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Geoffrey Howe, former Conservative chancellor, dies aged 88 Geoffrey Howe, former Conservative chancellor, dies aged 88
(35 minutes later)
Former Conservative chancellor Geoffrey Howe has died at the age of 88 after suffering a suspected heart attack, his family has announced.Former Conservative chancellor Geoffrey Howe has died at the age of 88 after suffering a suspected heart attack, his family has announced.
Lord Howe, who served as chancellor for four years under Margaret Thatcher, died on Friday night. Lord Howe, Margaret Thatcher's longest serving cabinet minister and chancellor from 1979 to 1983, died on Friday.
His resignation speech in 1990 is widely seen as a key factor in Baroness Thatcher's downfall as prime minister.His resignation speech in 1990 is widely seen as a key factor in Baroness Thatcher's downfall as prime minister.
David Cameron led tributes to Lord Howe, saying: "The Conservative family has lost one of its greats." Prime Minister David Cameron led tributes, saying: "The Conservative family has lost one of its greats."
The former MP for the East Surrey, Reigate and Bebington constituencies played a "vital" role in "turning the fortunes of our country around" as chancellor, the prime minister added. The former MP for the East Surrey, Reigate and Bebington constituencies played a "vital" role in "turning the fortunes of our country around" as chancellor, Mr Cameron added.
Lord Howe's family said he had died at his home in Warwickshire after attending a jazz concert with his wife Elspeth. Lord Howe's family said he died at his home in Warwickshire after attending a jazz concert with his wife Elspeth.
Lord Geoffrey Howe: Obituary 'Reforming and innovative chancellor': Lord Howe Obituary
During his time as an MP, Lord Howe also served as foreign secretary, deputy prime minister and leader of the House of Commons and was Lady Thatcher's longest-serving cabinet minister. During his time as an MP, Lord Howe also served as Mrs Thatcher's foreign secretary, deputy prime minister and leader of the House of Commons.
But BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said his resignation as deputy prime minister - shortly after Mrs Thatcher declared that the UK would never join a single currency project - had been a "devastating blow" to her premiership.But BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said his resignation as deputy prime minister - shortly after Mrs Thatcher declared that the UK would never join a single currency project - had been a "devastating blow" to her premiership.
Lord Howe of Aberavon
In a famous speech to the Commons, he used a cricket metaphor to describe Mrs Thatcher's attitude to British negotiations in Europe.In a famous speech to the Commons, he used a cricket metaphor to describe Mrs Thatcher's attitude to British negotiations in Europe.
"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," he said."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," he said.
'Quiet hero'
She later said he had become a "source of division and a focus of resentment".She later said he had become a "source of division and a focus of resentment".
Denis Healey, who himself served as Labour chancellor, joked that being attacked by Howe was like being "savaged by a dead sheep". 'Modest with a steely conviction'
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant
A wolf in sheep's clothing - Geoffrey Howe was mild mannered and modest with a steely conviction. In the end he was unwilling to let Margaret Thatcher ride roughshod over him.
Denis Healey once famously said that being attacked by him was like being "savaged by a dead sheep". Yet Lord Howe proved devastating when he rose to make his resignation speech in the Commons after he quit the cabinet in protest at the then prime minister's approach to Europe and diplomacy.
His cricket analogy, that negotiating under her was like walking to the crease only to discover the captain had broken your bat, revealed the deep frustration many felt about what they had come to regard as an autocratic leader (who was already on the wane). With that the "dead sheep" inflicted the first blow.
He will be regarded as the man who delivered the radical changes that transformed the UK in the 1980s, by both those who regard that as a good thing and those who don't.
Mr Cameron described Lord Howe - who retired from the Lords in May - as "the quiet hero of the first Thatcher government".Mr Cameron described Lord Howe - who retired from the Lords in May - as "the quiet hero of the first Thatcher government".
"Geoffrey Howe was a kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful man - but at the same time he had huge courage and resolve," the prime minister said."Geoffrey Howe was a kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful man - but at the same time he had huge courage and resolve," the prime minister said.
He added: "He loved his politics and never stopped giving strong and sound advice. George Osborne and I benefited greatly from his wisdom and determination to improve the state of the country."
Mr Osborne tweeted: "I will miss Geoffrey Howe. He was a great source of advice to me; a quietly-spoken radical, whose bitterly contested budgets rescued Britain."Mr Osborne tweeted: "I will miss Geoffrey Howe. He was a great source of advice to me; a quietly-spoken radical, whose bitterly contested budgets rescued Britain."
Lord Lamont, another former Conservative chancellor, said he was "deeply saddened" by Lord Howe's death. Lord Lamont, another former Conservative chancellor, said Lord Howe was a "Tory with a social conscience, who wanted opportunity for all."
"He was a Tory with a social conscience, who wanted opportunity for all. He was also a great friend and mentor to me for over 50 years," he said.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine said Lord Howe had been a "political rock".Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine said Lord Howe had been a "political rock".
"He carried huge personal strain for the success of that government," Lord Heseltine added. "They were very controversial times, controversial policies but Geoffrey was unbending and unyielding but he was a very kind, courteous and gentle man." "He carried huge personal strain for the success of that government," he added.
Tory MP Kenneth Clarke said: "He had very strong views about how best to serve the national interest - that's what he saw himself as doing, and having thought through his views with a very good, clear intellect he then stuck to them and succeeded in delivering them." "They were very controversial times, controversial policies but Geoffrey was unbending and unyielding but he was a very kind, courteous and gentle man."
Tory MP Ken Clarke said: "He had very strong views about how best to serve the national interest - that's what he saw himself as doing, and having thought through his views with a very good, clear intellect he then stuck to them and succeeded in delivering them."
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said Lord Howe - who was born in Port Talbot - had been a "towering" political figure who always had a great affection for Wales.Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said Lord Howe - who was born in Port Talbot - had been a "towering" political figure who always had a great affection for Wales.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron described Lord Howe as a "kind, decent and honourable man", while Labour frontbencher Chris Bryant praised his "gentle spirit, enquiring mind and internationalist outlook".
A statement from Lord Howe's family said a private family funeral, followed by a memorial service, would take place in due course.A statement from Lord Howe's family said a private family funeral, followed by a memorial service, would take place in due course.