Margaret Thatcher death latest reaction

Margaret Thatcher death: latest reaction :

Floral tributes to Baroness Thatcher are laid on the pavement outside her Chester Square residence in London (Picture: Anthony Upton)

Margaret Thatcher death: latest reaction

 

Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke on Monday at the age of 87. Follow the latest reaction to the death of Britain's first female prime minister as MPs pay tribute at special Commons session.
Rowena Mason, the Telegraph's political correspondent, has a round-up of some of the best quotes from the House of Lords:
 Lord Howard, former Tory leader and minister: "If she'd waited for consensus nothing would ever have happened. She saw what needed to be done and did it."  
Lord Armstrong, former Cabinet Secretary: "She was nothing if not feminine.... [Mitterand] flattered her femininity. She recognised it and loved every minute."  
Lord Ashdown, former Liberal Democrat leader: "Complex, extraordinary, magnificent, fallible, flawed, infuriating... If politics is defined by principles and the courage to hold to them she was the commanding politician and the greatest prime minister of our day." 
Lord Tebbit, former Trade Secretary: "I left her, I fear, at the mercy of her friends. That I do regret." Lord Fowler, former Health and Employment Secretary: "If you were prepared to be handbagged, she would oblige."  
Lord Waddington, former Home Secretary: When you had endured flame and fire [of Lady Thatcher] you came out of it thinking you might have won but weren't absolutely sure. 
Tory Sir Tony Baldry talks about Lady Thatcher's "prodigious work ethic". He says that Lady Thatcher always ensured that she was the best person in the room by being the best-prepared person in the room.
 Tim Ross, the Telegraph's political correspondent, has some reaction from David Cameron from inside the chamber:
After Sir Gerald Howarth's first-hand account of serving in Thatcher's era, David Cameron turned on the front bench to congratulate him. The MP, whom Mr Cameron sacked as a defence minister in last September's reshuffle, wasn't paying attention as he took his seat at the very back of the chamber. The Prime Minister had to wait - and he did - while MPs sitting between the two alerted Sir Gerald, who accepted Mr Cameron's approval with a thumbs up. Earlier, the PM had given similar congratulations to Conor Burns, despite the Tory MP repeatedly teasing his party leader during another speech that had all sides waiting on every word. Mr Cameron is heading for two hours in the Commons listening to the debate, a long time for any PM to spend sitting in the House. But he has been rewarded with some fine contributions so far.

Labour's Diane Abbott reminds the House "very gently" that all these years after Lady Thatcher stood down there are still many people around the country who feel on the wrong side of the battles she fought. "This House should not give the appearance that their voice cannot be heard," Ms Abbott adds. Cheryl Gillan, the Conservative MP for Chesham and Amersham, becomes the first woman to speak today in the Commons. Mrs Gillan hails Lady Thatcher as an inspiration and says her many feats "reflect a politician of substance whose like we may never see again".  

Michael Meacher, Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, hails Lady Thatcher's recognition of the issue of climate change. However, he goes on to criticise the unemployment and the the inequality seen during Lady Thatcher's leadership. We've now had 11 backenchers speak in the Commons. Not one of them has been a woman.  

Baroness Shirley Williams says Lady T would not want to be "sanctified". She wd relish the confrontation. "Her policies were terribly hard" Lord Fowler: Serving with Lady Thatcher... If you were prepared to be handbagged, she would oblige... She did enjoy an argument Sir Gerald Howarth: I think she has been the salvation of the nation. I think she has restored our position in the world.

Source Link:www.telegraph.co.uk