Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has criticised a decision to hold a one minute silence at Sandy Park on Saturday in memory of Margaret Thatcher.
The Exeter Chiefs made the decision to pay their respects to the controversial former Prime Minister ahead of the game against London Irish and are one of only two top flight clubs to do so. The other is Saracens.
Exeter Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe said: "This is not about politics, it's about respect."
But Mr Bradshaw said it was the "wrong decision."
He added: "A minute's silence is generally held at times of national mourning for a monarch or to remember a national tragedy, when the nation comes together, united, to pay its respects.
"Lady Thatcher was a highly divisive figure, whatever you think of her, and the overwhelming majority of sports bodies have decided not to hold a silence and I think that's the right decision.
"It's certainly a matter for the Exeter Chiefs to decide for themselves, but looking at the evidence on their own website and on other fans' websites there's certainly not a lot of support for it and I think it's the wrong decision."
Mr Rowe said: "This is a mark of respect for a great statesperson. As many people have agreed with us having a minute's silence as have disagreed."
But readers of our website thisisexeter.co.uk have voted overwhelmingly against the decision to stage the tribute.
The sites users voted against the decision in our online poll 'Should Exeter Chiefs hold a minute silence before Saturday's match?' which finished with 87 per cent voting against the decision and only 13 per cent agreeing with it. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
The Exeter Chiefs made the decision to pay their respects to the controversial former Prime Minister ahead of the game against London Irish and are one of only two top flight clubs to do so. The other is Saracens.
Exeter Chiefs chairman Tony Rowe said: "This is not about politics, it's about respect."
But Mr Bradshaw said it was the "wrong decision."
He added: "A minute's silence is generally held at times of national mourning for a monarch or to remember a national tragedy, when the nation comes together, united, to pay its respects.
"Lady Thatcher was a highly divisive figure, whatever you think of her, and the overwhelming majority of sports bodies have decided not to hold a silence and I think that's the right decision.
"It's certainly a matter for the Exeter Chiefs to decide for themselves, but looking at the evidence on their own website and on other fans' websites there's certainly not a lot of support for it and I think it's the wrong decision."
Mr Rowe said: "This is a mark of respect for a great statesperson. As many people have agreed with us having a minute's silence as have disagreed."
But readers of our website thisisexeter.co.uk have voted overwhelmingly against the decision to stage the tribute.
The sites users voted against the decision in our online poll 'Should Exeter Chiefs hold a minute silence before Saturday's match?' which finished with 87 per cent voting against the decision and only 13 per cent agreeing with it. What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
