The Baroness Thatcher thread

Hold on, I’ve just thought of something.

Without Mrs Thatcher, we would never have been able to watch ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’ on television.

One of the funniest and most poignant programmes of all time.:)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305751/Margaret-Thatcher-dead-Former-prime-minister-dies-87-massive-stroke.html

Margaret Hilda Thatcher. Thank you for standing up against those who would do us harm. Sleep well, Iron Lady.

Steven

Gosh that Champagne tastes good……

David, I didn’t live in social housing schemes I lived on the border of Harehills Chapeltown in Leeds, not unlike an area like Brixton.
From a wasteland it went to a ghetto, don’t forget the 3 million unemployed at the time. My dad did a Tebitt and had to get on his bike to find work.
Places like Castleford near where I live still haven’t recovered, that’s damage.

I actually believe that the deceased’s actions in curbing the power of the unions was benefical to Britain, however ordinary miners can hardly be described as benefiting from special priviledges.
They were struggling to maintain livelihoods.
Whether you agree with their cause, their leadership (or lack of) and the way they went about protesting, or not, your contempt for them speaks volumes about you…

The Labour dominated nineteen seventies ended with major bankruptcies, industrial chaos, 26% inflation, and a sclerotic state dominated industrial base. We were already struggling to maintain a living, but Mrs. Thatcher had to change all of that.

Surely the villain of this piece was Scargill? He got the miners into a politically motivated strike that they could not win. He made the mistake of underestimating Mrs. Thatcher and the will of the population not to be dominated by uncontrollable union barons. As I said before, the modern Labour party fully supports her legislation.

Steven

Which one was that?

” arguably allowed the Falklands to happen to ensure re-election.”. And the use of the word arguably implies that an argument can be made for the allegation.

Mr Merry -what exactly did she damage?? My family lived in the inner cities and I recall it was pretty much damaged from the social housing schemes of the 1960’s that had turned streets into wastelands .

There is a great deal to be said that the Navy championed the cause for the Falklands to be retaken. From a chat years ago I was told that she was awoken to be told the news and requested a map to be brought – I don’t believe for one minute that the Falklands was used in any way for political gain -the Navy which had been under cuts stood to gain the most -if it hadn’t been for the war its likely we would have sold at least one of the new carriers.

. One should show respect for the dead.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

Respect for the dead? Why?
I didn’t respect her when she was alive, why should I show respect to her now she is dead?

As someone who lived in an inner city during her rule I have seen the terrible damage she has done.

At the time I thought she was a vile woman and opinion still stands.

I despised her politics, and still do. However, that woman showed leadership, the likes of which this country hasn’t seen for very many years. She’d eat Messrs Cameron and Clegg for breakfast, and still be hungry for some more.

Sincerely Yours,

A lifelong Labour voter, until the end of Blair’s first term that is, but never since.

You state that military action was the right choice but then you criticize the Prime Minister for taking that choice…

…who’d go into politics eh? 🙂

You are ignoring the little word “arguably” that was deliberately inserted into the comment and is integral to it.

Military action once the Argentinians had invaded was the only and right choice if they did not withdraw.
At no point have i stated anything different and i have certainly not critized anybody for making that decision.
It is clear that you hold the deceased in high regard, however please try reading what i have actually written rather than your interpretation of my comments as you seek to rebute all perceived slights.

I’m just going to say R.I.P. and I don’t want anyone harking at me, I live in Newcastle and have had people calling me names enough today.

I don’t think Captain Barkers testimony can be described as “politically motivated.”

I’ve not read the late Captain Barker’s book (have just ordered it) so I wasn’t really suggesting that he, personally, was making any political statement but others, with a political aim, certainly were making political mileage by suggesting that Prime Minister Thatcher ‘allowed’ or even ‘caused’ the Falklands conflict.

I also wasn’t suggesting that Prime Minister Thatcher was popular before the Falklands crisis rather that she was popular after it.

I’m not suggesting that the conflict was engineered with a particular goal in mind, re-election…

But you’ll excuse me if I misunderstood because you did say:

…arguably allowed the Falklands to happen to ensure re-election.

Britain certainly did have a choice as to military action to liberate the Falklands; and I certainly wouldn’t want to have to take that decision. People were almost certain to die and the outcome was far from certain; Britain could well have been humiliated.

You state that military action was the right choice but then you criticize the Prime Minister for taking that choice…

…who’d go into politics eh? 🙂

Snafu – I have not yet seen anything to support your earlier allegation.

Which one was that?

There were detractors, in a very small and vociferous minority. It is not surprising that this minority protested loudly, for they were those whose unwarranted power, special privileges, and belief in perpetual state funded lucrative sinecures, were under threat.

I actually believe that the deceased’s actions in curbing the power of the unions was benefical to Britain, however ordinary miners can hardly be described as benefiting from special priviledges.
They were struggling to maintain livelihoods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners’_strike_(1984%E2%80%931985)
Whether you agree with their cause, their leadership (or lack of) and the way they went about protesting, or not, your contempt for them speaks volumes about you and illustrates why Britain today is such a sad society.
“Loadsa Money”

Snafu – I have not yet seen anything to support your earlier allegation.

Not being a UK citizen, I’ll avoid giving opinions realizing I don’t have direct knowledge of them (though I do wish UK citizens here would show the same restraint when it comes to America bashing based on prejudices and what the BBC tells you).

Aren’t you USAnians supposed to be rather keen on freedom of speech? 🙂

I was beginning to think this thread was for supporters of her only.

Just remember Harry Enfields character “loadsa money” that epitomised what her beliefs were,i’m alright jack-stuff you.
Sorry i won’t be shedding a tear either but i bet my tax money will go towards a “ceremony” for her.

We live in a dog-eat-dog society based on too little manufacturing and too many service industries. We seem to have little respect for the values of society and, she killed entire communities with her wholesale destruction of certain industries.

Not being a UK citizen, I’ll avoid giving opinions realizing I don’t have direct knowledge of them (though I do wish UK citizens here would show the same restraint when it comes to America bashing based on prejudices and what the BBC tells you).

I’ll just point out that the “wholesale destruction of certain industries” began long before she was in power.
The aircraft and auto industries come to mind.
I think the nationalization of industries made them unable to compete in the world against a rebuilt Germany and Japan as well as the USA.

Apparently an Atos medical examiner has just passed Baroness Thatcher as fit for work.

Probabley very true!:D