North East Somerset MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has paid a glowing tribute to Lady Thatcher.
The Conservative, who is on the right of his party, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Margaret Thatcher's death. She is among the greatest Prime Ministers that the United Kingdom has ever had.
"She ranks with the likes of Walpole, Chatham, Peel and Disraeli. In office she rescued a near-bankrupt state and restored prosperity and self-confidence to a great nation."
Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council's Conservative group, Councillor Francine Haeberling (Con, Saltford), also spoke warmly of Lady Thatcher.
"Margaret Thatcher was an iconic politician and true leader who will be remembered as one of our greatest Prime Ministers. As Britain's first female Prime Minister, she was also an inspiration to many women, demonstrating that female leaders could be just as able, articulate and ferociously intelligent as their male counterparts, if not more so.
"I hope that, even though we have lost Baroness Thatcher, her ideals will live on: those of aspiration, responsibility and enterprise. What Margaret Thatcher stood for remains just as relevant today as ever. She will be greatly missed."
A very different perspective was offered by Bath-based left wing film-maker Ken Loach.
Mr Loach said in a hard-hitting statement: "Margaret Thatcher was the most divisive and destructive Prime Minister of modern times.
"Mass unemployment, factory closures, communities destroyed – this is her legacy. She was a fighter and her enemy was the British working class. Her victories were aided by the politically-corrupt leaders of the Labour Party and of many trades unions. It is because of policies begun by her that we are in this mess today.
"Other prime ministers have followed her path, notably Tony Blair. She was the organ grinder, he was the monkey."
He added: "How should we honour her? Let's privatise her funeral. Put it out to competitive tender and accept the cheapest bid. It's what she would have wanted."
As Conservative Education Secretary in 1974, Lady Thatcher opened new facilities at King Edward's School in Bath.
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