Border Prime Minister News

The Prime Minister has also criticised high payments to public officials following reports of a large severance deal being given to the Chief Executive of Cumbria County Council.

55-year-old Jill Stannard is retiring early from her post, which has a salary of £170,000 a year.

Carlisle's MP John Stevenson says he believes she will receive a large pay off:

• Politics
• Prime Minister
• Jill Stannard

The Prime Minister has said he will investigate the actions of Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner following the arrest of three whistleblowers last week.

Details of how Richard Rhodes hired a chauffer driven Mercedes at a cost of almost £700 were leaked to a local newspaper.

Following a complaint by the Commissioner's office, three arrests were made, but Mr Rhodes insists that complaint did not come from him.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question from the Cumbrian MP Tim Farron:

• Politics
• Prime Minister
• Police and Crime Commissioner

A Borders politician has hit out at plans to hold a debate on Margaret Thatcher at Holyrood on the day of her funeral.

Tory MSP John Lamont says the timing has been designed to cause upset and offence.

But the Scottish Green party, who called the debate on Wednesday, say it's important to discuss the impact of the Thatcher years on Scotland.

• Politics
• Margaret Thatcher
• Prime Minister

The Scottish Parliament will debate the legacy of Baroness Thatcher on the day of her funeral.

The Green-Independent group have set aside allotted time in parliament on Wednesday to debate and are calling for all MSPs to participate.

The proposed title is 'There is still such a thing as society'.

"Margaret Thatcher has died, but the tragedy for huge numbers of people is that Thatcherism as an ideology still lives. We aim to encourage honest consideration of the legacy of Thatcherism, the core elements of which - competition and selfishness - continue to affect our society and our economy.

"There are those on both sides of the independence divide who oppose the values of Thatcherism; they will need to find ways to work together after the referendum, whatever the result."

"We will be contesting the timing of this motion which seems to have been designed to cause the most upset and controversy.

"The Scottish Conservatives will have no problem partaking in this debate when it arrives. But we believe the Greens should reconsider whether their own narrow-minded agenda is more important than the funeral of one of the UK's finest-ever leaders."

• Politics
• Margaret Thatcher
• Prime Minister

Members of Parliament travelling back to the UK from overseas to pay tribute to Baroness Thatcher can claim up to £3,750 in travel expenses, it was confirmed today.

MPs are able to claim for their journeys back following the recall of Parliament during the Easter recess, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) says.

• Politics
• Margaret Thatcher
• Prime Minister

The funeral of Baroness Thatcher, which is being planned by a special Cabinet Office committee under the name ‘Operation True Blue’, will reportedly cost around £10 million.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude yesterday said MoD, the police, Number 10, Parliamentary authorities, the Thatcher family and the Conservative Party were in involved in planning the ceremony.

It will be the biggest security operation since the Olympics, according to The Sun, as fears mount that protestors could attempt to disrupt proceedings.

The Guardian says the threat of Irish republic terrorists are under the spotlight.

The Independent reports that social media and internet forums are being monitored for potential troublemakers.

Read - Margaret Thatcher's ceremonial funeral to be held at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday

• UK
• Margaret Thatcher
• Conservatives

The man who provided police protection to Lady Thatcher, Bob Milton, said the biggest risk to the former Prime Minister's funeral is the "lone individual".

He said opportunists could use the day to "mark their hatred" for the former Conservative leader.

• UK
• Margaret Thatcher
• Prime Minister

Carlisle MP John Stevenson has paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher:

• Politics
• John Stevenson
• Margaret Thatcher

With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend.

As a grocer’s daughter who rose to become Britain’s first female prime minister, she stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered.

As prime minister, she helped restore the confidence and pride that has always been the hallmark of Britain at its best.

And as an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.

Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history—we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will.

Michelle and I send our thoughts to the Thatcher family and all the British people as we carry on the work to which she dedicated her life—free peoples standing together, determined to write our own destiny.

• World
• Barack Obama
• Margaret Thatcher