Hundreds of Scots to attend new wave of Thatcher death parties

At least 44 parties will be held worldwide to mark the Iron Lady’s death, including gatherings in London's Trafalgar Square and 30 others in the UK, Denver, Colorado, Oslo and New Zealand.

Writing on the Facebook page for the George Square event, one poster said: "That witch done nothing for Scotland. The death of mining industry, the introduction of the poll tax to Scotland first and not to forget Maggie Thatcher the milk snatcher. Tramp the dirt down right enough. She should have been burnt at the stake years ago."

Police Scotland said they had no information of any activity scheduled to take place at the mound this weekend. However, they said that any events would be proportionately policed.

A spokesperson said: "Any events, displays that take place within the city of Edinburgh will be police appropriately to ensure they pass peacefully and without incident."

Commenting on the George Square event, a spokesperson addeid: "We are aware of the proposed event. Police will be in attendance and it will be policed appropriately."

Saturday's scheduled events follow impromptu gatherings in Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK on Monday, hours after the death of the former prime minister was announced.

A crowd of 200-300 people assembled in George Square where in 1989 protests against the introduction of Thatcher's poll tax took place. Some wore party hats and launched streamers into the air while a bottle of champagne was opened with a toast to her demise.

That prompted widespread condemnation by politicians, notably Tony Blair, and David Cameron today described some reaction to Lady Thatcher's death as "pretty distasteful".

The Prime Minister said he thought the majority of national feeling was to grieve for the loss of a great leader, but conceded that sections of society did not agree.

Speaking on a visit to Derby, Mr Cameron said: "I think the overwhelming sense across the country, and you can see it yesterday in the House of Commons, is that we are mourning the loss of someone who gave a huge amount to this country, that was an extraordinary leader.

"I think that is how the overwhelming majority of people feel.

"Of course, some people won't agree with that but I think that some of the scenes we have seen are frankly pretty distasteful, but people should be responsible for themselves."

Her funeral will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, April 17. Edinburgh Council has confirmed that the big screen in the city's Festival Square will be switched off during the funeral to ensure it does not become a focal point for public disorder.

Meanwhile, a row has broken out over suggestions that a statue should be built in honour of Lady Thatcher. Conservative politicians have called for a commemorative statue and one of the suggested sites is Trafalgar Square.

But Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly, said it would not be appropriate to have a statue of Baroness Thatcher in the central London square, which was the scene of riots over the poll tax when Mrs Thatcher was PM.

He said: "She was a significant figure, but she was a divisive figure. I would argue that Margaret Thatcher did great harm to many people in London, and to place a statue of her at the site of the poll tax riots, which symbolised just how divisive she was, would be crass triumphalism.

"This would also mean the fourth plinth would not be available for future artworks, which has been hugely successful and popular."

Details of more than 2,000 guests being invited to the funeral were issued today - including all her former Cabinet ministers, ex-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

Downing Street released information about the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral as Lady Thatcher's old political adversary Lord Kinnock revealed he would not be attending.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Nancy Reagan have also said health problems will prevent them attending next Wednesday - but Lord Heseltine will be there.

Number 10 said the guest list had been drawn up by Lady Thatcher's family and representatives with the assistance of the Government and the Conservative Party.

More than 2,000 invitations are expected to be printed today and sent out tomorrow. Altogether 2,300 people are set to pack St Paul's.

A spokeswoman said: "Those invited include family and friends of Lady Thatcher, those who worked with her over the years, including all surviving members of her Cabinets, former Chiefs of Staff, Conservative associates, peers and MPs, members of the Cabinet, peers and MPs, members of the Order of the Garter, members of the Order of Merit, foreign associates and dignitaries and representatives from the wide range of groups she was associated with.

"In agreement with Lady Thatcher's representatives, around 200 states, territories and international organisations are being invited to send an official representative to the funeral service.

"We have invited those countries and institutions with whom we have normal diplomatic relations. In addition, there are invitations being made in a personal capacity to some current and former world leaders as well as others from overseas who had a close connection to Baroness Thatcher."

According to Downing Street, confirmed guests so far include Tony Blair and wife Cherie, former South Africa leader FW de Klerk, and Lord Jeffrey Archer with wife Mary.

Singer Dame Shirley Bassey and composer Lord Lloyd-Webber are also due to attend the service, which will begin at 11am after Lady Thatcher's body has travelled from Parliament with full military honours.

A representative of former South African president Nelson Mandela - whose ANC Lady Thatcher once described as a terrorist group - has been invited.

The dress code for the event gives guests the option of "Full Day Ceremonial without swords", "Morning Dress (Black Waistcoat and Black Tie) / dark suit", or "Day dress with Hat".

It also specifies that "medals and decorations" may be worn.

The invitations will be colour coded depending on the importance of the guest. VIP versions are white with red or green stripes and recipients will be seated under the dome of the cathedral.

Other colours designate different areas of seating.

Lord Kinnock's office said he had already accepted an invitation to a service on Wednesday for a friend who died shortly before Lady Thatcher.

"He will not be attending because a councillor in his old constituency died a few days before Lady Thatcher," a spokeswoman said. "He promised he would got to the funeral. He will be in Wales."

Lord Heseltine, who effectively forced Lady Thatcher out of office by mounting a leadership challenge in 1990, will be attending with his wife, according to his office.

Argentina's president Cristina Kirchner has not been invited to Lady Thatcher's funeral, according to Downing Street.

However, the country's ambassador to the UK has been asked to attend.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the protocol was that a representative would be invited from every state with which Britain had normal diplomatic relations.

"This is in keeping with diplomatic protocol for occasions like this," she added.