A day after the death of Margaret Thatcher,
Britain’s first female prime minister, preparations got under way for a funeral
to rival those given to royalty — a farewell welcomed by some in Britain but
questioned by others.
Britain’s first female prime minister, preparations got under way for a funeral
to rival those given to royalty — a farewell welcomed by some in Britain but
questioned by others.
The news of her death, which prompted an outpouring
of reaction from UK and world leaders, dominated British newspapers Tuesday.
of reaction from UK and world leaders, dominated British newspapers Tuesday.
Pages of tributes and analysis throw up a raft of
descriptions: brave, great, fearless, pioneering — but also divisive,
destructive and uncaring.
descriptions: brave, great, fearless, pioneering — but also divisive,
destructive and uncaring.
“The woman who saved Britain,” is the
Daily Mail headline. “Now give her a state funeral,” it demands
inside the covers, citing Conservative MPs who say she deserves the kind of
honors in death usually reserved for a monarch.
Daily Mail headline. “Now give her a state funeral,” it demands
inside the covers, citing Conservative MPs who say she deserves the kind of
honors in death usually reserved for a monarch.
“The woman who divided a nation,” is how
the Daily Mirror remembers her. It questions whether Thatcher merits the same
“ceremonial” style of funeral as Diana, Princess of Wales, and the
Queen Mother.
the Daily Mirror remembers her. It questions whether Thatcher merits the same
“ceremonial” style of funeral as Diana, Princess of Wales, and the
Queen Mother.
Opposition to Thatcher being accorded the same
honors as might be given to the queen one day is being galvanized on Twitter
through the hashtag #nostatefuneral. An online petition opposing a state
funeral has also picked up more than 25,000 signatures.
honors as might be given to the queen one day is being galvanized on Twitter
through the hashtag #nostatefuneral. An online petition opposing a state
funeral has also picked up more than 25,000 signatures.
Her funeral, with full military honors, will be
held Wednesday, April 17, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday.
held Wednesday, April 17, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday.
Queen Elizabeth II will be among the high-profile
guests, Buckingham Palace said. Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime
Minister Nick Clegg will also be there.
guests, Buckingham Palace said. Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime
Minister Nick Clegg will also be there.
Prince William and his wife, Catherine, who’s
expecting their first child, will not attend the funeral; nor will Prince
Harry, Prince Charles or his wife, Camilla, Buckingham Palace said.
expecting their first child, will not attend the funeral; nor will Prince
Harry, Prince Charles or his wife, Camilla, Buckingham Palace said.
Personal toughness
A towering
figure in postwar British and global politics, Thatcher is remembered in the
world for her Cold War-era friendships with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as her role in shaping Britain’s place
in Europe and the short, sharp war she waged with Argentina over the disputed
Falkland Islands.
figure in postwar British and global politics, Thatcher is remembered in the
world for her Cold War-era friendships with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as her role in shaping Britain’s place
in Europe and the short, sharp war she waged with Argentina over the disputed
Falkland Islands.
She earned the nickname the “Iron Lady”
for her personal and political toughness during her 11 years as prime minister,
from 1979 to 1990.
for her personal and political toughness during her 11 years as prime minister,
from 1979 to 1990.
At home, where many blame her for creating soaring
unemployment as she reduced or eliminated many government subsidies to business
and took on the unions, her legacy is highly polarized.
unemployment as she reduced or eliminated many government subsidies to business
and took on the unions, her legacy is highly polarized.
Her battle with striking coal miners won her few
friends in mining communities in northern England and Wales. But supporters
believe the tough reforms she pushed through transformed the British economy
and gave many working people new freedoms.
friends in mining communities in northern England and Wales. But supporters
believe the tough reforms she pushed through transformed the British economy
and gave many working people new freedoms.
The debate over the style of her funeral reflects
the decades of strong feeling she’s provoked in her homeland.
the decades of strong feeling she’s provoked in her homeland.
Security for the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral
will no doubt be tight, with the queen and other dignitaries present. Police
may also take steps to guard against possible protests as the cortege passes
through the heart of London.
will no doubt be tight, with the queen and other dignitaries present. Police
may also take steps to guard against possible protests as the cortege passes
through the heart of London.
