Hague Defends Cost to Taxpayers of Thatcher Funeral

William Hague

As some around the country question the cost Thatcher’s funeral and the expense of bringing Parliament back for a day during its Easter recess for MPs and peers to pay tribute to her legacy, William Hague has defended the taxpayer contribution.

Speaking on BBC One’s Breakfast programme, Hague said:

“It’s right Parliament meets and commemorates such a leader of historic proportions…She changed the course of our history”

He then followed with equating the value to Thatcher’s EU rebate the the cost of her funeral, saying:

“When it comes to money, the rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75 billion – which is twice the size of our annual defence budget…”I think that puts money in perspective… so I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral.”