Who decided on the (in all but name) State Funeral for Lady Thatcher?

[OwlHoot]

Surely there must be some sort of rule/procedure. Like all ex-prime ministers get this?
Would be interested to see what happened to the last one that died (who was it? anyone know?).

Wasn't it Harold Macmillan? Only guessing, mind.

Winston Churchill had a pretty big send off in 1965 (which I remember watching at the time on a flickery old black and white TV), and the Duke of Wellington in 1852. So I guess one criterion is that they've presided over a military victory.

[VectraMan]

In Thatcher's case, she was a war leader, hence the Military funeral. Whatever the arrangements, there would have been a sizable security bill.

So Tony Blair will get a military funeral? He deserves it much more surely: Thatcher's war only lasted a few months, whereas some of the wars Blair started are still going.

[DodgyAgent]

TV), and the Duke of Wellington in 1852. .

Zeity was there

[minestrone]

Maybe we could get Danny Boyle to do some kind of street show remembering the most important parts of her premiership.

We could get hundreds of actors to re imagine the pit fights of the miners strike, of course at least 17% of the participants would have to be from the ethnic minorities.

[Sysman]

Tony Blair.

Gordon Brown was suggesting a full State funeral.

[ZARDOZ]

Judging by recent events there could be some extra unscheduled entertainment

[Goatfell]

So Tony Blair will get a military funeral? He deserves it much more surely: Thatcher's war only lasted a few months, whereas some of the wars Blair started are still going.

Nah, it's only if you actually won a victory.

OTOH, I could be magnanimous and let him have a military funeral, as long as it's now - before any of his wars go down as a loss.

[Sysman]

Can we have it next week?

He doesn't need to be dead, just in a coffin with a screwed down lid.

P.S. If it's an Iron Coffin With Spikes On The Inside, so much the betterer.

John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson (1728 – 1808), the chap who built the bridge at Ironbridge had his coffin made of cast iron.

He presumably Rusted In Place.

[minestrone]

I don't see what the problem is really, it will be a massive spectacle and a good advert for London and the country. She would have known that.

[DodgyAgent]

I don't see what the problem is really, it will be a massive spectacle and a good advert for London and the country. She would have known that.

She was also held in great respect by leaders from around the world whether they agreed with her or not. What they would think of the UK for not honouring her would reflect poorly on the UK.