1 minute silence tonight?

[Darren]

The question was...

Thinking back to Margaret Thatcher's period as Prime Minister, do you think she was...
A great Prime Minister - 21%
A good Prime Minister - 28%

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.ne...YouGov-Sun-results-Thatcher-legacy-130409.pdf

Actually, they do more or less ask the question I suggested here

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.ne...YouGov-Sun-results-Thatcher-legacy-130409.pdf (page 2)

On the question as to whether her period of PM was good or bad for Britain, people are evenly divided in the north (42 to 41) whereas they overwhelmingly say good in the south (53 to 28) and bad in Scotland (34 to 41). Overall its a pretty even division of 43 to 38 (that 5% gap is well within the margin of error) with not many not having an opinion which was what one would have expected without a poll.

 

[Darren]

Actually, they do more or less ask the question I suggested here

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.ne...YouGov-Sun-results-Thatcher-legacy-130409.pdf (page 2)

On the question as to whether her period of PM was good or bad for Britain, people are evenly divided in the north (42 to 41) whereas they overwhelmingly say good in the south (53 to 28) and bad in Scotland (34 to 41). Overall its a pretty even division of 43 to 38 (that 5% gap is well within the margin of error) with not many not having an opinion which was what one would have expected without a poll.

My mistake it was 43 -38 in 2011 and 47-36 now, which suggests a slight sympathy vote for the departed (and perhaps an influence of the generally positive media coverage).

 

[JJ Sefton]

Actually, they do more or less ask the question I suggested here

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.ne...YouGov-Sun-results-Thatcher-legacy-130409.pdf (page 2)

I think it's a bit fanciful to think that all those people who said she was a 'great' prime minister actually thought she was terrible but significant. The truth is that there is plenty less Thatcher hatred even up north than gets said.

As an example I was in a pub once with a fellow LB and his dad who was down from Sheffield. This LB, a lovely chap, had had a few ales and was regaling me with a list of Thatcher's evil deeds. He pottered off to the toilet and his dad, previously silent, said "Somebody had to do what she did". He went quiet again after that.

 

[Darren]

I think it's a bit fanciful to think that all those people who said she was a 'great' prime minister actually thought she was terrible but significant. The truth is that there is plenty less Thatcher hatred even up north than gets said.

As an example I was in a pub once with a fellow LB and his dad who was down from Sheffield. This LB, a lovely chap, had had a few ales and was regaling me with a list of Thatcher's evil deeds. He pottered off to the toilet and his dad, previously silent, said "Somebody had to do what she did". He went quiet again after that.

Contrast the "great and good" score for the north (49%) with those who say that her period in office was "good for "the country" (42%). Its clear that some of those who said she was great or good meant it in a historically significant sense rather than a personally approving sense. One could quite well say her acheivement in being the first female prime ministerr made her "great" without approving of her record.

Anyway, even on the lower 42%, thats still a good score, but don't forget that, contrary to popular myth, there are some very Tory areas in the north - rural North and East Yorks, The Lake District and the posh suburbs of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield all voted solidly for her. The Tories also came second in most Labour seats during the Thatcher years.

The Tories are much stronger in the north than Labour are in the south (outside London); between 1983 and 1992, there were only 3 Labour seats in the south outside London and the Liberals/Alliance did and do come second in many of the seats; which is one of the reasons the electoral system favours Labour - they don't pile up votes where they are of no use.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Is she still dead? Fooking brilliant, hope she's burning in hell, that'd be even better. Soggy faced old bitch, best days work she ever did dying, she should have done it years ago

Happily so although I still want to see the corpse to make sure ( it would be even nicer to see it getting ripped apart by a pack of blood thirsty dogs that haven't eaten for a few weeks)

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I hope Scargill will get the same level of hatred when he croaks given the his major role in the destruction of the mining communities and needlessly prolonging the suffering of the Miners.

 

[BladeFisher]

I think it just goes to show how "out of touch" the f*cktards who run this country are with public feeling. MT is (was) the embodyment of all things Conservative.

If I was planning this funeral, I would be very worried for the amount of things that will probably "kick off", as a protest not for what she destroyed all those years ago, but for the current coalition and their cuts.

Well what's happening to today is hardly her fault is it? Where do you want to stop, the fall of the Empire, the Industrial Revolution, the Duke of Wellington, Bonny Prince Charlie (its ok the Jocks are on to that one), William the Conqueror, the Vikings, Romans, Jesus or perhaps our mutual ancestors..... Adam and Eve.

