Domestic Death_and_funeral_of_Margaret_Thatcher

the union flag lowered @ half-mast during funeral of 17 april, jersey



an anti-thatcher demonstration in liverpool while funeral took place


political reaction

a buckingham palace spokesman reported queen s sadness on hearing news of death, , sending private message family.

prime minister , conservative party leader david cameron cut short visit abroad , ordered flags flown @ half-mast. issued statement lamenting britain s loss of great prime minister, great leader, great briton . deputy prime minister , leader of liberal democrats, nick clegg, eulogised thatcher having defined modern british politics , that, while may have divided opinion during time, there scant disagreement strength of personality , radicalism of politics .

leader of opposition , labour party leader ed miliband said remembered having reshaped politics of whole generation [and moving] centre ground of british politics , stature in world. said that, although labour party had disagreed of did, can disagree , respect political achievements , personal strength .

john major, successor prime minister, credited thatcher s leadership turning britain around in large measure. reforms of economy, trades union law, , recovery of falkland islands elevated above normal politics. former labour prime ministers tony blair , gordon brown said disagreed admire strength of character, convictions, view of britain s place in world , contribution british national life.

scottish national party leader , first minister alex salmond acknowledged margaret thatcher formidable prime minister policies defined political generation . plaid cymru leader leanne wood, while expressing sympathy family, criticised policies effects on wales.

former green party leader caroline lucas voiced regret that, although thatcher first woman prime minister, did little women either inside or outside house of commons ; in 2012 lucas expressed approval of role thatcher played in environmental issues. ukip leader nigel farage expressed sympathy in tweet, paying homage great patriotic lady .

wider reaction

the house of commons held special session discussing thatcher s legacy. while current , former cabinet ministers struck conciliatory tone in speeches, in labour party attacked thatcher s legacy. on half of labour mps chose boycott tribute thatcher, many saying have been hypocritical them honour constituents continued suffer of decisions made. retired mp tony benn, former london mayor, ken livingstone, , paul kenny, general secretary of gmb trade union, stated policies divisive , legacy involved destruction of communities, elevation of personal greed on social values , legitimising exploitation of weak strong , benn did acknowledge of personal qualities.

many reactions unsympathetic, particularly opponents. residents in orgreave, south yorkshire, site of battle of orgreave between striking coal miners , police in june 1984, declared village had been decimated thatcher . ap quoted number of miners responding death riddance . chris kitchen, general secretary of national union of mineworkers, stated miners not shedding tear . mock funeral held in pit village of goldthorpe in south yorkshire, in effigy of thatcher burned alongside word scab spelled out in flowers.

spontaneous street parties held across britain, reputedly second time death of prime minister had been greeted such enthusiasm since assassination of spencer perceval in 1812; so-called celebrations took place in glasgow, brixton, liverpool, bristol, leeds, belfast, cardiff , elsewhere; glasgow city council advised citizens stay away street parties organised without involvement or consent out of safety concerns. larger demonstration around 3,000 protesters took place @ trafalgar square in london on 13 april. graffiti posted calling rot in hell . british director ken loach suggested privatising funeral , tendering cheapest bid. daily telegraph website closed comments on articles related death due influx of abuse online trolls.

the issue of whether fly flag @ half-mast funeral caused controversy councils local feelings remained hostile. government s national flag protocol dictates union flags should lowered half mast on funeral days of former prime ministers; scottish councils did not lower flag funeral. councils in england refused lower flag included barnsley, sheffield , wakefield in yorkshire, , coventry in west midlands.

whilst business leaders, including alan sugar, richard branson, archie norman , cbi chief john cridland, credited creating climate favourable business in britain, , lifting uk out of economic relegation zone , premier league , football league rejected having minute s silence around country s football grounds, move backed football supporters federation , hillsborough family support group, latter in reaction perceived lack of interest in uncovering abuse committed police during 1989 disaster. however, saracens , exeter chiefs held minute s silence before premiership rugby union games.