General Chat

Even at this stage, Ed Milliband could show some guts and stay away on Wednesday with Her Majesty's opposition.

Even if they lose their expenses that day, it would show how much some so-called socialist politicians care for the wishes of ordinary people outside the Home Counties. And that sort of firm decision and leadership (something that Mrs T would approve of, I suspect) would please an awful lot of Labour voters.

By placing a black cloth on the seats reserved for them, it would represent respect for Mrs T and all the lives that were destroyed by her policies over that disastrous period of governance. If our First Minister (Carwyn Jones) places a black cloth on his seat, the only person attending from a working class background in Wales would be Dame Shirley Bassey. Again, that will speak volumes. :-(

You are right Muffy, her funeral was planned under the premierships of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown with all party approval.

xx

Thank you Kitty x

Not bothered who planned it - thought it was interesting that the queen wasn't impressed.

This could be one reason-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/11/mark-thatcher

hmmmmmm I'll keep an open mind on the truth behind this story being that this story comes from an un named * well-placed Whitehall source.* ....

Edit...I do agree re Mark Thatcher tbh...she did seem to have a blind spot where he was concerned..but she was his mother I guess she won't be the first or the last on that score.

Guinevere interesting article, in particular the mention of tax havens, maybe HMRC should seize his passport and investigate all his business dealings ;-)

If it's a "well-placed Whitehall source" it's more than likely true.

If it had said "a Whitehall source" I would have had some doubts.

I speak fluent "journalese". ;-)

You have more trust in UK journalism than I do then Guinevere lol

This is The Guardian, Muffy, not a Redtop or The Daily Fail. :-0

I do quite trust The Guardian and the Indie. Maybe because I have a friend who works for one of them.

;-)

Guardian or not...even though it's not a red top it runs with it's own agenda like every other paper in the UK does.....I'll continue to keep an open mind.

Kay???? - coincidence you mention that maybe David Cameron is playing an Ace card.

Not sure if it was on this thread or another thread that I commented on whether David Cameron had an ulterior motive in the way he is banging his drum.

Many have said that Margaret Thatcher was divisive, in my book Cameron and his cronies are even more divisive than she ever was, so I would not rule anything they might do, to further their own ends :-|

US still have that hold over Mark Thatcher,

Mrs T would be so proud and behind everystep of the way at what the present government are doing.

People are moaning now about all the cuts thats affecting their lives,,,,,wait till this lot have had another 10 years.!.

It echos of the famous words,

****I'll have the country back on its feet****

I do not agree that it is only the Home Counties that supported Maggie.
She was of the opinion that everyone is born with the same ..a head and two hands ...and it's what you do with them.
I was certainly inspired by her energy and get up and go.

I was self employed ,and to be honest,a lot of local people in the seaside town where I lived,,a lot unemployed,spent time on the beach,as brown as berries,while I was working hard and then jealous when I bought a new car.
Again Im not saying that all unemployed people are like that,but a fair number will not put their energies into improving their standard of living.

I certainly wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.my father ,a very accomplished carpenter who had a 7 year apprenticeship was out of work in the depression in the 1930's when things were really hard.My mother a good manager saved 6d out of the 22 shillings they got a week.
When I left school my dad was in a very nasty train accident and didnt work for 3 years,so mum was waiting for my pay packet of which I got 2/6d back for spends.

What Im trying to say is that I believe she was trying to motivate people into making something of their lives instead of them expecting that the state is responsible.

There is certainly a space for Unions ,but when they get too powerful and get militant there has to be some control.

Brenda you make a very valid and succinct point

I agree Brenda, and a lot of us have seen the result of that happening, and it seems as if they,re trying it yet again.**M**.

Brenda I agree, The mis quoted edited version of her interview with women's own editor "There is no such thing as society" I think is relevant

I would suggest people read the true full version of that interview and then people may understand what she was actually saying which is not a million miles away from what Brenda has posted



Roy

added

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305976/Margaret-Thatcher-quotes-Now-really-thing-society-says-RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN.html

http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/106689

Great post Brenda. Totally agree. x

Excellent post Brenda :-)

May I thank the majority of people who have posted on this thread and kept it informative, thought provoking and largely trouble free

I have no qualms with any government trying to motivate people into making something of their lives, nor do I have a problem with trade unions being regulated, and made answerable to their members. However, I am sure that she knew, that if you put 3 million people out of work you will end up with people relying on benefits.

Many of her policies were good, but in my view, she like many leaders before her and those who came after her, policies were rushed through and implemented without proper thought or due care and attention being given to what needed to be in place to absorb the fallout from there policies.

As I have said previously, she was a formidable lady, a politician with conviction, and the only woman ever to reach the highest political office in this country.