Some images from today’s funeral of Lady Thatcher, from St, Paul’s.

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One avid supporter…
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Not much in the way of demonstrations for or against. This one was the only visible demonstration on the South side of St. Paul’s.
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Some politico spotting after the ceremony … Osbourne and Gove depart in opposite directions.
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The ceremony went off with quiet dignity, viewed with due solemnity by all. The only subdued booing was after the ceremony when Tony Blair appeared for a few moments.

Steven

One of the basic problems in the UK is lack of investment in infrastructure, we do not have the capacity to store the likes of gas so we are more exposed to the fluctuations in prices, top this off with no where to store the gas we produce….

We do have vast amounts of gas in storage; several decades worth of shale gas under our feet. The ideal use for this is in gas powered electricity generation, with the surplus heat used for local heating systems. Therefore we get cheap electricity and cheap heating at high efficiency, just the thing for all the coming cold winters.

Steven

Here is a contributor on another blog, who perhaps sums up Lady Thatcher better than most.

Margaret was unique: a fierce champion of people against government, taxpayers against bureaucrats, workers against unions, us against Them, free markets against state control, privatization against nationalization, liberty against socialism, democracy against Communism, prosperity against national bankruptcy, law against international terrorism, independence against global governance; a visionary among pygmies; a doer among dreamers; a statesman among politicians; a destroyer of tyrannies from arrogant Argentina via incursive Iraq to the savage Soviet Union.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/04/14/give-the-iron-lady-a-state-funeral/

Steven

Steven.
…I can say beyond doubt that a single nuclear submarine did it.
My closest friend is the son of the late skipper of the boat, and his family has allowed me privately to read his log.
I’m unwilling to share what I’ve read publicly, simply because the documents are not mine to share…
How the effect was achieved is straight out of a boy’s own story and in the true tradition of the Royal Navy. Of course, this was before an invasion force actually made landings…
Andy

If if was a deterrent, then it did not have a lasting effect, because of course they tried again. In fact by sending only one vessel, mostly underwater, it could be said that it was a sign of weakness and vacilation.

How come that the Argentines knew all about the submarine, but that it was kept secret from our own people? Why would Callaghan hide the fact that there was a threat? Surely if we had known about the extent of the threat, he would have been confident that the British public would be with him on a visible response?

So, weak response and hiding it from the public, sounds typical Callaghan.

Steven

Its interesting to note, that while there are clearly a good number of left wing viewpoints being espoused here, that there isnt currently a party that supports those views. The current labour party has certainly moved left under Milliband, but is still largely centrist. Lib Dem is also slightly to left of centre, Tories are right of centre, and UKIP have positioned themselves squarely in Margaret Thatchers shoes.

Yes, the people most obviously, strongly, and stridently protesting against Margaret Thatcher are in a minority in the Labour party, and in an even smaller minority nationwide. Their views are markedly thirty year old Labour rhetoric and poor Miliband must be cringing everytime he sees such supporters come out in the name of the modern Labour party.

Steven

Contrast that with a similar earlier episode, Callaghan simply sent a nuclear submarine down there on patrol, Argentina decided that their navy would be safer in port, no war very little expense, simple, but not simple enough for Thatcher, reputedly the first thing she requested when told of the invasion was to ready Ark Royal and her compliment of aircraft for service.

Isn’t the point of a nuclear submarine that it is underwater so that no one knows that it is there? As a deterrent from conventional military invasion that is not exactly going to be effective. If we still had aircraft carriers, why did Callaghan not send these highly visible and more appropriate forces? Or at the very least some surface warships.

Steven

Cking is right the 146 was bad for this. On several occasions I started the apu to warm the cabin on a winters morning and by the time I turned to leave the cockpit the aircraft was full of oil smoke, the smoke cleared quite quickly but the fumes did not.

So does the problem come from the APU, or the Lycoming engines?

Steven

Isn’t her funeral being paid for out of her EU rebate? I believe this now stands at a total of £75billion. Surely, after that huge result for Britain, no one would be so churlish as to refuse her funeral expenses?

On another topic, the Queen is just attending the funeral of an old acquaintance, in a non-official capacity.

Steven