h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Who is going to push for Blair to get one? The Labour Party?"

If Thatcher, then why not Blair? Personally I'd say neither, but both Blair and Thatcher...

Were the dominant political figures of their respective generations
Fundamentally changed politics - never mind Thatcherites, we're all Blair-ites now....
Won election after election (and not against a divided opposition)
Prominent figures on the world stage

And looking at what Blair accomplished:
Northern Ireland peace process (with appropriate credit to John Major)
Revitalised public services after over a decade of neglect
Abolished Section 28, brought in Civil Partnerships, the Equality act
Successful military intervention in Sierra Leone and Kosovo
Scottish Parliament/Welsh Assembly/London mayor
Passed control of interest rates to the Bank of England
Introduction of the minimum wage

In the negative column you've got Iraq, Afghanistan and (I'd argue) extending the use of PFI. Iraq will deservedly cast a long and permanent shadow over his premiership.

Admittedly, Thatcher was the first female PM, but other than that, I really don't see what Thatcher has over Blair in the claim to the state funeral stakes...

She was a Tory.

Mol

That's the Cheese Grater, not the Shard

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295728/How-The-Leadenhall-Building-Cheesegrater-come-tower-London.html

London's skyline's changing very rapidly.

"Public spending on Baroness Thatcher's funeral totalled £3.6m, Downing Street has announced."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22299372

And at least £2m of that was paying the wages of people who would have had their wages paid anyway.

Hardly an exorbitant figure.

£2million pound wage bill for a day? At average wage that's about 20,000 people. What were they all doing?

And who was doing the jobs that they should have been doing?

They hired some ex-miners from Sheffield.

Actually, it might explain the crowds lining the route...

For all Thatcher's faults, she had the good timing to snuff it and get planted in time to coincide Brian Blessed presenting Have I Got News For You, giving dear old Brian the opportunity to shout "... but don't worry, GORDON"S ALIVE!!!"

And you think they wouldn't have shoehorned that in anyway?

(they managed it before she died...)

Yeah, I reckon they probably would have found a way this time, and I remember the previous one too. What on earth is Brian Blessed on? But the timing of her death was particularly suited to that line of his

I will be impressed when they manage so squeeze in "Despatch War Rocket Ajax to bring back his body!"

The Battle of Orgreave and the Miners Strike - A48711594