Margaret Thatcher: MPs Recalled After Death

Politicians from all parties will remember the former prime minister, but some MPs say them will avoid the Commons debate.

在英國前首相撒切爾夫人逝世兩天之后，英國議會通過一場特別的“辯論”送別這位政壇巨人。議員將縮短春假返回議會，在工黨領(lǐng)袖米利班德發(fā)表演講之后，英國首相卡梅倫將主持下院辯論，副首相克萊格也將在辯論中發(fā)言。

撒切爾夫人于4月8日逝世，終年87歲。葬禮將于4月17日在倫敦圣保羅大教堂舉行，葬禮將以最高軍事榮譽禮儀舉行，比國葬低一個等級，不過英國女王與菲利普親王將參加。

St. Paul’s Cathedral is reserved for funerals of the great and good, generally people who unite Britain. But Britain is polarized over plans to hold a service here next weel for Margaret Thatcher. She asked not to have a state funeral, but the ceremonial event with full military honours, is one step alone.

Despite her wishes, some are pititioning for her to have the full honours as were given here to Winston Churchill. This requires a motion vote in Parliament and the coffin is laid in state before the procession.

Procedings for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will begin here at the Palace of Westminster. The night before, her coffin will rest at the ornate Chapel of St. Mary and the Croft, one level below the basin chamber that she knew so well.

The actual rate of level of income tax has been adjourned.

On the day of the funeral with flags at half-mast, the coffin will leave here, for the Aria’s Church of St. Clement Danes. Here it will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by King’s Troop Raw Artillery to be taken to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The procession will pass just metres from this tucked-away church of temple, where Clement Atley the former Labour prime ministre, and founder of the DNA Chest, had his service. And some say that Margaret Thatcher’s send-off should be no grander.

… whether it’s a moderate local church, or whether it’s a cathedral, that sort of the family, I think that they should have the option of the other prime ministres, should of the option. But I don’t the case is wrong for any politician now and in the future for such spares money on their funeral.

The cost, estimated at 8 million pound, is yet to be confirmed. And while it may evoke memories of Diana the Princess of Wales’ funeral, a route lined with military personnel and the public, is there the same affection for Margaret Thatcher. And there is the population happy to foot the bill.

And I think it’s ever-be acts for enter of a military funeral.

Yes, she is a part of Britain, a part of the history and it’s a big deal. It’ll be recognized to do so.

Whe didn’t want worship she had won.

No.

Why not?

Of course she struck a country. I’m really do. I don’t she did anythng for normal people.

Do you think she have a big send-off?

Of course.

Why?

Because she die importantly in history.

The televized service in St. Paul’s will be a Royal occasion attended by the Queen and other dignitaries.

It’ll be a big event, it’s eh, she was a great prime ministre. She was prime ministre for 11 years and it was totally transformational for the country. And I think there’s a huge amount of people who will want to, not just in Britain, but around the world, who will want to pay their respect to her.

But some have already ruled themselves out.

I wouldn’t go because it would be hypocritical. I supposed that everything she aim, I have been trying to think anything she did I agreed with but I think, I have spent, I mean not straight for I can’t come out with anything.

While it will have the feel of a state funeral, there’s an irony that cathedral in recent years has also become the symbol of anti-capital’s protest. Divisive in life, why would her funeral be any different?

Jason Farrel, Sky News.