Big Ben to fall silent for Thatcher’s funeral

The chimes of Big Ben are to be officially silenced for the first time in nearly half a century to mark tomorrow’s funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

The move intensified controversy over the lavish ceremony as the honour has not been granted since the state funeral of wartime leader Winston Churchill in 1965.

Critics of the scale of Britain’s national farewell to Thatcher said the decision proved the event was a de-facto state occasion, despite Conservative prime minister David Cameron claiming it was not on that level.