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Blimey was it something I said...

Its interesting how things about Thatcher's life have been followed a lot more closely by the media in the last 23 years than things in the lives of other ex PM's. I remember when her husband Denis died - top story on the news, massive comment from everyone. Not the case with other ex PM's when their spouse dies. Also the Thatcher offspring are in the news quite a lot, again not so with children of other PM's in later years. I guess the media and society regard her as such a significant politician, for good and bad, that they write everything up and see it as all a big deal. In keeping with how she has always been seen as such a significant person, a mega funeral is laid on this week rather than a more low key affair.

max_tranmere wrote:

> Its interesting how things about Thatcher's life have been
> followed a lot more closely by the media in the last 23 years
> than things in the lives of other ex PM's. I remember when her
> husband Denis died - top story on the news, massive comment
> from everyone. Not the case with other ex PM's when their
> spouse dies. Also the Thatcher offspring are in the news quite
> a lot, again not so with children of other PM's in later years.

Up to a point - Churchill's children were often in the papers; Eden's son died of Aids; Callaghan's daughter was in Blair's cabinet; Major's son married a gameshow hostess; Brown's kids are still that, kids; Euan Blair was much in the press and so was his daughter indirectly albeit for not very nice reasons.

On the other hand, Thatcher has played very little part in public life, particularly in the last decade or so.

Apart from the occasional picture of her on the steps of Downing Street with Cameron she has scarcely featured. This is due to the fact that to varying degrees she has been suffering from Alzheimers for at least a decade.