Statue of Margaret Thatcher (Palace of Westminster)
Statue of Margaret Thatcher | |
---|---|
Artist | Antony Dufort |
Completion date | 21 February 2007 |
Medium | Bronze |
Subject | Margaret Thatcher |
Dimensions | 223 cm (88 in) |
Weight | 451 kilograms (994 lb) |
Location | Members' Lobby, Palace of Westminster, London |
51°29′59″N 0°07′29″W / 51.4997°N 0.1248°W |
A statue of
Description
The statue is 2.23 metres (7.3 ft) high, and cast in bronze.
History
Historical rules prevented the erection of a statue in the Houses of Parliament of any living parliamentarian.[5]
However, in 2002, these rules were changed to allow for a statue or bust to be displayed of a former prime minister once five years have passed after their death, or when three Parliaments have elapsed after their resignation from the post. The second criterion is on the proviso that at least twelve years have passed and that they are no longer a sitting
The statue was unveiled in the Members' Lobby on 21 February 2007 by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon. Michael Martin MP.[2] During a speech at the unveiling, Baroness Thatcher, nicknamed "The Iron Lady" during her tenure as prime minister, said, "I might have preferred iron, but bronze will do. It won't rust. And, this time I hope, the head will stay on."[3] The beheading comment was in reference to a previous statue of Thatcher, originally intended for the Palace of Westminster, which was vandalised through decapitation whilst on loan to London's Guildhall Art Gallery.[3]
After its erection, the statue was compared unfavourably with other statues due to its height as it is only around 2 feet (0.61 m) taller than Baroness Thatcher in real life. Comparisons were made with such statues as the
The statue's arrival was not welcomed by all MPs; the Labour MP Stephen Hepburn called for the removal of the statue only a week after it was installed. He gained the support of three other MPs, including Glenda Jackson.[6]
In 2013, MPs were warned not to touch the statue's toes for good luck as it was damaging it.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Mangan, Lucy (26 February 2007). "Why Margaret Thatcher's statue doesn't measure up". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Unveiling of a Statue of Baroness Thatcher in Members Lobby, House of Commons". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "The Iron Lady Commemorated in Bronze". NBC News. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ ""Iron Lady" unveils her bronze statue". Reuters. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Where should Margaret Thatcher's statue go?". BBC News. 4 February 2002. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- The Free Library.
- ^ "Do not touch Thatcher or Churchill statue feet, MPs told". BBC News. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
External links
- Hay, Malcolm, ed. (21 February 2007). "Baroness Thatcher booklet" (PDF). Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 December 2014.