Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

It's very strange when all those studies show things like NHS and DWP gets better value than most comparable systems and lower admin costs in the overall budgets.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

What seems to happen and I am not sure Private or Public makes much difference to this process is they become institutions, atrophy, you see it with the School Districts as well.

Now the main difference is that in the Private sector sooner or later they go bust, get taken over etc, not so in the Public.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Finished The Crown yesterday. Queenie pinned a gigantic badge of some sort on Maggie, and that was it. Not a bad series, had to forward through Diana doing her thing, and doubt Charles is as unhinged in real life as Netflix makes him out to be. Nevertheless, they really do live in a different world.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

I looked that one up at the time, the Order of Merit, Queens choice, only 24 at any one time, they have to die off before a new one can be made.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Who got Thatcher's? :rofl:

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Some who watched that series were surprised that Lord Louis Mountbatten (uncle of Philip) was behind a conspiracy to bring down the government.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Indeed. Her Majesty did recount all that in the Netflix episode. Mrs T looked bewildered, curtsied and left without saying a word.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Good question !

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Was he ? I don't remember that scene. Actually, what surprised me was that he was blown up on a boat; I always thought it was in his car at his home.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

They seem to leave a few free, so I dont think they just award a new one as soon as someone dies. I suppose you never know when you might need an emergency Order of Merit, that must be why they dont seem to award all 24 at once. Currently 4 up for grabs.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Very difficult to draw up a shortlist in the present. Although, I can think of many who deserve the Order of Shambles. Spoilt for choice.

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Perhaps you're thinking of Airey Neave, blown up by car bomb at the HOC.

The jokes about the dandruff wouldn't have worked if he'd not been blown up on a boat. :ohmy:

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

googled after that episode because I was so sure it was a car bomb

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

Yes, I Googled it too. And I'm not aware of the dandruff jokes to which Bristol alludes !

Did you enjoy Series 4 ?

Re: Margaret Thatcher
 

less than previous series I think. Thatcher was off-puttingly dreadful, and Camilla was also in call the midwife so no suspension of disbelief there. The dig about Andrew’s ‘preferences’ just high-lighted how shocking the age gap really was though.