Wednesday 17 April 2013

Thatcher funeral says much about delusional British establishment


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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