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| Margaret Thatcher tribute to be boycotted by ex-Labour minister | Margaret Thatcher tribute to be boycotted by ex-Labour minister |
| (6 months later) | |
| A former minister in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's government is to boycott the special sitting of parliament in which MPs are due to pay tributes to Lady Thatcher, after accusing David Cameron of hijacking her death to promote Tory ideology. | A former minister in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's government is to boycott the special sitting of parliament in which MPs are due to pay tributes to Lady Thatcher, after accusing David Cameron of hijacking her death to promote Tory ideology. |
| In a sign of the deep unease in Labour ranks after Ed Miliband instructed his MPs to act in a respectful manner, the former housing minister John Healey said Thatcher's legacy was "too bitter to warrant this claim to national mourning". | In a sign of the deep unease in Labour ranks after Ed Miliband instructed his MPs to act in a respectful manner, the former housing minister John Healey said Thatcher's legacy was "too bitter to warrant this claim to national mourning". |
| Healey's intervention came as William Hague defended the decision to recall parliament from its Easter recess and said it was right for the state to fund most of the costs of Thatcher's funeral. The Thatcher Foundation will be making a contribution. | Healey's intervention came as William Hague defended the decision to recall parliament from its Easter recess and said it was right for the state to fund most of the costs of Thatcher's funeral. The Thatcher Foundation will be making a contribution. |
| The foreign secretary told the BBC: "When it comes to money, the rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75bn, which is twice the size of our annual defence budget. I think that puts money in perspective … So I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral." | The foreign secretary told the BBC: "When it comes to money, the rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75bn, which is twice the size of our annual defence budget. I think that puts money in perspective … So I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral." |
| Hague also said that leftwing critics of Thatcher resented her success. "They claimed to stand for millions of people but they could never get as many votes as Mrs Thatcher in an election," he said. | Hague also said that leftwing critics of Thatcher resented her success. "They claimed to stand for millions of people but they could never get as many votes as Mrs Thatcher in an election," he said. |
| But Healey, who also served as shadow health secretary in Miliband's first shadow cabinet, said he had decided to boycott the special session of parliament after the prime minister politicised Thatcher's death after initially responding in a statesmanlike way. He cited Cameron's list of Thatcher's achievements that included taming unions and freeing up enterprise. | But Healey, who also served as shadow health secretary in Miliband's first shadow cabinet, said he had decided to boycott the special session of parliament after the prime minister politicised Thatcher's death after initially responding in a statesmanlike way. He cited Cameron's list of Thatcher's achievements that included taming unions and freeing up enterprise. |
| Healey wrote on the Politics Home website: "Parliament is being used today for narrow political gain by the prime minister, as a platform for his party's ideology, not just eulogy … He's wrong to recall parliament, and wrong to hijack it in this way. I will play no part and I will stay away, with other things to do at home in the constituency." | Healey wrote on the Politics Home website: "Parliament is being used today for narrow political gain by the prime minister, as a platform for his party's ideology, not just eulogy … He's wrong to recall parliament, and wrong to hijack it in this way. I will play no part and I will stay away, with other things to do at home in the constituency." |
| The former minister was also critical of the decision to grant Thatcher a ceremonial funeral, which will be similar in scale to the state funeral granted to Winston Churchill in 1965. "Cameron is using the Commons as a warm-up act to the ceremonial funeral next Wednesday, complete with gun carriage, military procession and service at St Paul's. It's a full-scale state funeral in all but name when only one ex-prime minister in the last 100 years has been accorded such national honour and respect – Winston Churchill. | The former minister was also critical of the decision to grant Thatcher a ceremonial funeral, which will be similar in scale to the state funeral granted to Winston Churchill in 1965. "Cameron is using the Commons as a warm-up act to the ceremonial funeral next Wednesday, complete with gun carriage, military procession and service at St Paul's. It's a full-scale state funeral in all but name when only one ex-prime minister in the last 100 years has been accorded such national honour and respect – Winston Churchill. |
| "He was a prime minister that brought the country together. She was not. He was a prime minister to whom people could pay their respects as one nation. She is not. Her impact and influence is indisputable, but her legacy is too bitter to warrant this claim to national mourning." | "He was a prime minister that brought the country together. She was not. He was a prime minister to whom people could pay their respects as one nation. She is not. Her impact and influence is indisputable, but her legacy is too bitter to warrant this claim to national mourning." |
