Greenwich promoter behind anti-Margaret Thatcher Ding Dong the Witch is Dead song defends campaign

Mark Biddiss, who organises Greenwich's annual pantomime horse race, has been appearing on national television today as the Wizard of Oz song surges towards the top spot.

And he told News Shopper: "It's a peaceful protest. It doesn't involve roads being closed or violence. It's a peaceful way of doing things.

"It is a comment about her as a state figure and what she did, not about her as a person or her family. People aren't having a go at her as an old lady."

Mr Biddiss said he had been persuaded to help a group of three people who came up with the idea several years ago to mark the former Prime Minister's death.

He claimed the song was particularly important because of the vast amount of public money being spent on her Falklands-themed funeral, which has been compared unfavourably with the small event marking the death of Clement Attlee - a British premier who brought in the welfare system and NHS.

Mr Biddiss said: "If we're all in it together, why pay out £10m for a funeral and create the havoc that's going to happen?"

The 39-year-old promoter says three-quarters of those buying the song are aged over 40, dismissing the case that it's a cause being supported by "kids" who were not even alive when Baroness Thatcher was in charge.

He said: "Of course it's distasteful but it's symbolic.

"Lots of people feel they didn't have a voice when Margaret Thatcher was in power, even her own cabinet.

"The internet and this campaign provides them with one hell of a collective voice."

BBC radio bosses have come under pressure from some quarters not to play the song even if it does reach number one this weekend.

But Mr Biddiss insisted it should be played, adding: "Who'd have thought seven days ago that Dorothy, Judy Garland, and something from 70 years ago would be the most controversial track in music history?"

He added: "The response has been brilliant. So many people have come up and shaken my hand."