When Mrs Thatcher dies.

Mrs Thatcher may have been the most divisive prime minister in modern history but only a fool would deny her historical significance in bringing about profound change to this country. Her government of 1979 stands alongside those of 1906 and 1945 in having truly historical impact. Mrs Thatcher is definitely an hugely important figure in recent political history, no one can question that. Yet she should not have a state funeral. Mrs Thatcher was not head of state, rather she was head of government. The prime ministers of the other two pivotal governments, namely Asquith (and Campbell-Bannerman), and then Attlee in 1945, were not accorded such an honour. It does not fit with the spirit of the British constitution. Churchill was given a state funeral, but the situation was different as he headed a National Government during the Second World War. Churchill was less of a party political figure that Thatcher and commanded respect across the political spectrum. A state funeral for Mrs Thatcher would merely re-kindle the passions that her period as prime minister created and prevent a more rational evaluation of the changes, for good and ill, her policies brought to us all.