Conservative figure Norman Tebbit, Thatcher's ally, dies at 94

Norman Tebbit, a distinguished figure in British politics and a key ally of Margaret Thatcher, has passed away at the age of 94. His political career was marked by significant contributions to the Conservative Party, particularly during Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister. Serving as Secretary of State for Employment and later for Trade and Industry, Tebbit was instrumental in implementing policies aimed at curbing union power and advancing privatization efforts . His approach often embodied the ethos of Thatcherism, appealing to a segment of working-class voters while simultaneously drawing criticism from opposing factions.

Norman Tebbit, an uncompromising right-wing British politician who was once thought of as a potential prime minister, died on Monday. He was 94.

Mr. Tebbit had died at his home in Bury St Edmunds, a town in Suffolk, England. He provided no other details.

Mr. Tebbit, an elected member of Parliament from 1970 to 1992, was a leading figure in Margaret Thatcher’s government, but he eventually abandoned high office to care for his wife, who was left paralyzed in 1984 by a hotel bombing by the Irish Republican Army in which he was also badly hurt.

London, he never forgot the Depression of the 1930s which forced his father, in Tebbit’s most famous words, to “get on his bike and look for work” after losing his job managing a pawn shop.

In 1990 Tebbit outraged many by suggesting that people from ethnic minorities should not be regarded as truly British until they supported the England cricket team against their country of origin. After the London bombings of July 2005, which were carried out by three men of Pakistani descent and one with Jamaican roots, he declared himself vindicated.

One might quibble that my definition makes little reference to the actual content of Tebbit’s beliefs. But that is deliberate. He certainly held many views with which readers of this newspaper would profoundly disagree, then and now, and his views on social issues were wildly out of step with modern society.

But an icon is not a hero, except perhaps in the Greek sense; recognising one does not require agreeing with all or even any of what they stand for. Every movement will have its own icons, and one of democracy’s great strengths – or indeed, basic requirements – is recognising that there is space in public life for more than one.

Tebbit's legacy is also defined by his personal resilience following the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984, an event that significantly impacted his life and political outlook . Despite his directness and sometimes abrasive public persona, he garnered loyalty among Conservative supporters who valued his unwavering commitment to party principles. His passing marks the end of an era for many within British conservatism and serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding his contributions to modern political discourse.

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Sara H

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