There was
something rather sinister about the prominence of the military at the Thatcher
funeral.
It was a bit uncomfortable seeing the military, church and BBC all coming
together to take part in this establishment façade for one of the most divisive
Prime Ministers to rule Britain in the past 200 years.
The funeral
was another example of just how misguided the British establishment remains as regards
the role of Britain in the world, with the imperial overtones of the whole
event.
A dose of
reality came with the cameo role played by the United States. It was the
funeral of this great friend of America, the champion of the special
relationship, yet no one from the Obama administration attended, neither did
all the ex-presidents invited.
The representation
amounted to Dick Cheney and Henry Kissinger. This event told all anyone needs
to know about the special relationship, namely that it only exists in the minds
of a few Tory politicians who remain in a state of denial about the way the
world now works.
The whole
Thatcher funeral production has badly backfired on the Tory establishment that was
looking to accrue some political cudos born of nostalgia. Instead, the death of
Thatcher has merely resurrected the divisions in society caused during her time
in power. Cracks no doubt that have been widened as the result of the efforts
of her successors Cameron and his dewy eyed Chancellor Osborne.
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