The shocking fall of Margaret Thatcher

Although Sir Geoffrey was a close ally of Thatcher in her early years in power, their relationship became strained. When she reshuffled her cabinet in July 1989, he was replaced as Foreign Secretary by John Major, the party’s rising star. “When she effectively sacked Jeffrey, she made him deputy prime minister,” her Cabinet colleague Kenneth Baker told the BBC in 2019. “This is a non-functional job, like vice president of the United States… He knew he was being sidelined.”

On 30 October 1990, Thatcher made one of her most famous statements in Parliament, drawing criticism from her counterparts in Europe. In response to Brussels’ calls for more central control, she defiantly declared: “No, no, no!” This was too much for Sir Geoffrey, who resigned two days later. Thatcher remained optimistic, and on 12 November, at the Lord Mayor’s annual banquet, she made a characteristically combative speech. “I’m still on my toes, even though the bowling has become very aggressive of late. And in case anyone doubts that, can I assure you there will be no dodging the bouncers, no stalling, no playing for time? The bowling will be hit all over the ground. That’s my style,” she said, using a series of cricket metaphors.

“I fight; I fight to win”

The next day in Parliament, Sir Geoffrey responded with a fatal parting shot. Using another cricket analogy to describe Thatcher’s position on British negotiations in Europe, he said: “It is a bit like sending the opening batsmen to the crease, only to find…that their bats have been broken before the match by the captain.” He continued: “It is time for others to consider their response to the tragic conflict of loyalties that I have been grappling with for perhaps too long.” This was seen as an invitation to an old opponent of Thatcher to come out of political exile and exploit his power.

Enter the man colloquially known as Tarzan. Michael Heseltine had resigned four years earlier as Defense Secretary in protest at Thatcher’s ignoring of his views. He earned his nickname in 1976 when he grabbed the ceremonial mace in the House of Commons and waved it above his head. Since his departure from office, he has spent his time planning his return. With Heseltine joining the fray, the leadership contest began.