‘almost overwhelming day‘ for osborne

He was visibly emotional during the service – despite previously admitting that he hardly knew her.

In common with most Tory MPs, Mr Osborne is a huge admirer of the former Prime Minister.

He was said to be pleased when the Daily Mail ran a Budget front page in March Photoshopping their images together.

In an article for The Times after Lady Thatcher’s death last week, Mr Osborne wrote of the “overpowering” effect of her historical significance on his generation of Conservative politicians.

“Sometimes that sense of historical greatness risks being overpowering for the two generations of politicians who have come after her, including my own.

Posting on Twitter afterwards he wrote: “A moving, almost overwhelming day.”