Margaret Thatcher Dies Following Stroke At 87
Britain’s Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher has died after suffering a stroke at the age of 87.
Speaking to Sky News, spokesman and friend Lord Bell, who announced her death this morning, said: “We’ll never see the like of her again. She was one of the great prime ministers of all time and transformed people’s lives.”
He described the former prime minister, who served three terms in office between 179-1990, as the greatest leader of the Conservative Party with the exception of Winston Churchill.
Mrs Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister in the 20th century, holding office from 1979-1990 and in doing so she became the first conservative leader to emerge victorious from three successive elections.
She was the only woman to have ever held the post.
Baroness Thatcher had been suffering from ill health in recent years, suffering a number of strokes while also battling dementia.
Her own brand of politics commonly referred to as “Thatcherism” led her to become one of the most despised politicians that Ireland has ever had to deal with.
She is remembered for her uncompromising stance against republican paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, publicly resisting attempts by IRA hunger strikers to win political prisoner status at the Maze prison in Belfast.
It was under Thatcher’s stewardship that the British government had given the Republic of Ireland a consultative and advisory role in the governance of Northern Ireland for the first time.
The 1985 agreement came a year after an IRA assassination attempt at the Conservative party conference in Brighton, which killed five people including the wife of one of her cabinet ministers.
Downing St have released the following information about her funeral arrangements stating that she will be given a state funeral.
“Downing Street can announce that, with The Queen’s consent, Lady Thatcher will receive a Ceremonial funeral with military honours. The service will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. A wide and diverse range of people and groups with connections to Lady Thatcher will be invited.
“The service will be followed by a private cremation. All the arrangements being put in place are in line with wishes of Lady Thatcher’s family. Further details will be published over the coming days.”
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