Ex Pms At Cenotaph

[Prudie]

Can anyone explain the protocol that has Blair, Brown and Major laying wreaths straight after Queen and party leaders etc at the Cenotaph this morning. Is it last 3 PMs, last 3 living or what?

[factor-fiction]

I think they are the only living PMs apart from Cameron

[Prudie]

I did wonder that factor but couldn't recall Ted Heath dying but he has in 2005. So it's any living ex PM then?

[jno]

Callaghan, Heath, Thatcher, all gone.

[boxtops]

Even Brown was there, who has had a very low profile since leaving office.

[jno]

I think the "office" here is "former PM". A bit like the USA, where I believe you're still called "Mr President" till you die.

[puternut]

Only saw a bit of the service but I thought that Cameron, Clegg, Miliband and so on followed Lizzie. Major, Blair or Brown didn't actually lay a wreath unless it was later in the ceremony!

[Prudie]

Puternut you may very well be right, I was listening rather than watching but they were named immediately after the main lot on the BBC commentary.

[mikey4444]

I have always thought thought that all ex-PMs are invited.

With respect Steve.5...drivel. This isn't the time for party politics.

[bednobs]

agreed - drivel

[bednobs]

ps how do you know it's "false sentiment"? i can't imagine even the leaders i despise the most thinking "goody, let's go to war, it'll be fantastic" I am just grateful i'm not the one who had to make a decision like that. Are you saying we shouldn't have ANY armed forces then?

[mikey4444]

Steve.5...I will agree with you that the real part of Remembrance Sunday is the march-past, but I fear it wouldn't happen without the first bit. As I have said on another thread today, I was in PC World at 11.00 today and everybody stood still, were completely silent, and showed respect, As they turned the bl00dy radios, TVs and stereos off as well, it was a pleasant change from usual visits to this shop !

[bednobs]

hmm, you are making it a bit difficult for me to grasp - you'll have to spell it out i'm afraid. the reason they are united in grief is because we all are (aren't we?)
the reason they don't pull together for the good of the country at other times is because they have different ideas on the way the country should be run - that's politics!
how do you know it's false? politician are people you know, i doubt they glory in how many people have died
"its a show of false sentiment dressed up as pomp." - the cenotaph ceremony?