Reactions Death_and_funeral_of_Margaret_Thatcher

1 reactions

1.1 family
1.2 domestic

1.2.1 political reaction
1.2.2 wider reaction


1.3 international politics
1.4 social media

reactions

family

on 10 april, 2 days following thatcher s death, son mark spoke of mother s death on steps of chester square home. told gathering of journalists family proud , equally grateful funeral service attended queen, presence said mother honored humbled . expressed gratitude messages of support , condolences far , wide. 3 days later on 13 april daughter carol thanked president obama of united states , others tributes, , had sent messages of sympathy , support.

domestic

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.

international politics

john kerry signing condolence book thatcher in london. secretary of state hailed thatcher in statement transformative leader broke glass ceiling .

along eulogies , expressions of condolence, there less sympathetic reactions in argentina, due role in falklands war, , in south africa, given opposition economic sanctions against south africa.

ban ki-moon, secretary-general of united nations, described thatcher great model first woman prime minister of united kingdom, not demonstrated leadership has given such great hope many women equality, gender equality in parliament . message pope francis recalls appreciation christian values underpinned commitment public service , promotion of freedom among family of nations .

barack obama, president of united states, lamented loss of true friend . statement praised unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, knew strength , resolve win cold war , extend freedom s promise . canadian prime minister stephen harper acknowledged thatcher having define[d] age in served [as as] contemporary conservatism .

french president françois hollande , german chancellor angela merkel remarked thatcher left deep impression on country s history . merkel went on hail thatcher s belief in freedom of individual having contributed overcoming europe s partition , end of cold war

irish president michael d. higgins extended condolences saying: remembered 1 of conviction-driven british prime ministers drew on scholarship demanded markets without regulation , key role in signing anglo-irish agreement recalled valuable contribution search peace , political stability . sinn féin leader gerry adams castigated thatcher great hurt done irish , british people during time british prime minister , adding: here in ireland, espousal of old draconian militaristic policies prolonged war , caused great suffering .

australian prime minister julia gillard expressed admiration thatcher s achievements woman. new zealand prime minister john key praised thatcher s determination , expressed [sadness] family , great britain . israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu lamented losing true friend of jewish people , israel .

romanian president traian băsescu , premier , foreign minister of bulgaria, marin raykov, cited influence on them, , sent condolences. recognised thatcher central figure in modern european history, , application of law , economic liberal principles contributed downfall of communism in eastern bloc.

at wishes of thatcher s family, argentina s president cristina fernández de kirchner not invited funeral. argentine foreign minister héctor timerman said invitation have been provocation . argentine ambassador alicia castro invited in line diplomatic protocol, declined invitation.

indian prime minister manmohan singh , south african president jacob zuma expressed deepest sympathies . did russian president vladimir putin, said thatcher pragmatic, tough , consistent person . former soviet leader mikhail gorbachev expressed sadness @ loss of great politician words carried great weight .

social media

social media played significant role in aftermath of death, celebrities channelling polarised views thatcher on twitter, , endorsing campaigns , demonstrations. anti-thatcher sentiment prompted campaign on social media networks bring song ding-dong! witch dead wizard of oz uk singles chart, followed counter-campaign adopted thatcher supporters in favour of 1979 tongue-in-cheek punk song m in love margaret thatcher notsensibles, had been started band s lead singer. on 12 april 2013, ding-dong! charted @ number 2 across uk (it made number 1 in scotland), , m in love margaret thatcher @ number 35. radio 1 controller ben cooper said station s chart show not play no. 2 song portion of aired part of news item. cooper explained delicate compromise balanced freedom of speech , sensitivity family grieving loved 1 yet buried.