Defiant former Spice Girls star Melanie Brown has spoken out to pay tribute to Margaret Thatcher just hours after her ex-bandmate Geri Halliwell was forced to delete a tweet honouring the late British leader due to a backlash from fans.

Thatcher's death on Monday (08Apr13) has divided Britain with many fervent socialists attacking those paying tribute and suggesting the country should be celebrating the former Prime Minister's passing.

The Iron Lady was not a beloved leader during her time in office and many critics believe the problems the country faces today are linked to decisions she made as leader throughout the 1980s.

Amid harsh remarks from stars like Morrissey and Billy Bragg about Thatcher's legacy, Halliwell took to Twitter.com on Monday to pay her respects, writing: "Thinking of our 1st Lady of girl power, Margaret Thatcher, a green grocer's (sic) daughter who taught me anything is possible."

The singer later deleted the tweet following a barrage of anti-Thatcher feedback, but that didn't stop Mel B from speaking out as she launched the new season of America's Got Talent on Monday night.

She said, "Her death is devastating. She was a women who moved mountains."