Exciting but somehow sad - saw Baroness Thatcher today

[ClaphamGT3]

Walking through South Ken today, an XJ8, closely followed by a Range Rover pulled up to the kurb. Protection officers got out of the RR and closed the pavement. Out of the back of the Jaguar got - an extremely frail - Baroness Thatcher. I was less that 3 metres from her as she slowly crossed the pavement to go into a restaurant. It was amazing to see her & she still radiates an amazing presence but she was so frail - it was heart-rending to see someone to whom we all owe so much in such a state; I fear she'll not be with us much longer.

Still, fabulous to have seen her

Edited by ClaphamGT3 on Friday 8th October 01:00

[working class]

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

[Mobile Chicane]

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

[ClaphamGT3]

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

Do you remember the UK pre-1979?

[Blue Meanie]

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

Presumably the ceasing of subsidies for dying industries... Of course, Skargillesque politics then decided to use that for his foothold in politics, and made matter even worse. Pits could have continuedvif it wasn't for the strikes, etc.

[Mobile Chicane]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

Do you remember the UK pre-1979?

Yup. I also remember the UK post 1987.

[-Pete-]

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

I lent her £3.58 to buy a Ginsters Pastie, no doubt she'll deny it if questioned.

[AndrewW-G]

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

[ClintonB]

Mobile Chicane said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

Do you remember the UK pre-1979?

Yup. I also remember the UK post 1987.

Which, of course was wholly & exclusively under Madge's control (just like all of human existence). Obviously not perfect but better than the alternatives at the time, given the prevailing circumstances.

[working class]

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

[Blue Meanie]

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

Ransom.

[ClintonB]

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

Would that really work? Waster/dodgy son probably knows most if not all of those likely to do this. Mind you, that probably increases the chances given his 'talents'

[AndrewW-G]

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

I think the idea is that she shouldnt be kidnaped in the first place

[CDP]

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

There are plenty of nutters about and Mrs. Thatcher probably features in more than one fantasy. Not to mention some of the terrorist groups who would long to claim somebody so iconic.

[ClaphamGT3]

CDP said:

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

There are plenty of nutters about and Mrs. Thatcher probably features in more than one fantasy. Not to mention some of the terrorist groups who would long to claim somebody so iconic.

Sadly true - I suspect that with Blair & Brown, most would say 'good riddance'

[Dilligaf10]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Mobile Chicane said:

'To whom we all owe so much'?

Please, elucidate.

Do you remember the UK pre-1979?

If the unions have their way it will be making a comeback as well!

[sday12]

Just one bullet.


'Exciting' as in I've got her in my sights.
'Sad' as in st, I missed?

Edited by sday12 on Friday 8th October 08:11

[mel]

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

What strategic purpose did the murder of Mountbatten serve? The reality is that if someone has given so much to the service of their country (regardless of your political views there is no dening the fact that she worked and gave so much) that they put themselves in ongoing and permanant risk then we as a country owe them a duty of care, there are still many many disidant republicans (and probably a few bitter and twisted ex miners) that would love to get a chance to "slot Maggie" Making sure that she still gets a level of protection is the least we can do.

[ZesPak]

mel said:

The reality is that if someone has given so much to the service of their country (regardless of your political views there is no dening the fact that she worked and gave so much) that they put themselves in ongoing and permanant risk then we as a country owe them a duty of care, there are still many many disidant republicans (and probably a few bitter and twisted ex miners) that would love to get a chance to "slot Maggie" Making sure that she still gets a level of protection is the least we can do.

In before Godwin

[plg]

mel said:

working class said:

AndrewW-G said:

working class said:

So, will she get police protection till the day she dies? Like American presidents do?

they all do, to a greater (blair at a cost to all of us of millions a year) or lesser extent (winky at no doubt much reduced cost, given the amount of time he's been spending in the nut house in Edinburgh)

Why though? What use would Maggie be now to anyone that wished to kidnap her?

What strategic purpose did the murder of Mountbatten serve? The reality is that if someone has given so much to the service of their country (regardless of your political views there is no dening the fact that she worked and gave so much) that they put themselves in ongoing and permanant risk then we as a country owe them a duty of care, there are still many many disidant republicans (and probably a few bitter and twisted ex miners) that would love to get a chance to "slot Maggie" Making sure that she still gets a level of protection is the least we can do.

Indeed. Anyone that serves at that level and gives their country all deserves protection through retirement, regardless of their politics. I wonder if security levels vary per ex PM?
ie Major and Thatcher both have had relatively quiet retirements, presumably needing only minor teams. Blair with his world tours and (higher) recent profile - does he have a bigger team / and hence cost? Does he need to contribute personally if he is choosing to go in harms way? Or do we give extra as a "middle east peace process ambassador"?