Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead: Anti-Margaret Thatcher song reaches No 2 in music charts

Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead, which has been at the centre of an online campaign by opponents of former British PM Margaret Thatcher, has failed to reach No 1 spot in the music charts.

The Wizard of Oz song reached No 2 after selling 52,605 copies.

Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead was still more than 5,700 copies behind Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E with Need U (100%), which remained at the top for a second week.

Rival campaign song I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher, which was featured in 2011 film The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep, entered at 35.

The 1979 song by punk band Notsensibles sold 8,768 copies after a late push from Margaret Thatcher’s fans.

The Notsensibles track was played in full on the programme, although Jamil did not introduce the song. The band was later mentioned as a new entry in the chart recap for songs 40 to 31, however the title was not named.

The Official Charts Company said Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead was “one of the most controversial chart contenders of all time” following Margaret Thatcher’s death last week.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, who is overseeing Margaret Thatcher’s funeral arrangements, described the campaign to get Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead to the top of the charts as “extremely trivial”.

Aside from the controversy, Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead has become the first sub-60 second single to ever make the top 10.

The song charted at No 9 on the Big Top 40 chart, broadcast on commercial radio stations.