Thatcher dead

[Legallyblue]

Just to correct BoyBlue_1985 the majority of people did not vote for Thatcher in any election. She won each one with less than 50% of the vote as do most governments. If you include those who didn't bother to vote for her but were eligible she took around 30% of the possible vote at each election. Some of those were rich enough to profit from her neo-liberal insanity and many simply stupid enough to believe she would cut their meagre taxes without slashing services.

 

[Ducado]

It's been an interesting debate this, but can I ask that we keep it on topic please and not veer off into Irish Politics and the violence that ensued, it will just end up in recriminations and arguments, the issues are complex

Cheers

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

To suggest that Thatcher was the best ever Recruiting Sergeant for the IRA, due to her handling of the hunger strike, is wholly wrong.

That had to be the partition in 1921 and the treatment of Catholics in the years leading up to the Troubles.

IRA activity diminished towards the end of her time at Number Ten iirc. Not her biggest fan, and I'm largely sympathetic to the aim of a united Ireland, but I can't see how she could have handled that much differently.

 

[Rascal]

To suggest that Thatcher was the best ever Recruiting Sergeant for the IRA, due to her handling of the hunger strike, is wholly wrong.

That had to be the partition in 1921 and the treatment of Catholics in the years leading up to the Troubles.

IRA activity diminished towards the end of her time at Number Ten iirc. Not her biggest fan, and I'm largely sympathetic to the aim of a united Ireland, but I can't see how she could have handled that much differently.

She could have reimposed political prisoner status on the hunger strikers.

Its never a good thing to make martyrs out of anyone

 

[buzzer1]

It's been an interesting debate this, but can I ask that we keep it on topic please and not veer off into Irish Politics and the violence that ensued, it will just end up in recriminations and arguments, the issues are complex

Cheers

I don't know why but i just read that as if said in a scary irishmans accent:)

 

[Legallyblue]

...as an American who is unfamiliar with the inner-workings of the British political machine, could someone enlighten me as to why Margaret Thatcher stirs such disdain among so many?...

That's not entirely true most people down south think she is some sort of legend but she practically destroyed industry so that took out the North and Wales. She didn't rig 3 elections, so she obviously did something right. Growing up down south the only people I ever heard talk bad about her was my dad's side of the family

Because she smashed the radical, left wing communist unions who at the time were knowingly grinding this country into the dirt and making us the laughing stock of the world. You don't win 3 elections on the bounce if the majority of the people don't like you - and she did. Two of those elections were landslides for the Tories. People on here like to re-write history to suit there own agenda.
I also find it amazing how many people who were not even born when she was in power hate her. Work that one out.

Just to correct BoyBlue_1985 the majority of people did not vote for Thatcher in any election. She won each one with less than 50% of the vote, as do most governments. If you include those who didn't bother to vote for her but were eligible she took around 30% of the possible vote at each election. Some of those voters who supported her were rich enough to profit from her neo-liberal insanity and many simply stupid enough to believe she would cut their meagre taxes without slashing services.

 

[mackenzie]

Question Time looks good tonight; Thatchers Legacy.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

It's been an interesting debate this, but can I ask that we keep it on topic please and not veer off into Irish Politics and the violence that ensued, it will just end up in recriminations and arguments, the issues are complex

Cheers

I don't know why but i just read that as if said in a scary irishmans accent:)

Maybe so, but the stereotypical Irishman saying "I know where your kids go to school" was yet another figment of English governments propoganda. I'm English but I reckon I would have been right pissed off if I was Irish and lived there when the English searched them everytime they went to the shops. You don't know the meaning of "agenda"

 

[Juan King]

Not read the thread but all I can say is "good riddance". Horrible woman & I would happily dance on her grave.

 

[Rascal]

Question Time looks good tonight; Thatchers Legacy.

I hope Galloway is on