Funeral costs to be ‘much less’ than £10m
The Minister, who has been overseeing the funeral arrangements, said the state would always pay the costs of the funeral and memorial service of a former prime minister. He added that Lady Thatcher’s family would be bearing some of the cost.
Speaking on ITV’s Daybreak programme, Mr Maude said Lady Thatcher was a “remarkable” premier who made a “massive contribution” and it was right in a “decent country” that this should be recognised.
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Hide Ad“The costs will be a fraction of what is being bandied around,” he said.
“The state will always pay for the costs of a funeral and memorial service of a former prime minister and Margaret Thatcher was very adamant she did not want to have a separate memorial service, so this is the one occasion where people have the opportunity to pay their respects, give her a send-off and commemorate what was, by any consideration, a very remarkable life.”
He said it was right that the country recognised “a game-changing prime minister, both for Britain and also a leader internationally”.