Re: Thatcher dies
 

Presumably this post is an attempt at humour?

You do realise that being hated by large swathes of society, to the point where people are actually pleased that you've died, is absolutely not the sign of a great leader?

Re: Thatcher dies
 

So apart from Winston Churchill name me a great British leader after him?
BTW do you still live in the UK?

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Not in the least. As I said, I wonder how many ridiculing her now would have the courage of their convictions, as she did. I would hadrly call a few posts on here and Twitter representative of large swathes of society.

Quite the contrary, she secured several terms in office, large swathes of society supported her.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

I don't particularly think any of them can be classed as "great leaders". What's your point?

For another month or so, yes I do. How is that relevant?

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Nope but I would suggest that many people reflect on things in a different way now. What she did to the North East. I am not going to get into a huge political debate now!

As I said I did not like Thatcher, but at least unlike Blair, she had a backbone. You could really hate her


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1jY5fYjV-U - Spitting Image "My Way"

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Really? Have to say I don't have much of an opinion on Maggie, as I was too young to have a view on her politics at the time, but I've yet to come across anybody that is 'pleased' about her dying on FB/Twitter etc.

The general view seems to be whether you loved her or loathed her, she was a great politician and deserved respect.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

She was a great leader, she was a great politician, but ultimately I would say that there isn't a single PM who has damaged the UK than Thatcher.

I admire her character, I don't admire her politics.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

<pops cork>

Re: Thatcher dies
 

I seem to recall that her popularity rating reached an all time low for a PM shortly before the Falklands war.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Riiiight. Presumably never been to Scotland, Wales or any other traditionally industrial part of the UK? You'll have to trust me on this one - she's largely disliked.

Whilst having the courage of your convictions is an admirable quality, it does help somewhat for these convictions to be reasonable.

You can't help but be affected by her policies. It didn't jsut stop when she elft office: The neo-liberal fantasies she put in place are still with us. The de-industrialsed regions and broken communities, the centralising of all growth on the city of London and the squandering of the north sea reserves to cover that growth. All these things occured on her watch, and were enabled by later governments. She helped define a social and economic epoch that we are still living through.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

I will be having a big drink tonight, but I admit that it is largely coincidental, as today is my 'going-home' day after 42 days up here!

I hated her when she was in power for her callous indifference to the suffering she brought about, but she left power in 1990... 23 years ago. I celebrated her resignation, and then she was history to me.

No tears, but no real celebrations either. That's distasteful, imo. If you still expend so much emotional energy on her after so long, she's won.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Re: Thatcher dies
 

My point is she was re-elected 3 times as PM so obviously large swathes of the voting public supported her or thought the opposition was worse.
One also has to ask since the 90s how many people have left the UK and one has to question why. Fast forward to today how many are leaving the UK and why. Lack of jobs, country allegedly going to the dogs. Is this Thatchers fault or down to the crap leaders the UK have had since?
Love her or hate her she was good for some and bad for others.
I didnt vote for her but agreed with a lot of what she did which had a lot to do with my job. Decent pay raises and contracts to name but a few.

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Interesting poll by the Guardian. Still living in the UK - I would say NO

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-state-funeral

Re: Thatcher dies
 

Presumably you're from the South-East? Because on my Facebook the general view is most definitely not a favourable one.