The Coalition Govt in my view is behaving far worse than what Maggie did. Far far worse. It is one thing being put out of a job (Scargill/MacGregor) for economic reasons - and it has happened to me three times, another being put out on the street because there are no jobs or you are ill (Cameron/Osborne) and you can't even stay in the home you are in.

 

[alcoblade]

Surely a minutes applause could be wildy supported by both sides? Even I'd join in.

UTB

 

[JJ Sefton]

post: 489779, member: 875"]Happily so although I still want to see the corpse to make sure ( it would be even nicer to see it getting ripped apart by a pack of blood thirsty dogs that haven't eaten for a few weeks)

Always good to get a minority opinion.

 

[BladeFisher]

Yes, I read that. I found it quite surprising, though I think the score may have been skewed by the categories that were said to be positive - "great" and "good". "Great" can mean "significant" (as in "great dictator") as well as suggesting approval. I would say she was a great prime minister in the sense that she was a significant historical figure, though I think her influence was generally a pernicious one.

If they had asked the question "was Mrs Thatcher's period as prime minister good for people like you", I think they would have got a very different answer in the north.

Only if they only polled in South Yorkshire, the North East and Liverpool. Hardly pockets of Conservatism Darren are they?

 

[BladeFisher]

Contrast the "great and good" score for the north (49%) with those who say that her period in office was "good for "the country" (42%). Its clear that some of those who said she was great or good meant it in a historically significant sense rather than a personally approving sense. One could quite well say her acheivement in being the first female prime ministerr made her "great" without approving of her record.

Anyway, even on the lower 42%, thats still a good score, but don't forget that, contrary to popular myth, there are some very Tory areas in the north - rural North and East Yorks, The Lake District and the posh suburbs of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield all voted solidly for her. The Tories also came second in most Labour seats during the Thatcher years.

The Tories are much stronger in the north than Labour are in the south (outside London); between 1983 and 1992, there were only 3 Labour seats in the south outside London and the Liberals/Alliance did and do come second in many of the seats; which is one of the reasons the electoral system favours Labour - they don't pile up votes where they are of no use.

They also tend to have smaller constutuencies thus get more MP's. Conveniently overlooked.

 

[BladeFisher]

I hope Scargill will get the same level of hatred when he croaks given the his major role in the destruction of the mining communities and needlessly prolonging the suffering of the Miners.

All for the sake of a vote eh!

Funnily enough I once wanted to meet Uncle Arthur. He was such an influential figure during the times I grew up including the disastrous 3 day week (thanks you bastard) that he is kind of iconic.

I just loved his tv appearances. Indeed he and Neil Warnock make a kind of impassioned brotherhood!

I loved the rhetoric and his play of broken record has, in my view, been unsurpassed. Indeed I sort of have this surreal vision of him being interviewed at a colliery that is being physically destroyed behind him and Uncle Art still banging on about Britain having the cheapest deep mined coal in the world as the pit head gear comes crashing down and he still drones on. He was so surreal he was kind of 'loveable'. I think watching Arthur just shows how mesmorised one can become and demonstrates how other despotic dictators like Hitler, Stalin and Kim Jong Il et al have such hold over people.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Do you think the club would be daft enough to try and hold a minute's silence before the match tonight?

The only way they could achieve this would be to announce it as a minute's applause.

HAHAHAHA it wouldn't be silent

 

[Angef1Blade]

I'll show her all the respect she showed when decimating communities of ordinary people all over the land, whilst the non-working, cocaine-snorting nouveau rich speculators feasted at their expense.

I'll show her all the respect that her 'children' - the shameless bankers, stockbrokers and other champagne-swillers continue to demonstrate in her name and others like her.

I'll show her all the respect she showed to the human beings who were killed on the General Belgrano whilst sailing away from conflict.

I'll show her all the respect she showed to those who fell by the wayside, many taking their own lives in despair, in the compassionless 'Greed is Good - Loadsamoney' anti-community culture she so callously cultivated.

No respect from me, Thatcher. Not a jot. I'd suggest a minute's abuse but that would give you more time than you ever gave to ordinary working people and their aspirations.

No. You evil destroyer of lives and livelihoods. You can have five seconds utter silent contempt.

Couldn't have said it better mi'ssen