Thatcher has died

I'm surprised they did n' t break into radio programmes with a news flash.

She was a strong leader when we needed one. Some are complaining that she did nothing for women coming after her but I think she considered the fact that she was a woman was irrelevant. I didn't agree with everything she did but she took over when the country was in a mess and never lost an election, it was her own party who ousted her and I think they have been poorer for it ever since.

I admired her strength and determination, but obviously she made mistakes and she was a bit of a bully think that's an underestimate

I shall avoid the television/radio for the next few days. I hope there isn't a grand funeral of any kind.

Agree j08 it would have been nice to have Mrs in the thread title.
It's 21 years since Mrs Thatcher left politics.
If she set the country in a wrong course, subsequent politicians have had plenty of time to change things since.
I feel sad that she suffered the indignity of dementia; no one deserved that.
I remember Ken Livingstone saying that he hated her politics but admired her very much as a person. I admired him for his honesty and gallantry.
Then there was the time she was on the Today programme with the late lamented Brian Redhead, and he inadvertently addressed her as 'Margaret'. He quickly recovered himself and said 'Oh ... if I may call you that ..'
'Oh, Brian,' purred the Iron Lady, 'I do wish you would.'
She did have a warm side.

Do you remember the Arabs made her an honorary man when she visited?

As far as I'm concerned she's the one who taught Britain it was ok to be greedy..............

sunseeker She never ignored the fact that she was a woman or considered it irrelevant. She was a blatant flirt and, bizarre thought it seems to me, apparently regarded as incredibly sexy by some men in her government.

Can't remember who said it but one foreign politician said she had the lips of Marilyn Monroe and the brain of Atilla the Hun! (May not have got the quote exactly right - in need of a caffeine fix!)

Francois Mitterand said she had the lips of Marilyn Monroe and the eyes of Caligula.

Thats it Greatnan knew it was something like that!

I think it bemeans a person to be known as 'Mrs' as if who she was married to or married at all mattered in terms of her political life. The title baroness was given in recognition of her public life..nothing to do with her marriage. so says Ms nanaej!

The reason I think that she had such a profoundly detrimental effect on our psociety is....

- she inappropriately introduced the idea of privatisation and (worse still) competition into public services.
- she did not trust professionals to do their jobs and destroyed trust in the teaching, medical and other professions
- she took away professionals' sense of vocation and job satisfaction.
- she promoted money and profit (not evil in themselves) as the main aim of society.
- she encouraged the tendency towards individualism rather than community.

Apart from all that, she was just great!

Mags (@_maggiemayhem)
08/04/2013 14:06
pic.twitter.com/67ufzELgcb

mishap I am with you there!

And now a state funersl..might book a holiday!

I agree mishap, especially with your final point: the creation of the me culture and that quote 'There's no such thing as society'

Agreed, Mishap.
Most headlines did not refer to 'Mr' Churchill - surely using only her name is a mark of her status, not the contrary.

So much damage done that it is well nigh impossible to put right, she destroyed the good in society and replaced it with greed.
Watch Ken Loach's 'Spirit of 45' if you have any doubts.
A state funeral is most inappropriate, a dignified farewell allowing her admirers and family to pick up the tab would be better!

Thankfully, there won`t be a state funeral, but still one with military honours, at St. Paul`s.

I am sad about the dementia, and I agree with you soop A long and productive life. Whatever you think of her politics, she was our only woman prime minister, and although vilified by many, she was popular with many others.

Mrs Thatcher destroyed industry in the NE and almost brought many of the mining communities to their knees. Sadly I do not think there will be any mourning for her loss here in Tyneside.

She was also known for taking the free milk from school children and was often referred to as Thatcher the milk snatcher.

It's sad, of course, for her family and close friends but I will not mourn her.

As for "blaming her for all our [current] ills", I would suggest she damaged so much in our society by her unwavering belief in a free and largely unregulated market, her enthusiasm for privatisation and the underlying belief in "me and mine" as opposed to "us and ours" ("no such thing as society"), that this country is still suffering the repercussions.

Yes Eloethan here in the NE there is a tendency to blame her for every bad thing that ever happens from the closing of a large factory to the bad weather. In my opinion she represented nothing but greed and selfishness.

And as to her being "brave" in pursuing her principles, most of the time she had the full backing of the rich and powerful - including most of the media. It's easy to be courageous when you have such people behind you.

The Iron Lady: May she rust in peace.

(dives for cover)

Very witty, anno!