Thatcher Funeral 'Not Over The Top' Says Maude

The Government has defended the lavish plans for Baroness Thatcher's funeral, as a new poll showed more than half the British public oppose using taxpayers' money to pay for it.

Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, tasked with organising parts of Wednesday's ceremonial service, said it would be a "fitting send-off" and insisted the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

He told Sky's Murnaghan: "Of course with any funeral of any former prime minister the state inevitably plays a big role.

"Normally of course there would be a funeral followed by a memorial service. She was very adamant that she didn't want that, she wanted a single service. So this needs to be a fitting event for a very great lady."

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

Lady Thatcher at a Royal Hospital Chelsea event in 2008

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's, bringing to the fore the issue of who will pay.

While her estate will make a contribution, Downing Street has refused to give details about how much the service will cost the taxpayer, saying this will be revealed after the funeral.

But a ComRes survey for the Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Mirror has found that only 25% of people think it should be funded by the public purse - compared to 60% who are against the idea.

The survey also showed that one in three people think she was Britain's greatest peacetime prime minister - although 41% of people disagreed.

Labour's former deputy prime minister John Prescott angrily denounced the cost in his column for the Sunday Mirror.

"Thatcher split this country, North and South, the haves and have nots, 'one of us' or 'the enemy within'. This country paid enough thanks to that woman. So why the hell should we continue to pay now she's dead?," he wrote.

"Privatise her funeral. It would be a fitting tribute," he added.

David Cameron and William Hague both defended using taxpayers' money last week, insisting it would be wrong not to mark Lady Thatcher's huge contribution to the nation.

David Cameron will do a Bible reading at the funeral

The Foreign Secretary said: "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."

The poll comes as the Government released the Order of Service for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, allowing the public to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes by. 

It is the same honour bestowed on Diana, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.

Then there will be a single bell will toll as the funeral cortege draws up to St Paul's, and 14 Chelsea pensioners will line the steps as the coffin is taken into the cathedral.

The presence of the pensioners - the oldest aged 90 - is aimed at reflecting the strong connection Lady Thatcher built up with the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the last 10 years.

In front of the coffin, Michael and Amanda Thatcher, grandchildren of the former prime minister, will carry cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit and lay them on the Dome Altar.

The service, attended by the Queen, will be "framed" by British music, with traditional pieces by great British composers played at the beginning and at the end.

Lady Thatcher's love of poetry will be reflected in her choice of TS Eliot's Little Gidding, which will be printed on the opening page of the Order of Service and William Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality on the final page.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Amanda Thatcher will deliver the readings from the King James Bible - of which she was particularly fond.

It was confirmed that the hymns will be He Who Would Valiant Be, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Psalm 84 set to the music of Johannes Brahms, and the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country.

The funeral address will be delivered by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The military procession leading to the service will feature more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel from units particularly associated with the Falklands War, including some from the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

Plans are also developing for Lady Thatcher's legacy to be enshrined in the creation of a major new institution to promote her political philosophy and shape future Tory politics.

Supporters of the former leader are working on a Margaret Thatcher library for London as a lasting memorial.

Backers also aim to raise £15m in private funds to establish the combined library, museum and training centre.

It is planned that visitors will be able to view key artefacts from her time in office, such as her trademark blue Aquascutum suits and handbags.

:: ComRes interviewed 2,012 Great Britain adults online on April 10 and 11.

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