Demonstrators turn their backs as the funeral procession of  Margaret Thatcher travels towards St Paul's Cathedral (Reuters)
Demonstrators turn their backs as the funeral procession of Margaret Thatcher travels towards St Paul's Cathedral (Reuters)

Anti-Margaret Thatcher protesters lined the streets for the funeral of the former Prime Minister to turn their backs on the casket as it passed by.

More than 100 people gathered at Ludgate Circus to protest against the hugely divisive former Prime Minister's policies and the reported £10m funeral bill part-funded by the taxpayer, at a time of austerity and widespread government cuts.

Chants of "waste of money" and boos were heard from the group of protesters in an area pre-arranged with police, close to St Paul's where the funeral service took place.

However, most of the small group took part in "silent and dignified" protests by turning their back as the casket carrying the 87-year-old made its way past.

Protesters hold placards with anti-Thatcher statements during the day of her funeral
Protesters hold placards with anti-Thatcher statements during the day of her funeral

The number of protesters was smaller than originally anticipated, with the Metropolitan police confirming more than 4,000 officers would be on duty to cope with any potential disruption to the service.

Police said no arrests were made on the morning of Thatcher's funeral, but three people were arrested the night before on suspicion of criminal damage and being in possession of articles likely to be used to commit criminal damage in relation to the service.

Sacha Ifmal, who attended the back-turning protests, told IB Times UK: "People have asked if it is appropriate to protest at someone's death, and I think the answer to that is yes.

"The reason for that is I think Margaret Thatcher caused a lot of misery and suffering. We're living in a world she made in the sense that she's dead, but Thatcherism very much isn't and she represented the interests of the very rich and powerful as opposed to everyone else, and the world for the last 30 years has been shaped by that.

"I'm here to protest against what she represented but also clearing the way for new sets of struggles against people like her in the future".

protests

The protests had been strongly condemned by many people in attendance of the procession, who described the event as "repugnant", "vile" and "a disgrace".

A woman who did not wished to be named told how she travelled down to London from Glasgow to attend the protest.

She told our reporter: "I was anti-Thatcher when she was in power and I've been anti her policies and her legacies for the last 20-odd years, and I always said I would show my respect for Thatcher's victims and the communities that she decimated.

"I've come down here to purposely involve myself in whatever peaceful protest in relation to this, and in particular the £10m funeral."

Responding to the criticisms, she added: "We're perfectly entitled to do this, this is a public street and that's public money that's been spent here so we're perfectly entitled to come down and show our reaction along with all the other people who are down here."

The issue of the cost of the service has been a source of criticism since the funeral plans were announced, with many believing the event should be privatised.

Georgie, a student from London, said she was solely protesting because of the cost of the service.

She said: "It's costing £10m when the government insist that we have no money to help the less vulnerable in our society but we apparently do have enough to spend on this funeral even though it hasn't happened for any other Prime Minister since Churchill and it's not as if the Thatcher family couldn't afford it themselves."

Speaking after the service, Cmdr Christine Jones, of the Met Police, said: "We would like to thank Londoners and visitors to the city for their co-operation today, particularly in relation to travel disruptions.

"We are also grateful to those members of the public who spoke with us prior to the event and enabled us to facilitate their peaceful protest in a way which did not impact either their protest or those who wished to pay their respects."

More than 2,000 people attended the service for Thatcher, including the Queen, Prince Phillip, Henry Kissinger, Sarah Ferguson, Tony Blair and John Major.

The coffin of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher is carried by the Bearer Party as it arrives for her funeral service (Reuters)
The coffin of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher is carried by the Bearer Party as it arrives for her funeral service (Reuters)