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'A great leader who transformed Britain': Twitter reaction to Thatcher's death
MPs and former colleagues were quick to declare the 87-year-old a 'great leader' who 'transformed the face of Britain' in Twitter tributes. Within minutes of Baroness Thatcher's passing, #Thatcher, #BaronessThatcher and #IronLady became trending topics on Twitter.
Social media networks were quick to mourn the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher today.
Baroness Thatcher was heralded on Twitter as a 'great leader' who 'transformed the face of Britain'.
Thatcher, 87, died this morning following a stroke, her spokesman Lord Bell said.
Lord Sugar was one of the first to pay his respects to 'The Iron Lady'.
He tweeted to his 2.8 million followers on Monday lunchtime: "Margaret Thatcher died today.A great lady she changed the face of British politics, created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK.RIP."
He later added: "Baroness Thatcher in the 80's kicked started the entrepreneurial revolution that allowed chirpy chappies to succeed and not just the elite."
David Cameron's office also reacted quickly to the news.
The PM's official Twitter account, @number10gov, tweeted: "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."
"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"
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) April 8, 2013
Margaret Thatcher died today.A great lady she changed the face of British politics, created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK.RIP
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) April 8, 2013
Devastated to read of the death of Lady Thatcher. The greatest woman ever to have entered politics. Our greatest peacetime Prime Minister.
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) April 8, 2013
My condolence to Thatcher family. First woman pm, a towering figure in British politics.
— Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) April 8, 2013
I send my deep condolences to Lady Thatcher's family, in particular Mark and Carol Thatcher. bit.ly/14Rkijg
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 8, 2013
Lady Thatcher didn’t just lead our country, she saved our country.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 8, 2013
Very sad to hear of the death of Margaret Thatcher. Our first woman PM, she was the one who truly 'broke the mould' of British poltics.
— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 8, 2013
Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher.Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics.
— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) April 8, 2013
Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch added her condolences on the social network, tweeting: "Devastated to read of the death of Lady Thatcher. The greatest woman ever to have entered politics. Our greatest peacetime Prime Minister."
Within minutes of Baroness Thatcher's passing, #Thatcher, #BaronessThatcher and #IronLady became trending topics on Twitter.
Other Conservative MPs also quickly took to their online channels to mark Baroness Thatcher's passing.
MP for Lichfield & Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, Michael Fabricant, said online: "Margaret Thatcher transformed the face of Britain and of all political parties. We are all Thatcher's children."
The political world was united this afternoon as members of the opposition also paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher.
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, posted to her 41,000 Twitter followers: "My condolence to Thatcher family. First woman pm, a towering figure in British politics."
Shadow International Development Secretary Ivan Lewis said: "Hoping all Labour supporters will respond with dignity + respect to news of Baroness Thatcher's death. Our thoughts with her family + friends."
Very few divide opinion like Baroness Thatcher. Loved and loathed in equal measure, but remembered by all.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 8, 2013
Brave, divisive, formidable, tough, stubborn, dominant & domineering, Margaret Thatcher bestrode the world like a political colossus. RIP.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 8, 2013
RIP Baroness Thatcher .x
— Harry Styles (@Harry_Styles) April 8, 2013
Thinking of our 1st Lady of girl power ,Margaret Thatcher ,a green grocer's daughter who taught me any thing is possible...x
— Geri Halliwell (@GeriHalliwell) April 8, 2013
And former Labour minister and MP Tony McNulty tweeted: "God bless her and thoughts are with her family. RIP."
The Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood tweeted: "Sad news about Baroness Thatcher. Don't miss her policies but a towering figure in 20th c British politics, & made history UK's 1st woman PM."
Political blogger Guido Fawkes closed his blog for the day as a mark of respect to the former prime minister.
Instead it showed only a large picture of Baroness Thatcher's face with the words "Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013".
