ABSTRACT
Big Ben was not the only bell to be muted by the corroding Iron Lady. And it is the silencing of these alternative chimes that reveals a very different ‘memory track’ to the one charted in the previous chapter (Dick 1994: 217). The account that follows complements this earlier discussion by considering Thatcher’s legacy from the perspective of her detractors. This counter-narrative demonstrates a congruence between past and present politics; conflicting views about policy and personality evident in an individual’s lifetime extend to disagreements over that person’s posthumous standing. These disputes have a bearing on the symbolic sphere. A contested life leads to a heightened profile, increasing the likelihood of commemoration. Yet with this comes division, placing remembrance in jeopardy by fracturing the veneer of unanimity. At its extreme, opposition can be sufficiently intense as to delay or disclaim such a tribute. The responses to the death of Margaret Thatcher are illustrative of this. Her ceremonial exit had the look and character of a state funeral, shorn of its most contentious and problematic aspects. Such hurdles have proven less easy to negotiate when it comes to the creation of a tangible memorial beyond the safe confines of parliament. There are, of course, many more ways to commemorate dead politicians than by erecting bronze statues on granite pedestals. Tokens of remembrance take a variety of forms, including manifestations of overt disrespect. Dishonourable mentions have the potential to enliven the dead zone. Disparagement can, therefore, be understood as a very effective guard against forgetting. A lively, heated debate injects life into a body that has stiffened and grown cold. Thatcher’s heart might have stopped, but the beat goes on.
