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Britain reflects on Thatcher

People across the country have been paying tributes and protesting following the funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

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Former Welsh miner urges respect for Thatcher family

Wayne Thomas, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Wales, did not travel to London, says he still feels anger towards Baroness Thatcher, but has said that a debate on her policies should wait until after she has been laid to rest.

As a 22-year-old miner based in the Swansea Valley during 1984, his experiences of a year on strike have left an indelible mark.

Mr Thomas believes that the only fitting epitaph for Baroness Thatcher's grave would be "May God Forgive Her".

My view on the matter is quite clear - I do think that we should show respect for the family of Mrs Thatcher. They have lost a loved one.

There are grieving family members and we should respect that.

I think it has reopened the debate on the rights and wrongs of what she did. But that is a debate for after she has been buried.

I do think that people are trying to airbrush away how horrendous her policies actually were.

– Wayne Thomas, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers in Wales

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