'Thatcher snubs Palin 'by refusing her request to meet her'

The 47-year-old former Alaskan governor, known to be a great admirer of Baroness Thatcher, was planning to meet the Iron Lady in London next month as part of her potential campaign for Republican presidential candidate for 2012 polls.

"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," Palin previously told 'The Sunday Times'. But 85-year-old Thatcher's aides have poured cold water on the idea saying Palin's "nuts" and an "embarrassment" to mainstream Tories, the British media reported.

An ally told 'The Guardian' newspaper: "Lady Thatcher will not be seeing Sarah Palin. That would be belittling for Margaret. Sarah Palin is nuts." Another aide said that the dementia sufferer rarely meets people nowadays and a decision would be made on the day if any meeting was going ahead -- and it would be low key. "We don't make firm appointments for this sort of meeting," the aide told 'The Independent' newspaper.

However, Downing Street is not discussing arrangements for a visit by Palin and the US Embassy in London doesn't know if she is coming for certain, the reports said.