her all these years later. God knows, she probably still can't stand them.

As she told old viscount stansgate Wedgie Benn at the Commons debate after the Falklands were liberated "the honourable member would not be able to enjoy the freedom of speech which he puts to such excellent use if other people had not been prepared to fight for it." She fought for it, and other people use it. C'est la vie.

She fought for freedom of speech? When was that, exactly?

Well let's see, refusal to accept dominance of unions in industry, refusal to accept Argentine aggression in Falklands against British subjects, refusal to allow unions to control and direct their members' working lives at expense of industry, I'd call all of that examples of fighting for freedom of speech.

You either admire her (grudginly or otherwise) or think her the anti Christ. Fine, but I think many of these posts are nasty and spiteful, and I look forward to the next time some of the same posters are adopting a holier than thou attitude about some petty MN issue and telling other posters how unpleasant their comments are etc as they are wont to do. Because I will chuckle and remember some of these horrible horrible comments.

I remember maggie got rid of the free school milk in primary schools in the late 70's. I wouldnt be surprised if loads of us 70's kids from poorer families have now got bone deficiencies from lack of calcium. Thanks Mags.

State funeral? How about strapping her open casket on wheels to the back of the horse and carriage and let us all pay our last respects while she takes a tour of the country...........

You see? Now that's charming. Someone ends an anachronistic policy and next thing people want their dead body dragged through the streets on a cart. Nice.

Haven't noticed the lovely "lefty" government we've had for the last eleven years 3 months (that's as long as Maggie was in) rushing to reintroduce free school milk. Or indeed to reopen coal mines. Wonder why?

Those aren't examples of "freedom of speech"!

Of course they are - the freedom to challenge the accepted view of an issue. How is that not freedom of speech?

OK abhorrant politics but as she was only ever female PM shouldn't she deserve some honour............erk.........not sure I've convinced myself....

Which century is this?

I realise some of you ranters are not entirely serious, but it doesn't do your case any good if no proper, coherent arguments can be put against her having a state funeral.

And it doesn't help the Left in general, actually, if the only voices raised against the idea are those which sound like Rik out of the Young Ones.

I actually don't think she should have a state funeral. Callaghan and Wilson didn't, so why would it make sense? But I'm not prepared to resort to yah-boo politics to make the point.

Here are some thoughts on who does and doesn't get one.

Grin you are wrong, Maggie didnt stop the free milk, that was media hype! Check the records.

Don't some mums get free milk? And children in Primary School get free fruit at breaktime

"I think that the complete withdrawal of free milk for our school children would be too drastic a step and would arouse more widespread public antagonism than the saving justifies."

said.....?

and so she should be.

They should never have got rid of her and the country would not be in the bloody state it is in now

Bloody wonderful woman

But we already had that - still do as far as I know! Whose freedom of speech was denied before those actions of hers, & then reinstated after them?