The service, which will be televised, will be
followed by a private cremation, the British prime minister’s office announced.
followed by a private cremation, the British prime minister’s office announced.
Crowds are expected to line the streets between the
Palace of Westminster — where her coffin will be brought on the eve of the
funeral to lie in a chapel — and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Palace of Westminster — where her coffin will be brought on the eve of the
funeral to lie in a chapel — and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
On the day of the funeral, the coffin will travel
by hearse from Westminster to a Royal Air Force chapel, where it will be
transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Artillery.
by hearse from Westminster to a Royal Air Force chapel, where it will be
transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Artillery.
From there, it will be taken in procession to St.
Paul’s Cathedral along a route lined by servicemen and women from the army,
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
Paul’s Cathedral along a route lined by servicemen and women from the army,
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The coffin will be greeted at Sir Christopher
Wren’s landmark domed cathedral by a guard of honor, with military personnel
and veterans lining the steps.
Wren’s landmark domed cathedral by a guard of honor, with military personnel
and veterans lining the steps.
Inside will wait family and friends of Thatcher, as
well as many of those who worked with her in government and elsewhere.
well as many of those who worked with her in government and elsewhere.
The funeral is being organized in line with the
wishes of her family, Downing Street said. They include her twin children, Mark
and Carol.
wishes of her family, Downing Street said. They include her twin children, Mark
and Carol.
Thatcher’s body was moved overnight from the Ritz
Hotel, where she was staying when she died of a stroke at age 87, her
spokeswoman confirmed early Tuesday. It’s not known where it was taken.
Hotel, where she was staying when she died of a stroke at age 87, her
spokeswoman confirmed early Tuesday. It’s not known where it was taken.
‘Transformative leader’
Tributes — and some criticism — flooded in Monday
from around the world.
from around the world.
U.S. President Barack Obama said the world had
“lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty” and the
United States had lost “a true friend.”
“lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty” and the
United States had lost “a true friend.”
“As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become
Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our
daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered,” he
said.
Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our
daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered,” he
said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the world
had “lost a transformative leader who broke the glass ceiling in global
politics” and “defined grit on the world stage.”
had “lost a transformative leader who broke the glass ceiling in global
politics” and “defined grit on the world stage.”
“Margaret Thatcher took a country that was on
its knees and made Britain stand tall again,” said Cameron, who leads
today’s Conservative Party. He also described her as a “patriot prime
minister” with a “lion-hearted love” for her country.
its knees and made Britain stand tall again,” said Cameron, who leads
today’s Conservative Party. He also described her as a “patriot prime
minister” with a “lion-hearted love” for her country.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who led
the opposition Labour Party in government from 1997 to 2007, said Thatcher was
a “towering political figure” who would be greatly missed.
the opposition Labour Party in government from 1997 to 2007, said Thatcher was
a “towering political figure” who would be greatly missed.
“Very few leaders get to change not only the
political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a
leader. Her global impact was vast,” he said.
political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a
leader. Her global impact was vast,” he said.
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush — whose
first years in the White House overlapped with the end of Thatcher’s time as
prime minister, but who served as vice president at the height of her power and
influence — called her one of the “fiercest advocates of freedom and free
markets.”
first years in the White House overlapped with the end of Thatcher’s time as
prime minister, but who served as vice president at the height of her power and
influence — called her one of the “fiercest advocates of freedom and free
markets.”
And former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
told Breeze Magazine that Thatcher was a “tremendous prime minister”
and a “great lady.”
told Breeze Magazine that Thatcher was a “tremendous prime minister”
and a “great lady.”
But Northern Ireland politician and Sinn Fein
leader Gerry Adams gave a very different view of Thatcher’s legacy.
leader Gerry Adams gave a very different view of Thatcher’s legacy.
“Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish
and British people during her time as British prime minister,” he said.
“Working class communities were devastated in Britain because of her
policies.”
and British people during her time as British prime minister,” he said.
“Working class communities were devastated in Britain because of her
policies.”
