Britain's 'Iron Lady' dies following a stroke at 87
Source: AFP |
April 9, 2013, Tuesday
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FORMER Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the controversial "Iron Lady" who shaped a generation of British politics and was a pivotal figure in the Cold War, died yesterday following a stroke. She was 87.
Queen Elizabeth II and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev led tributes to Thatcher, Britain's only woman premier, while current Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a trip to Europe following the news.
Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honors, the same as Diana, Princess of Wales, received but a step short of the full state funeral of the kind accorded to monarchs and World War II Premier Winston Churchill.
"It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Lady Thatcher. We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton," Cameron said.
Thatcher, who led Britain from 1979 to 1990, suffered from dementia and rarely appeared in public in recent years.
The former Conservative Party leader was the 20th century's longest continuous occupant of Downing Street.
As her health worsened, the former premier had to be repeatedly reminded that her husband Denis had died in 2003, her daughter once revealed.
Thatcher was told by doctors to quit public speaking a decade ago after a series of strokes.
The Queen, who shared weekly chats with Thatcher during her 11 years in power, also paid tribute.
"The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family," Buckingham Palace said.
Flags were flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street, the prime minister's official residence.
Right-wingers hailed Thatcher as having hauled Britain out of the economic doldrums but the left accused her of dismantling traditional industry, claiming her reforms helped unpick the fabric of society.
Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said his party "disagreed with much of what she did" but hailed her "political achievements and her personal strength."
On the world stage, Thatcher built a close "special relationship" with US president Ronald Reagan which helped bring the curtain down on Soviet Union.
Gorbachev, whose good relations with Thatcher played a part in the end of the Cold War, said she would have a place in history. "Thatcher was a great politician and a bright individual. She will go down in our memory and in history," he said.
Queen Elizabeth II and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev led tributes to Thatcher, Britain's only woman premier, while current Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a trip to Europe following the news.
Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honors, the same as Diana, Princess of Wales, received but a step short of the full state funeral of the kind accorded to monarchs and World War II Premier Winston Churchill.
"It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Lady Thatcher. We have lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton," Cameron said.
Thatcher, who led Britain from 1979 to 1990, suffered from dementia and rarely appeared in public in recent years.
The former Conservative Party leader was the 20th century's longest continuous occupant of Downing Street.
As her health worsened, the former premier had to be repeatedly reminded that her husband Denis had died in 2003, her daughter once revealed.
Thatcher was told by doctors to quit public speaking a decade ago after a series of strokes.
The Queen, who shared weekly chats with Thatcher during her 11 years in power, also paid tribute.
"The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family," Buckingham Palace said.
Flags were flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street, the prime minister's official residence.
Right-wingers hailed Thatcher as having hauled Britain out of the economic doldrums but the left accused her of dismantling traditional industry, claiming her reforms helped unpick the fabric of society.
Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said his party "disagreed with much of what she did" but hailed her "political achievements and her personal strength."
On the world stage, Thatcher built a close "special relationship" with US president Ronald Reagan which helped bring the curtain down on Soviet Union.
Gorbachev, whose good relations with Thatcher played a part in the end of the Cold War, said she would have a place in history. "Thatcher was a great politician and a bright individual. She will go down in our memory and in history," he said.
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