“It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only to find ... that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain.”
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Geoffrey Howe
Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon,, known from 1970 to 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, was a British barrister and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1989 to 1990. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of chancellor of the Exchequer, foreign secretary, and…
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politics · British politician (1926–2015) · jurist · politician · diplomat · minister · lawyer · barrister · also Geoffrey Howe, Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, Sir Geoffrey Howe, The Lord Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, Howe
Born 20 December 1926 · Died 9 October 2015 · Q332323
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2026· 5 entries
“time bomb ticking away in the heart of the city as a result of the massive levels of unemployment”
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“It never really got any traction for the simplest reason that the cabinet minister responsible for so much of the policy that affected the city was me.”
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“She was often exasperated by my tenaciously quiet brand of advocacy.”
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“s overall handling of UK relations with the European Community. After largely successful attempts by 10 Downing Street to claim that there were differences only in style, rather than substance, in Howe”
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2015· 8 entries
The Guardian: Geoffrey Howe, the close cabinet ally who became Thatcher’s assassin
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The Guardian: Geoffrey Howe, Margaret Thatcher’s nemesis, dies aged 88
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The Guardian: Geoffrey Howe dies: prime minister leads tributes to 'quiet hero'
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The Guardian: Lord Howe of Aberavon obituary
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The Guardian: Geoffrey Howe’s resignation: the speech that began Thatcher's downfall – video
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The Guardian: Sir Geoffrey Howe: a life in politics - in pictures
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The Guardian: Geoffrey Howe's most celebrated quotes
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Died 2015-10-09.
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2013· 1 entry
The Guardian: This is a new, farcical low and David Cameron is losing control | Geoffrey Howe
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2012· 1 entry
As part of The History of Parliament's oral history project
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2011· 1 entry
Revealed that in the wake of the Toxteth riots in Liverpool in 1981, Howe had warned Thatcher "not to overcommit scarce resources to Liverpool", writing that "It would be even more regrettable if some of the brighter ide
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1992· 3 entries
Career landmark: member of the House of Lords (1992–2015).
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And was made a life peer in June of that year
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And was made a life peer on 30 June 1992 as Baron Howe of Aberavon, of Tandridge in the County of Surrey
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1989· 5 entries
Howe appeared and paid warm tribute
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Career landmark: Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1989–1990).
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Career landmark: Leader of the House of Commons (1989–1990).
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Career landmark: Lord President of the Council (1989–1990).
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Thatcher replaced Howe with John Major, giving Howe the role of deputy prime minister
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1987· 2 entries
Howe spelt out his position for the European single market and the proposed Delors Plan (Thatcher having accepted the Single European Act in 1986)
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Career landmark: member of the 50th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1987–1992).
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1986· 1 entry
When senior ministers almost forced her to resign, according to Douglas Hurd's memoirs
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1983· 2 entries
Career landmark: member of the 49th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1983–1987).
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Career landmark: Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1983–1989).
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1982· 1 entry
During the Falklands War when Thatcher, on the advice of Harold Macmillan (who warned against including the Treasury), refused to appoint him to the war cabinet
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1979· 4 entries
Career landmark: member of the 48th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1979–1983).
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Promised to honour Professor Hugh Clegg's report that recommended a return to pre-1975 pay levels in real terms, conceding Howe's point about "concerted action"
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Would lead to terrible consequences – which it did, as unemployment doubled
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Career landmark: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979–1983).
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1978· 1 entry
Healey joked that Howe's criticism was "like being savaged by a dead sheep"
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1975· 1 entry
Career landmark: Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (1975–1979).
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1974· 5 entries
Career landmark: member of the 46th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1974–1974).
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Howe became the shadow chancellor of the Exchequer in Margaret Thatcher's shadow cabinet
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Boundary changes to Howe's constituency of Reigate led to it being renamed as East Surrey, and Heath appointed Howe as spokesman for social services
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Career landmark: Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (1974–1975).
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Career landmark: member of the 47th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1974–1979).
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1972· 2 entries
Career landmark: Minister of State for Trade (1972–1974).
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To Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, with a seat in the Cabinet and Privy Council membership, a post he held until Labour was returned to government in March 1974
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1970· 3 entries
Was appointed Solicitor General in Edward Heath's government and was knighted
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Career landmark: member of the 45th Parliament of the United Kingdom (1970–1974).
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Career landmark: Solicitor General for England and Wales (1970–1972).
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1969· 1 entry
Chaired the committee of inquiry to investigate alleged abuse at Ely Mental Hospital, Cardiff
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1964· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the 43rd Parliament of the United Kingdom (1964–1966).
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1958· 1 entry
Co-authored the report A Giant's Strength published by the Inns of Court Conservative Association
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1952· 1 entry
And practised in Wales, after which he was elected as the Conservative member of Parliament (MP) for Bebington in 1964, but lost his seat in 1966, returning to the bar
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1948· 1 entry
Where he read law and was chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association, and on the committee of the Cambridge Union Society
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1926· 2 entries
Born 1926-12-20.
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At Port Talbot, Wales, to Benjamin Edward Howe, a solicitor and coroner, and Eliza Florence (née Thomson) Howe
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