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?

UQD That was an interesting link. It seems unlikely the Queen would decide on a State Funeral for such a controversial figure. Most of the previous recipients were massive popular favourites. (Popular with the Establishment, natch)

If she did have a state funeral would we get an extra day off from work, like a bank holiday?

UQD, we had that link many many posts ago (pls read the whole thread before pontificating, there's a dear)

ILD, they were. I don't think being a previous PM, even a tenacious one, is in itself suitable grounds for a state funeral. Whether one agrees with her policies or not.

(Ooh, look, I didn't shout "FASCIST!!" once!)

That milk quote is her, of course.

How about workers who wanted to right to go to work without being called a scab? I'd say their freedoms were protected by her actions.

Personally, I can't be arsed to read the whole thread, because 90% is vile and I have other threads, such as wanker express to read, which are more fun.

I find it strange that aside from any polital viewpoint, woman can not admire her for what she achieved AS A WOMAN.

It was Thatcher week on BBC/4 a while ago and there was a debate amongst many people inc liberal Shirley Williams and some real left wing folk and all whole heartedly admired her as an individual.

To succeed from a humble background in very much in those days a strictly male environment and stand up for this country in a way that puts more recent PMs to shame.

I tell you, Sadam would not have seen the light of day.

She was not a woman-friendly woman though, was she?

How many women were there in her cabinets?

Wendy thats because politics was not and is still very male dominated, who would you have suggested?

So what? Why should she have promoted women for the sake of it? Would you expect to be promoted by a woman boss because you are a woman?

Perhaps she didn't find many of the few Tory women MPs at the time particularly capable.

I think this is the rub of why so many on the left don't like her, and I think it is a decidedly sexist stance - she wasn't very feminine.

The women in todays cabinet are self promoting wimps

I dont think any care about the country more about thier careers.Tony Blair being the worst!!
its all spin spin spin

not feminine?
Not human imo
Everytime I see the thread title bumped again I need to check just in case she has really bought the farm.
Alas tis not to be
Curiously enough my osteo operates from the very building she was born to, her dads old shop.
I am connected to my hate

There weren't many female Tory MPs, true - why was that then?

No idea, most women have more sense? It's a pretty mad existence. I presume you think you know?

How many labour ones were there then?

Because she broke the mould and started it all.From this women were more able to enter politics.

All this is recognised....

I think she succeeded in the Tory party where others did not because she was an exceptional woman

A woman prime minister 30 years ago is an amazing thing

It was practically impossible for a woman to be selected as Tory candidate in most constituencies...

And what about for other parties? You haven't answered my question about them. Presumably 50% of liberal and labour MPs were women then?

Thought not.

Exactly - before Maggie it was virtually impossible for a woman to succeed in politics. After, opportunities existed as never before.

The fact that she got to become PM is remarkable - was remarkable - still is. I mean due to her gender.

Not in the Tory party though

Have a good look at some of the tables here

I bet you have no idea how few Conservative woman MPs there are atm...

And your answers to my questions about stats in the labour party and liberals in 1979 are curiously non forthcoming.

Personally I don't give a shit if there aren't ANY women MPs, most MPs are self serving freaks and the labour women (Caroline Flint anyone? Yvette Cooper?) are complete nonentities who would be out of their depth in the toddler pool.

Well there weren't that many MPs of either sex in either party for a few elections, were there?

From 1997 onwards, once they could do something about it, the number of women Labour MPs shot up. The number of women Tory MPs is still pitiful.

Being an undergraduate when Maggie was in power, I do recall a few chants of "Maggie Maggie Maggie, OUT OUT OUT".

But all that was so yesterday. Let's face it, the old bag did what needed to be done. No-one liked it. Or her. But she did it, and moreover she was the first woman pm, something that feels to me unlikely to be repeated in our lifetimes. Will the unctuous and repulsive Cameron promote women? I think not.

When the time comes, give the old bat a state funeral.

Hope Springs Eternal 1400

Oh UQD, still patronising. Well done, you! Gosh, imagine PMQs being theatre. I'd never have guessed. (As it happens, i never mentioned PMQs...)

FWIW I have spent a bit of time in the Commons and I'd say much of the activity on the floor of the house is game-playing. Sometimes legitimate but schoolboy-ish nonetheless. Select committees can be a bit more thoughtful but there's still that element of grand-standing and 'who's in my gang'.

Look, the last person to have a state funeral was Churchill. How many people honestly think Maggie's 'achievements' match his? Even if you are a fan, surely you must see there's a bit of a gap.

No, bobbins, she doesn't deserve a state funeral just for having a vagina and being successful.

I am disappointed that uqd choose to view this thread in the way he did. Largely I started this thread to check information, clearly causing a degree of confusion with the title, apologies. However, that lots of people reacted with vitriol and/or amusing insults is an acceptable response. We certainly don't need to only make our arguements in a reasonable manner at all times, ffs a lot of this thread was more down the pub reminising and ranting than a debating article. And that IS OK.

In fact UQD, I'm slightly disappointed that you thought that rather than make 'coherant adult' arguments about why Thatcher is so reviled you choose to use the chance to critcise the lefties on here. Yes the left can put forward excellent arguements against a state funeral, as some have on here and elsewhere. No need to police and patronise those who didn't.

Georgimama, very few women mps until 1997 with women-only shortlists. So I'll not thank Mag just yet if its all the same to you.