'No state funeral' for Thatcher (She is still alive)

The Scotsman.com ^ | 8-9-2006 | Staff

[Colonel Kangaroo]

'No state funeral' for Thatcher TONY BLAIR has ruled out the possibility of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher being given a state funeral.

A spokeswoman for Number 10 said: "All that we can confirm is that there are no such plans and it is not appropriate to comment further."

Mr Blair's stance on funeral arrangements for Lady Thatcher, 80, was revealed after a reported protest by Rosie Cooper, MP for Lancashire West, over reports that civil servants in the Cabinet Office were drawing up detailed plans for a state funeral for the ex-Tory leader. Miss Cooper wrote to Number 10 saying that some of her constituents were appalled at the idea.

John McTernan, Mr Blair's political secretary, replied saying that he could confirm that there were no such plans.

Tory MPs have accused Mr Blair of using his stance on Lady Thatcher's funeral arrangements to appease left-wing Labour MPs.

Lady Thatcher, who is reported to be in good health, was prime minister from 1979 to 1990.

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1156202006

Last updated: 09-Aug-06 12:08 BS

[longtermmemmory]

I think the left fears a Ronald Reagan level of outpouring of admiration, memory and love.

The last thing the left needs is a society that knows what it is like when giants walk the earth. Their puny lack of gravitas is completly exposed then.

[rottndog]

Whatever happened to mutual respect? Margaret Thatcher is a GIANT among Brits, even as judged across history, and as such she is entitled to respect and gratitude and all the accolades that go along with being a successful and historically significant head of state.

It's disgusting that the left has stooped to such levels. That this is even being discussed while Thatcher is still alive is beneath contempt.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I have read somewhere on free republic that very few PM are given state funerals and a few of those have refused it. i believe, but am not positive, that tradition dictates you be a war time PM.

She was PM during the Falklands war. But even more important than that she was the lady who put the iron in the spine of the West when the likes of Carter seemed in a rush to give the world over to Leonid.

[Mrs.Liberty]

oops..forgot my html:

Margaret Thatcher's Eulogy for Ronald Reagan

[mware]

Me too my FRiend. A better FRiend the US never had.

[JanetteS]

steal = steel obviously

The fingers and sentiment were moving way faster than the brain.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Damn I near passed out when I saw that title. I thought something had happen to the Grand Old Lady. ,P> I agree..and if this is true, I think much, much less of Tony Blair. Classless.

[MilspecRob]

From the article when it was first proposed.

The proposal has astounded constitutional experts, who argue that - royalty aside - the honour is normally reserved for politicians who "saved the country at times of dire need".

[Aussie Dasher]

It is disgraceful and is a clear indication of the scum we are up against.

In Australia, EVERY Minister of the Crown is automatically entitled to a State funeral when they cash in their chips.

[TWfromTEXAS]

i am only telling what i have read here in the past, and the Falklands wasn't much of a war, sort of like Grenada.

[NonValueAdded]

Thanks for the title tweak. Seems we're all starting off OMG when we see the thread and the emotion soon turns to relief then anger as we read further.

[Howlin]

It was magnificent.

[Torie]

Vomitous really. Partisan rancor is not just an American problem.

[nuconvert]

In rality, all the article says is, "All that we can confirm is that there are no such plans and it is not appropriate to comment further"

It's the headline and first sentence that come to the conclusion that there will not be one.
Saying that there aren't any plans, doesn't mean they won't or can't plan one after she dies.

[Hunble]

She was PM during the Falklands war.

Although I was a soldier in the American Army, I pulled every string possible to be a part of that war.

As a Meteorologists, I had something to offer, and the Falkland islands have some of the worst weather on Earth.

Together, Lady Thatcher and President Regan defeated the USSR. They changed our history forever!

[nuconvert]

Besides, I think there are enough national leaders who would want to pay their respects, that they'd be forced to have one.

[demkicker]

And I'm sure our MSM will force feed us the funeral coverage of the monstrous Castro soon enough. To think that Margaret Thatcher would be denied a state funeral because of political ideology in Britain is to realize that there is no longer any civil decorum left in their country. This is a very sad and shocking reality.

I hope President Bush will publicly scorn their decision for it is contemptible and Britain should be shamed.

[JanetteS]

So they'll have a state funeral for Prince Charles (waste of oxygen that he is) but not salute Maggie....why? Oh, because she was one of those horrible conservatives. Historical impact be damned. I can't imagine that they stick to this plan. Remember how after the horrible bad press during Diana's funeral the Union Jack was lowered and the Queen tipped her head, or whatever? Same thing here. They'll get the feedback from the public and change their minds. They'll go all wobbly on their own plan. That doesn't make me hat Blair any less at this moment.

[Senator Goldwater]

Great photo.

[NonValueAdded]

But you seem to be glossing over Rosie's pre-emptive strike. But yeah, when the time does come, perhaps there will be adults in charge across the pond.