The death of Baroness Thatcher last Monday at the age of 87 generated enormous headlines worldwide.  By any standards, Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister from May 1979 until her resignation in November 1990, was a remarkable woman and in addition, as many of her contemporaries have testified,  a formidable politician. As our country’s first and only female Prime Minister, she undoubtedly became one of the most important leaders of the 20^th Century.

Expert political commentators and journalists have analysed Margaret Thatcher’s impact and legacy in fine detail over the last few days and there is nothing further for me to add. I do, however, have one comment. Having watched the televised scenes of her opponents openly celebrating and revelling in her death I cannot help but wonder how any civilised human being can behave in such a manner. Of course, the clue lies in the word “civilised”.

For sure, Thatcher’s politics and persona evoked all sorts of emotions in all sorts of people and her policies were certainly, as many have put it, extremely divisive. But, whatever your views on the lady and her policies there can never be any justification for the sick, disgusting behaviour witnessed this week. It brings nothing but disgrace on the perpetrators but worse still, it brings shame upon the whole country.