TONY Blair last night led condemnation of plans by former North-East miners to celebrate Margaret Thatcher’s funeral by throwing a party.

MPs from across the political divide spoke out after the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) voted to mark the former Conservative Prime Minister’s funeral at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral next Wednesday (April 17) with a party at Easington Colliery Working Men’s Club, in east Durham.

Former Labour Prime Minister and Sedgefield MP Tony Blair said such parties were in “pretty poor taste” and urged people to “show some respect”.

James Wharton, Tory MP for Stockton South, said the announcement was disgraceful, totally inappropriate and showed why Lady Thatcher had “won the political battles she did against these people in the ‘80s”.

Martin Callanan, Conservative MEP for the North-East, said the DMA was glorying in the death of an old lady. He labelled the decision "sad and pathetic".

Labour MPs also distanced themselves from the celebrations.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones said a party would be tactless while, when asked if he would attend, Grahame Morris, who represents Easington, said he would not, but he understood people’s feelings.

Earlier, Downing Street announced the funeral of Lady Thatcher, who died on Monday at the age of 87 after suffering a series of strokes, would take place with full military honours at St Paul’s, following a procession from Westminster.

Lady Thatcher’s will not be a state funeral but a ceremonial funeral – one rung down, normally reserved for monarchs and the same status as that granted to Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

Meanwhile, hundreds of former miners are expected to gather for the Easington party, subject to the approval of the club’s committee.

A pre-planned event marking 20 years since Easington colliery closed will now have a dual purpose.

Alan Cummings, chairman of the DMA, said: “The damage she did to our communities, the lads want to do it.

“She’ll go down as the worst Prime Minister there’s ever been. I’m pleased she’s gone. She was an evil woman.

“What she started has continued and will continue after her death. I don’t know if these communities will ever recover.

“She has wrecked thousands and thousands of lives so, no, it’s not in poor taste.”

Women who manned soup kitchens during the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike will hold a separate party at the same venue on the eve of the funeral.

Organiser Heather Wood said: “I think it will be wonderful. Everybody will be happy.”

Impromptu parties celebrating Lady Thatcher’s death took place on Monday night in cities including Bristol, London and Glasgow and The Wizard of Oz song Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead has enjoyed a massive upsurge in downloads which could propel it to the top of the charts.

A senior source said Labour leader Ed Miliband categorically condemned any celebrations.