Baroness MARGARET THATCHER.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

We have just seen on the news that former Prime Minister..Margaret Thatcher has died after a stroke at the age of 87.
The First Lady Prime Minister who had strong beliefs and stuck by them in spite of becoming unpopular with many. She had her critics, but in spite of this pehaps one good thing came out of her time as PM was that she opened up a new generation for women in the workplace and in public.
R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher.

[Eman]

How very sad. I just read about this. R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher

[karl]

I just read about this online and there was also an email from the States telling me the news.

I iwas never a fan but she was a strong woman and nobody has every equalled her since for sheer guts and determnation.

Current leaders should be so strong!!!

[john]

I was sorry to read this. She was a good leader in her time, although she made some mistakes along the way, as they all do. There has never been a leader like her since, the current politicians could learn from her.
R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher

[Marian]

A strong willed lady who had certain beliefs that her ways were right, and stuck to her path through thick and thin. She will always be remembered as the "Iron Lady" and Britain's first lady Prime Minister.
R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Well, divided feelings among people who have either paid tributes and offered condolences or have vented their hatred for Margaret Thatcher since hearing about her death.
It appears that leading up to elections, women politicians were often made to feel inferior by the male majority and that they shouldn't have been in politics, but after being made Prime Minister, in all of her speeches she showed no fear and made sure that everybody including the men knew her position and some reluctantly had no choice but to accept her.
Until her illness and she became so confused she lived and practically died for politics and she would have ended up like singers and actresses who never want to give up and accept that they are finished. She was a one off.

[karl]

I watched the news last night and as L&H said there are mixed feelings, especially here where the miners hated her. However sometimes I got the impression they were trying to run the country but she didn't let them away with it.

I had to laugh at the comments from Tommy Sheridan saying she created dischord and dishrmony everywhere she went - people who live in glass houses Tommy!!!!

My opinion is she was great in the time of The Falklands, we needed someone strong. Maggie's problem was she was maybe too strong and too infllexible. Having said that women in power always seem to be tougher than men, it's the same in the Police we always get the impression they really have to prove themsevles so they end up being called all kind of names - none of them complimentary.

I often wish today's political leaders have the backbone Maggie had.

She was a very clever woman and it was a shame to see her deteriorate. The one thing that really annoyed me was her voice, she was posher than the Queen. Listening to Maggie sometimes was like listening to a Dalek, I always expected her to say "EXTERMINATE" !

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I agree with you Karl that people in glass houses, etc, and yes, her irritating voice never changed its tone. Anyway as John said in his post that she had done a lot of good things, particularly to give women a boost, but she had very little signs of compassion and she made some mistakes, she certainly did, and in our opinion the Falklands War was the biggest, considering it was just for a handful of people, and the Poll Tax farce where thousands of people finally escaped non payment, so will Tony Blair get the same divided reactions from the public in the event of his death, after the Iraqi War which we should have kept our noses out of especially as it was bugger all to do with us.
I think she did regard herself as Royalty Karl, when her grandchild was born, she emerged and said .. WE are Grandparents.
Anyway they have partied the night away in celebration in Brixton and in Glasgow, which goes to show ...any excuse for a rave up, even though most of them weren't even born during her reign in office.

[Marian]

Because of the way that she divided the country, I do not think they should hold as such an important funeral for her on the lines of the Queen Mother's. Something more low key, as no doubt there will be people on the route that go there to cause trouble. I hope not of course, but the bigger the event might make many feel more resentful.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

I agree Marian, I don't thing this kind of funeral is fitting. I don't believe that in spite of her being the first woman Prime Minister, that could ever be placed on par with Sir Winston Churchil's achievements, and as you say the feeling that's running rife with so many people now could bring problems.

[john]

I agree about the funeral too. There will probably be enough trouble anyhow, judging by some of the photos of "street parties" already. Like you say, Lena, half of the people won't even remember her in power. I agree, her biggest blunder was the poll tax and probably her downfall, and the miners strike.

[jon]

Some reports have been criticised for inaccuracries: one apparently said "Lady Thatcher Dies Following A Strike". Well, she never did like them. Arthur Scargill presumably hopes it had happened during his!

[karl]

Having watched tonight[s news I was disgusted at the "party" in Glasgow with young people dancing who probably were not even born when Maggie was in power.

I am proud of my roots but hasten to add people like that are in the minority.

[john]

I quite agree with you Karl, it was disgusting.

[keithgood838]

THE IRON LADY

A captain whose team comprised Wets and Drys;
a radical Tory who could deliver;
the goddess of unfettered enterprise
whose unfavoured mortals cannot forgive her.

RIP