Manchester clubs have no plans for minute's silence or black armbands to mark Baroness Thatcher's death



There are no plans in place to mark the death of Baroness Thatcher at tonight’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

The former Prime Minister, who had suffered bouts of illness for many years, died peacefully aged 87 following a stroke this morning.

Football clubs can choose to mark the passing of significant figures by wearing black armbands or holding a minute’s silence.Last night Downing Street and Westminster Abbey lowered its flags to half mast but Manchester United have confirmed they have no plans to mark her passing with minute's silence and neither club is expected to wear black armbands.

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Read Martin Samuel's hard-hitting column written after the minute's silence before England played Brazil at Wembley In normal circumstances, it is up to the club to decide whether to mark the occasion.

Occasionally, and if the Premier League deems it suitable, then the body can demand a minute’s silence in respect of the deceased, but there is no precedent for marking the death of a political figure before a league game.

A Premier League spokesman said: 'The Premier League will not be requesting that clubs hold a minute’s silence at their upcoming fixtures for Baroness Thatcher.'

She was a controversial political figure but will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul’s Cathedral, Downing Street said today. Tragedy: Thatcher visits Hillsborough after 96 people were killed in 1989 Anger: Liverpool fans hit out at Thatcher - she was misinformed by a senior police officer that 'drunken Liverpool fans' were to blame for Hillsborough Thatcher's premiership coincided with two of the greatest tragedies to hit English football. In 1985, 56 fans were killed at Bradford's Valley Parade stadium when it was engulfed by fire. Then, four years later, 96 people lost their lives during an FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at Hillsborough. In the aftermath of the disaster, Thatcher was was misinformed by a senior police officer that 'drunken Liverpool fans' were to blame. Remnants: Thatcher also visited Valley Parade after 56 were killed at Bradford's stadium Rebuild: Thatcher at Bradford's rebuilt ground after it was reopened following the fire Current Prime Minister David Cameron issued a 'profound apology' last year after an independent report showed the police had failed to do enough to help victims and had tried to blame Liverpool fans.

She came to power at the end of the infamous Winter of Discontent in 1979 and spent the next decade curbing the power of trade unions, which had a great effect all over the country and especially in Manchester. Her year-long battle with striking miners in 1984/85 typified her confrontational attitude to the union movement and her victory paved the way for a radical shift in the balance of power in industrial relations. All smiles: Thatcher shares a joke with Kevin Keegan, Terry McDermott, Phil Thompson and Emlyn Hughes Hands on: Baroness Thatcher passed away aged 87 following a massive stroke

The Conservative government introduced eight employment-related acts between 1970 and 1990 which all hit union power. Thatcher’s spokesman, Lord Bell, said: ‘It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother, Baroness Thatcher, died peacefully following a stroke this morning.’ One step closer: United will look to extend their lead at the top of the table against their bitter rivals City honours: The league champions are playing for pride tonight after a tough season RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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