National Geographic

Margaret Thatcher is reportedly in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's, but her handlers still know better than to allow Sarah Palin anywhere near her.

A meeting with Margaret Thatcher in the centenary year of Reagan's birth would be the perfect way of launching her bid for the Republican nomination for the 2012 US presidential election. This is what Palin told Christina Lamb in the Sunday Times: "I am going to Sudan in July and hope to stop in England on the way. I am just hoping Mrs Thatcher is well enough to see me as I so admire her." It appears that the former prime minister has no intention of meeting the darling of the Tea Party movement.

Andy McSmith reported in the Independent this morning that Palin is likely to be "thwarted" on the grounds that Thatcher, 86, rarely makes public appearances. It would appear that the reasons go deeper than Thatcher's frail health. Her allies believe that Palin is a frivolous figure who is unworthy of an audience with the Iron Lady. This is what one ally tells me: "Lady Thatcher will not be seeing Sarah Palin. That would be belittling for Margaret. Sarah Palin is nuts."

Publicity stills have been released for the upcoming Margaret Thatcher biopic starring Meryl Streep.

Streep said, "The prospect of exploring the swathe cut through history by this remarkable woman is a daunting and exciting challenge. "I am trying to approach the role with as much zeal, fervour and attention to detail as the real Lady Thatcher possesses - I can only hope my stamina will begin to approach her own." The film, called The Iron Lady, also stars Jim Broadbent as her husband Denis. Other members of the cast include Anthony Head, Richard E Grant and John Sessions.

The film's PR flacks say the movie is about "a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world, an achievement helped along by licking the boots of Ronald Reagan." I may have slightly edited that quote.