| The intervention by Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Deane, shows that many mainstream Labour figures feel deeply uncomfortable about Thatcher. Healey says that in South Yorkshire it is impossible to forget the destruction of the mining industry. | The intervention by Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Deane, shows that many mainstream Labour figures feel deeply uncomfortable about Thatcher. Healey says that in South Yorkshire it is impossible to forget the destruction of the mining industry. |
| David Winnick, the veteran Labour MP for Walsall North, was the first mainstream figure to challenge Miliband's approach when he told the Guardian on Tuesday that it would be "absolutely hypocritical" of MPs not to speak their mind. Winnick, first elected to parliament in 1966, accused Thatcher of showing "brutal contempt" towards innocent victims after the collapse of manufacturing industry. | David Winnick, the veteran Labour MP for Walsall North, was the first mainstream figure to challenge Miliband's approach when he told the Guardian on Tuesday that it would be "absolutely hypocritical" of MPs not to speak their mind. Winnick, first elected to parliament in 1966, accused Thatcher of showing "brutal contempt" towards innocent victims after the collapse of manufacturing industry. |
| Winnick's remarks prompted Nigel Evans, the deputy speaker elected as Tory MP for Ribble Valley in 1992, to call on MPs to show Thatcher respect. Evans, who knew Thatcher, praised Miliband's statesmanlike reaction. | Winnick's remarks prompted Nigel Evans, the deputy speaker elected as Tory MP for Ribble Valley in 1992, to call on MPs to show Thatcher respect. Evans, who knew Thatcher, praised Miliband's statesmanlike reaction. |
| But he told ITV Daybreak: "There may be some discordant voices. I have read in the Guardian that some Labour MPs said it would be hypocritical if we were not to say something about the things we didn't agree with her. But you can do that and still show some respect that is absolutely necessary when you're speaking about somebody who has just died." | But he told ITV Daybreak: "There may be some discordant voices. I have read in the Guardian that some Labour MPs said it would be hypocritical if we were not to say something about the things we didn't agree with her. But you can do that and still show some respect that is absolutely necessary when you're speaking about somebody who has just died." |
| Winnick said: "It would be absolutely hypocritical if those of us who were opposed at the time to what occurred – the mass unemployment, the poverty – were to remain silent when the house is debating her life. This will be an opportunity to speak frankly. | Winnick said: "It would be absolutely hypocritical if those of us who were opposed at the time to what occurred – the mass unemployment, the poverty – were to remain silent when the house is debating her life. This will be an opportunity to speak frankly. |
| "Obviously when a person dies one regrets it. But what I do regret first and foremost is the immense harm, certainly in the West Midlands where deindustrialisation occurred. | "Obviously when a person dies one regrets it. But what I do regret first and foremost is the immense harm, certainly in the West Midlands where deindustrialisation occurred. |
| "Even if it could be argued that some of it was inevitable, the manner in which it was done – the brutal contempt towards those who were innocent victims – was absolutely disgraceful." | "Even if it could be argued that some of it was inevitable, the manner in which it was done – the brutal contempt towards those who were innocent victims – was absolutely disgraceful." |
| The remarks by Winnick, who was elected MP for Walsall North in the 1979 election that brought Thatcher to power after serving as MP for Croydon South from 1966-70, shows that Miliband may be unable to control some of his MPs. | The remarks by Winnick, who was elected MP for Walsall North in the 1979 election that brought Thatcher to power after serving as MP for Croydon South from 1966-70, shows that Miliband may be unable to control some of his MPs. |
| One source said: "It is possible to disagree, with respect. Ed Miliband has made his position clear. We expect people to take note of that." | One source said: "It is possible to disagree, with respect. Ed Miliband has made his position clear. We expect people to take note of that." |
| John Bercow, the Speaker, will open proceedings at 2.30pm on Wednesday after deciding to recall the Commons. The Lords will also be sitting. | John Bercow, the Speaker, will open proceedings at 2.30pm on Wednesday after deciding to recall the Commons. The Lords will also be sitting. |
| David Cameron will speak first in the Commons. Miliband and Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, will then speak before backbenchers pay their respects. | David Cameron will speak first in the Commons. Miliband and Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, will then speak before backbenchers pay their respects. |
| The Tory benches are expected to be packed as MPs line up to praise the Conservative party's most revered leader after Winston Churchill. | The Tory benches are expected to be packed as MPs line up to praise the Conservative party's most revered leader after Winston Churchill. |
| Labour, which had been nervous that its benches would appear sparsely attended by its MPs, is confident of a good turnout. | Labour, which had been nervous that its benches would appear sparsely attended by its MPs, is confident of a good turnout. |
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