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Politicians reassure themselves of their importance at Lady Thatcher's funeral Politicians reassure themselves of their importance at Lady Thatcher's funeral
(5 months later)
It was, probably, the last great commemoration of politicians, for politicians, by politicians. Everything about the funeral screamed, "yes, we matter too! We can get the Queen, and the archbishop, and the choirs, and even a bunch of foreigners!"It was, probably, the last great commemoration of politicians, for politicians, by politicians. Everything about the funeral screamed, "yes, we matter too! We can get the Queen, and the archbishop, and the choirs, and even a bunch of foreigners!"
No wonder Gordon Brown was one of the few who arrived with a smile on his face, laughing and chatting as if waiting for a Raith Rovers match. The whole ceremony had been part-organised and signed off by him while he was still in Downing Street. No wonder either that much of Labour's frontbench had turned up too, including those who were years away from becoming MPs when she was forced out.No wonder Gordon Brown was one of the few who arrived with a smile on his face, laughing and chatting as if waiting for a Raith Rovers match. The whole ceremony had been part-organised and signed off by him while he was still in Downing Street. No wonder either that much of Labour's frontbench had turned up too, including those who were years away from becoming MPs when she was forced out.
There was a sprinkling of backbenchers as well, including Keith Vaz, but then Vaz is everywhere. If man ever lands on Mars and shakes hands with the Martian leaders, Vaz will be hovering in the background, offering sound bites at dictation speed.There was a sprinkling of backbenchers as well, including Keith Vaz, but then Vaz is everywhere. If man ever lands on Mars and shakes hands with the Martian leaders, Vaz will be hovering in the background, offering sound bites at dictation speed.
It was one of those funerals where, apart from the family, almost everyone was there because of who they were. Many knew her, a lot put up with her, and some liked her, though it was hard to read the tear that at one point ran down George Osborne's cheek. The employment figures? Even the three people, Michael Heseltine, Geoffrey Howe and Ken Clarke, who disposed of her with such efficient dispatch in 1990 managed to look serious rather than sorrowful, the bad fairies who had been at Snow White's christening, now assembled to apologise for the poisoned apple.It was one of those funerals where, apart from the family, almost everyone was there because of who they were. Many knew her, a lot put up with her, and some liked her, though it was hard to read the tear that at one point ran down George Osborne's cheek. The employment figures? Even the three people, Michael Heseltine, Geoffrey Howe and Ken Clarke, who disposed of her with such efficient dispatch in 1990 managed to look serious rather than sorrowful, the bad fairies who had been at Snow White's christening, now assembled to apologise for the poisoned apple.
So many mourners, so many traitors! Nigel Lawson was there; his resignation as chancellor may have marked the beginning of her downward slide. Carrington, who refused not to resign over the Falklands. Many of her cabinet now look as if they were Spitting Image puppets who have been left in a forgotten props store for too long, saggy, deflated, with little need to keep up an air of glossy confidence.So many mourners, so many traitors! Nigel Lawson was there; his resignation as chancellor may have marked the beginning of her downward slide. Carrington, who refused not to resign over the Falklands. Many of her cabinet now look as if they were Spitting Image puppets who have been left in a forgotten props store for too long, saggy, deflated, with little need to keep up an air of glossy confidence.
John Sergeant was in the congregation, the man who held the microphone Bernard Ingham grabbed on the fatal night in Paris. John Major, first beneficiary of her departure, whom she came to despise. It was to Sergeant that she indicated her pleasure that his prime minister's questions TV ratings were so much lower than her own.John Sergeant was in the congregation, the man who held the microphone Bernard Ingham grabbed on the fatal night in Paris. John Major, first beneficiary of her departure, whom she came to despise. It was to Sergeant that she indicated her pleasure that his prime minister's questions TV ratings were so much lower than her own.
In death, we are all as one, and all crammed together. Davids Steel and Owen, not the greatest of friends, were obliged to chat for the ages before the service began. So were Boris Johnson and Michael Howard, the man who sacked him, though Boris must have been delighted by the fact that he was it seems the only politician to be cheered by the public as he walked up the steps to the cathedral, apparently fumbling in his pocket as if worried he had lost the invitation. Conceivably it was that cheer that made George Osborne cry.In death, we are all as one, and all crammed together. Davids Steel and Owen, not the greatest of friends, were obliged to chat for the ages before the service began. So were Boris Johnson and Michael Howard, the man who sacked him, though Boris must have been delighted by the fact that he was it seems the only politician to be cheered by the public as he walked up the steps to the cathedral, apparently fumbling in his pocket as if worried he had lost the invitation. Conceivably it was that cheer that made George Osborne cry.
A scattering of celebrities, just on the right side of "who on Earth?" Jeremy Clarkson, Joan Collins, Jeffrey Archer, even Michael Fabricant MP, his lustrous hair-style topping for once dimmed by the dazzling lights of St Paul's. And Alex Salmond, who acknowledges his gratitude; her decision to start the loathed poll tax in Scotland was a huge impetus towards the notion of national independence.A scattering of celebrities, just on the right side of "who on Earth?" Jeremy Clarkson, Joan Collins, Jeffrey Archer, even Michael Fabricant MP, his lustrous hair-style topping for once dimmed by the dazzling lights of St Paul's. And Alex Salmond, who acknowledges his gratitude; her decision to start the loathed poll tax in Scotland was a huge impetus towards the notion of national independence.
A disappointing turnout from abroad, good in numbers if low in fame. But then this was about British politics rather than international diplomacy. From America, Henry Kissinger, Newt Gingrich – surely she would have found him deeply distasteful? – and former vice-president Dick Cheney, whose poor health over eight years meant, in Garry Trudeau's words, that George W was "only a heartbeat from the presidency". But neither Bush nor Clinton and no Carter. It was hard to ignore the niggle that she was, perhaps, more world famous in Britain than she was in the rest of the world.A disappointing turnout from abroad, good in numbers if low in fame. But then this was about British politics rather than international diplomacy. From America, Henry Kissinger, Newt Gingrich – surely she would have found him deeply distasteful? – and former vice-president Dick Cheney, whose poor health over eight years meant, in Garry Trudeau's words, that George W was "only a heartbeat from the presidency". But neither Bush nor Clinton and no Carter. It was hard to ignore the niggle that she was, perhaps, more world famous in Britain than she was in the rest of the world.
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