It's What Everybody Is Talking About. One Might As Well Join In

[poliphilo]

Most British Prime Ministers leave behind a legacy of indifference. Who today feels strongly about John Major or even Gordon Brown? The two exceptions of recent times are Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher. Blair unites the country in contempt; Thatcher divides it.  She's been out of office for nearly a quarter of a century and still commands adoration and hatred.  Dividing a nation and keeping it divided is a rare achievement.  I can't think of any other person since the Civil War who has managed to pull it off.

That is why a state funeral is not in order. If they paraded her through the streets the way they did the Duke of Wellington or Churchill or Princess Di there would be a mixed hail of roses and rotten veg. Public order could not be guaranteed.

The BBC seems to think it needs to suspend normal programming in order to talk and talk and talk about her. It's in danger of wearing out the patience of at least half of us (probably more like three quarters to be honest).

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've been surprised at how measured the coverage has been. Usually when someone this important dies it's wall to wall eulogy, but with Thatcher every report, every tribute has acknowledged how much she was hated. Channel 4 News interviewed Alexei Sayle- and he wasn't kind.