She will be remembered in particular for “her
shameful role during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81” in Northern
Ireland, and her Irish policy “failed miserably,” he concluded.
shameful role during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81” in Northern
Ireland, and her Irish policy “failed miserably,” he concluded.
South Africa’s governing African National Congress
recognized Thatcher’s enduring influence but pointed out that she got it wrong on
apartheid. Thatcher infamously dismissed Nelson Mandela’s ANC as a terrorist
organization.
recognized Thatcher’s enduring influence but pointed out that she got it wrong on
apartheid. Thatcher infamously dismissed Nelson Mandela’s ANC as a terrorist
organization.
The party “was on the receiving end of her
policy in terms of refusing to recognize the ANC as the representatives of
South Africans, and her failure to isolate apartheid after it had been
described as a crime against humanity,” the ANC statement said.
“However we acknowledge that she was one of the strong leaders in Britain
and Europe.”
policy in terms of refusing to recognize the ANC as the representatives of
South Africans, and her failure to isolate apartheid after it had been
described as a crime against humanity,” the ANC statement said.
“However we acknowledge that she was one of the strong leaders in Britain
and Europe.”
‘A great destroyer’
Officials in the Falkland Islands said they would
never forget Thatcher’s decision to defend the South Atlantic territory in
1982.
never forget Thatcher’s decision to defend the South Atlantic territory in
1982.
“Her friendship and support will be sorely
missed, and we will always be thankful for all that she did for us,” said
Mike Summers of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly.
missed, and we will always be thankful for all that she did for us,” said
Mike Summers of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly.
The United Kingdom and Argentina went to war over
the territory in 1982 after the then-military government in Argentina landed
troops on the islands. Argentina put its death toll from the conflict at around
645. Britain says its civil and military losses amounted to 255.
the territory in 1982 after the then-military government in Argentina landed
troops on the islands. Argentina put its death toll from the conflict at around
645. Britain says its civil and military losses amounted to 255.
Over the past year or more, rhetoric between the
two countries over the islands has escalated sharply, and Argentina’s state-run
Telam news agency offered an unflinching look Monday at the South American
country’s take on Thatcher’s legacy.
two countries over the islands has escalated sharply, and Argentina’s state-run
Telam news agency offered an unflinching look Monday at the South American
country’s take on Thatcher’s legacy.
Articles described her as “a symbol of
war,” “an expression of inequality” and “a great
destroyer.”
war,” “an expression of inequality” and “a great
destroyer.”
For British filmmaker Ken Loach, known for his
gritty social critiques, Thatcher was “the most divisive and destructive
prime minister of modern times.”
gritty social critiques, Thatcher was “the most divisive and destructive
prime minister of modern times.”
“Mass unemployment, factory closures,
communities destroyed — this is her legacy. She was a fighter and her enemy
was the British working class,” he said.
communities destroyed — this is her legacy. She was a fighter and her enemy
was the British working class,” he said.
“Her victories were aided by the politically
corrupt leaders of the Labour Party and of many trades unions. It is because of
policies begun by her that we are in this mess today.”
corrupt leaders of the Labour Party and of many trades unions. It is because of
policies begun by her that we are in this mess today.”
Her final years
Thatcher was ultimately brought down, not by
British voters, but by her own Conservative Party.
British voters, but by her own Conservative Party.
Having lost much support over her policy on Europe,
Thatcher was finally forced to resign in 1990 during an internal leadership
struggle after she introduced an unpopular tax that led to rioting in the
streets.
Thatcher was finally forced to resign in 1990 during an internal leadership
struggle after she introduced an unpopular tax that led to rioting in the
streets.
Despite her painful exit, she remained involved in
British politics for the next decade or so. She was named Baroness Thatcher of
Kesteven after leaving office and served in the House of Lords.
British politics for the next decade or so. She was named Baroness Thatcher of
Kesteven after leaving office and served in the House of Lords.
Her wider influence on policy and politicians
continues to this day.
continues to this day.
She retired from public life after a stroke in 2002
and suffered several smaller strokes after that. Her husband, Denis, died in
June 2003.
and suffered several smaller strokes after that. Her husband, Denis, died in
June 2003.