08/04/2013

Margaret Thatcher Dies, Aged 87

Former UK Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher has died following a stroke at the age of 87.

Her spokesman, Lord Bell, said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.

"A further statement will be made later."

Prime Minister David Cameron has cut short a trip to Europe to return to the UK following the news. Mr Cameron said: "It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton."

Downing Street has said Margaret Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral.

The first female British prime Minister in UK history, Lady Thatcher was elected in 1979 and served 11 years unbroken in office.

Loved and loathed in seemingly equal measure, she will be remembered for her battles with trade unions, her dealings with IRA hunger strikers in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland and for the Falklands War with Argentina.

Many view her reign as one of the most important eras in British political history, while others will remember her for the privatisation of public services and withdrawing free school milk for children aged between seven and 11.

Lady Thatcher had been suffering from dementia and declining health for some years. She withdrew from public life in 2002 after a series of mini strokes.

(IT/CD)

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