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| Margaret Thatcher death: David Cameron leads tributes to Iron Lady | Margaret Thatcher death: David Cameron leads tributes to Iron Lady |
| (6 months later) | |
| David Cameron led tributes to Lady Thatcher from across the British political spectrum on Monday as senior politicians sought to acknowledge and define her legacy. | David Cameron led tributes to Lady Thatcher from across the British political spectrum on Monday as senior politicians sought to acknowledge and define her legacy. |
| The prime minister cut short a European tour to return to the UK on hearing news of her death. In a statement, he said: "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." | The prime minister cut short a European tour to return to the UK on hearing news of her death. In a statement, he said: "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." |
| The news was broken to Cameron while he was in Madrid, where he was meeting the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy. | The news was broken to Cameron while he was in Madrid, where he was meeting the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy. |
| The Queen was said to be saddened by the news. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "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." | The Queen was said to be saddened by the news. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "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." |
| Opposition figures, mindful that many of their own supporters will never forgive Thatcher for her more radical policies, issued carefully drafted statements. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said: "She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage. | Opposition figures, mindful that many of their own supporters will never forgive Thatcher for her more radical policies, issued carefully drafted statements. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said: "She will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman prime minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage. |
| "The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength. | "The Labour party disagreed with much of what she did and she will always remain a controversial figure. But we can disagree and also greatly respect her political achievements and her personal strength. |
| "She also defined the politics of the 1980s. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and I all grew up in a politics shaped by Lady Thatcher. We took different paths but with her as the crucial figure of that era. | "She also defined the politics of the 1980s. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and I all grew up in a politics shaped by Lady Thatcher. We took different paths but with her as the crucial figure of that era. |
| "She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime," he said. | "She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime," he said. |
| The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. | The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said: "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. Whatever side of the political debate you stand on, no one can deny that as prime minister she left a unique and lasting imprint on the country she served. |
| "She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics. My thoughts are with her family and friends." | "She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics. My thoughts are with her family and friends." |
| Former prime minister Tony Blair described Thatcher as "a towering political figure" and in an acknowledgement that they became friendly, referred to her by her first name. | Former prime minister Tony Blair described Thatcher as "a towering political figure" and in an acknowledgement that they became friendly, referred to her by her first name. |
| "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world," he said. | "Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast. And some of the changes she made in Britain were, in certain respects at least, retained by the 1997 Labour government, and came to be implemented by governments around the world," he said. |
| Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major, who fell out with Thatcher over her criticisms of his premiership, described her as a "true force of nature" and a "political phenomenon". | Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major, who fell out with Thatcher over her criticisms of his premiership, described her as a "true force of nature" and a "political phenomenon". |
| "In government, the UK was turned around under – and in large measure because of – her leadership. Her reforms of the economy, trades union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands elevated her above normal politics, and may not have been achieved under any other leader," he said. | "In government, the UK was turned around under – and in large measure because of – her leadership. Her reforms of the economy, trades union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands elevated her above normal politics, and may not have been achieved under any other leader," he said. |
| "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private," he added. | "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private," he added. |
| Two of her closest political rivals also issued statements. The former Conservative deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine, who became Thatcher's fierce political rival after resigning from her cabinet, said: "I am sorry to learn of Lady Thatcher's death. The illness of her last years has been cruel and very difficult. I send my deepest condolences to Mark and Carol." | Two of her closest political rivals also issued statements. The former Conservative deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine, who became Thatcher's fierce political rival after resigning from her cabinet, said: "I am sorry to learn of Lady Thatcher's death. The illness of her last years has been cruel and very difficult. I send my deepest condolences to Mark and Carol." |
| Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader who fought and lost an election against her in 1987, said: "I recognise and admire the great distinction of Baroness Thatcher as the first woman to become leader of a major UK political party and prime minister. | Neil Kinnock, the Labour leader who fought and lost an election against her in 1987, said: "I recognise and admire the great distinction of Baroness Thatcher as the first woman to become leader of a major UK political party and prime minister. |
| "I am sorry to hear of her death and offer my sympathy to her family." | "I am sorry to hear of her death and offer my sympathy to her family." |
| Among senior Conservatives, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said Thatcher was "the reason I came into politics". | Among senior Conservatives, the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, said Thatcher was "the reason I came into politics". |
| "Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again. She bestrode the political world like a colossus." | "Watching her set out to change Britain for the better in 1979 made me believe there was, at last, real purpose and real leadership in politics once again. She bestrode the political world like a colossus." |
| The senior Tory MP David Davis said: "Margaret Thatcher was the greatest of modern British prime ministers, and was central to the huge transformation of the whole world that took place after the fall of the Soviet Union. | The senior Tory MP David Davis said: "Margaret Thatcher was the greatest of modern British prime ministers, and was central to the huge transformation of the whole world that took place after the fall of the Soviet Union. |
| "Millions of people in Britain and around the world owe her a debt of gratitude for their freedom and their quality of life, which was made possible by her courageous commitment to the principles of individual freedom and responsibility. Her passing is a very sad event and she will be greatly missed." | "Millions of people in Britain and around the world owe her a debt of gratitude for their freedom and their quality of life, which was made possible by her courageous commitment to the principles of individual freedom and responsibility. Her passing is a very sad event and she will be greatly missed." |
| The London mayor, Boris Johnson, said on Twitter: "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics." | The London mayor, Boris Johnson, said on Twitter: "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics." |
| The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said: "I have always said that Mrs Thatcher was a great inspiration to me personally. Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people. A towering figure in recent British and political history has passed from the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family." | The Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, said: "I have always said that Mrs Thatcher was a great inspiration to me personally. Whether you loved her or hated her nobody could deny that she was a great patriot, who believed passionately in this country and her people. A towering figure in recent British and political history has passed from the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family." |
| Others were less generous in their reactions to news of her death. The Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, said Thatcher had long been vilified in republican circles over her involvement in Northern Ireland, in particular for her handling of the IRA hunger strikes inside the Maze prison in the early 1980s. She was a leading target of the IRA in the 1980s, which nearly succeeded in killing her in the deadly Brighton bomb blast of 1984. | Others were less generous in their reactions to news of her death. The Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, said Thatcher had long been vilified in republican circles over her involvement in Northern Ireland, in particular for her handling of the IRA hunger strikes inside the Maze prison in the early 1980s. She was a leading target of the IRA in the 1980s, which nearly succeeded in killing her in the deadly Brighton bomb blast of 1984. |
| "Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister. Working-class communities were devastated in Britain because of her policies. | "Margaret Thatcher did great hurt to the Irish and British people during her time as British prime minister. Working-class communities were devastated in Britain because of her policies. |
| "Here in Ireland her espousal of old draconian militaristic policies prolonged the war and caused great suffering," he said. | "Here in Ireland her espousal of old draconian militaristic policies prolonged the war and caused great suffering," he said. |
| Adams accused her of embracing censorship, collusion and the use of lethal force in covert operations. | Adams accused her of embracing censorship, collusion and the use of lethal force in covert operations. |
| "Her failed efforts to criminalise the republican struggle and the political prisoners is part of her legacy." | "Her failed efforts to criminalise the republican struggle and the political prisoners is part of her legacy." |
| "Margaret Thatcher will be especially remembered for her shameful role during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81. Her Irish policy failed miserably," he said. | "Margaret Thatcher will be especially remembered for her shameful role during the epic hunger strikes of 1980 and 81. Her Irish policy failed miserably," he said. |
| George Galloway, the leader and sole MP of the Respect party, tweeted the words "tramp the dirt down" – a reference to an Elvis Costello 1989 song that included the lines: "When they finally put you in the ground I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down". | George Galloway, the leader and sole MP of the Respect party, tweeted the words "tramp the dirt down" – a reference to an Elvis Costello 1989 song that included the lines: "When they finally put you in the ground I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down". |
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