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Geoffrey Howe in 2013 PA Archive/Press Association Images

Geoffrey Howe, old ally to Margaret Thatcher, has died

Howe, former chancellor of the exchequer among other things, has died from a heart attack aged 88.

FORMER BRITISH CHANCELLOR Geoffrey Howe, a prominent figure in Margaret Thatcher’s government who helped bring about her downfall after they parted ways over policy towards Europe, has died aged 88.

Howe died suddenly of a suspected heart attack yesterday at his home in Warwickshire, north of London, after returning from a jazz concert with his wife Elspeth, his family said.

Current Tory Prime Minister David Cameron called Howe “the quiet hero of the first Thatcher government” that held power from 1979 until 1990.

He praised Howe as a “kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful man” who nonetheless had “huge courage and resolve.” He singled out Howe’s action to lift exchange controls in the early 1980s as a crucial move that helped save Britain’s economy.

“(He) was vital in turning the fortunes of our country around, cutting borrowing, lowering tax rates and conquering inflation,” Cameron said. “Lifting exchange controls may seem obvious now, but it was revolutionary back then.”

Howe was Thatcher’s longest-serving Cabinet minister but also helped to end her time in office with a critical speech in 1990 as he was resigning from Parliament after a series of policy disagreements with her.

Britain Obit Howe _Acos (1) Howe in October 1981 AP AP

In a dramatic speech, Howe accused Thatcher of undermining economic and monetary policies that had been supported by her Cabinet and the Bank of England chief. He called on other Conservatives to reconsider their backing for Thatcher, who was seen as increasingly imperious after being in power for more than a decade.

He used a famous cricket comparison that has since become part of Britain’s political lexicon to describe Thatcher’s tactics.

Britain Obit Howe _Acos (2) With the famous red budget box in 1980 AP AP

“It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find, as the first balls are being bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain,” he declared.

Britain Obit Howe _Acos With Margaret Thatcher and George Bush Sr in 1984 AP AP

Thatcher resigned three weeks later after losing the Conservatives’ backing.

Howe was chancellor of the exchequer from 1979 until 1983, and later served in many senior positions, including deputy prime minister. He was a member of the House of Lords.

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29 Comments
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    Mute Ronan Gallagher
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:16 PM

    Who gives a toss

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    Mute Al Ca
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:31 PM

    Instant memories of ‘Spitting Image”

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    Mute Anon Ymous
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    Oct 10th 2015, 6:51 PM

    Haha! Exactly what I thought :)

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 11th 2015, 3:48 AM

    Youtube has plenty of them…

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:16 PM

    He died at the age of 88.

    There are 88 keys on a typical piano.

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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:17 PM

    Priceless Frank.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Someone once said ‘being attacked by Geoffrey Howe was a bit like being attached by a dead sheep’

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Oct 10th 2015, 5:18 PM

    Denis Healy (who died recently) said it.

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 10th 2015, 7:26 PM

    Denis Healy died at the age of 98

    You could pull a “17″ out of that one.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Oct 11th 2015, 3:51 AM

    2 fat ladies either lol.

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:18 PM

    2 down, many to go

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    Mute david dickson
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:13 PM

    Goodbye.

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    Mute Peter Buchanan
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:45 PM

    Rest in peace

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    Mute Tadgh Smith
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:46 PM

    88, he died a young man…

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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:18 PM

    It’s also the number of constellations in the sky. Neo-Nazis use the number 88 as an abbreviation for the Nazi salute Heil Hitler

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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:18 PM

    Meant for Frank.

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    Mute Danger Spoons
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    Oct 10th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Howe is this newsworthy?

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    Mute Margaret Daly
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    Oct 10th 2015, 6:27 PM

    brilliant

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    Mute C Mc Gyver
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    Oct 10th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Terrible news.

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    Mute Ben Connolly
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    Oct 10th 2015, 5:17 PM

    why terrible news

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    Mute Eamonn Hughes
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    Oct 10th 2015, 5:33 PM

    Oh no. I am so sad. What awful news. Whatever will I do. This is devastating.

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    Mute MaryLou(ny)McDonald
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    Oct 10th 2015, 5:50 PM

    You can too when your turn comes.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 10th 2015, 6:12 PM

    Don’t remember him but I do remember his hair!!?!!

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Oct 10th 2015, 6:25 PM

    Are there still people out there stupid enough to believe in Hell?

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Oct 12th 2015, 7:05 PM

    Yes but if it helps keep them on the straight and narrow, what harm.

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    Mute Paul McGuigan
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    Oct 11th 2015, 9:26 AM

    Another of Thatchers cronies does peacefully. Pity same any be said for the countless Irish men and women who suffered immense hardship and death due to Tory policies. Keep them fires burning with Maggie Geoff rot in hell

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Oct 12th 2015, 7:06 PM

    You can’t rot in a fire.

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    Mute decky smith
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    Oct 10th 2015, 7:56 PM

    another tan gone

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