Thatcher: Should Radio 1 play ‘Ding, Dong’?

YES

The BBC should have played this single this weekend – because Thatcher wouldn’t give two figs about it anyway.

As prime minister she didn’t mind when people satired her on Spitting Image and I believe a lot of people recognise this.

There’s no doubt this song has has been artificially ramped up the charts and although there are other examples of this, this has to be recognised.

I can also understand those closest to her would naturally be upset by all of this.

However, if you go back to the woman herself, she just wouldn’t have been interested.

In a sense the reaction to her death is surprising, because it has been 20 years since she has been out of office.

But then this is a testament to the impact she has had on this country – whether you view that impact as positive or negative.

There wouldn’t have been such a campaign to get a song about John Major into the charts.

I can, however, understand why the BBC has taken this decision, considering the proximity to the funeral on Wednesday, the way in which this campaign has been ramped up, and out of respect for her family.

• Janice Forsyth is presenter of BBC Scotland’s The Culture Studio

The BBC became involved in this silly and misguided attempt to get this piece of music into the official charts when they took the decision to cover this story at every opportunity.

I’m extremely disappointed at the campaign that has been waged against Thatcher since her death. And I don’t think the BBC’s hands are clean in this.

The BBC may not be playing this piece of music in full this weekend, but I don’t think it should even feature in news reports, which they have confirmed it will be.

The attempt to provoke the download of this music is a sick joke.

And the BBC management quite clearly should have given far greater consideration to the fact this hate campaign related to the death of someone very prominent in British post-war history.

There are many things which have been said in recent days which will be remembered for years to come, about her time in office and legacy – and the corporation had a part in this.

It is the responsibility of the BBC to report the news, not to make the news, which ultimately it has done by allowing this row to go on.

As has happened many times in the past they are stepping over line, and becoming the story.

• Alex Johnstone is Conservative MSP for North East Scotland