Nigel Lawson, former Conservative chancellor, has died aged 91.
The politician held several Cabinet posts under Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s and oversaw the “Lawson Boom” period of economic growth. He had six children, including the celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is among the politicians who have paid tribute to Lord Lawson. Mr Sunak said: “One of the first things I did as chancellor was hang a picture of Nigel Lawson above my desk.
“He was a transformational chancellor and an inspiration to me and many others. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
One of the first things I did as Chancellor was hang a picture of Nigel Lawson above my desk.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 3, 2023
He was a transformational Chancellor and an inspiration to me and many others.
My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/SPwcnoUFnQ
Who was Nigel Lawson?
Nigel Lawson, was a Conservative politician and a journalist. He was born on March 11, 1932, in Hampstead, London, to a non-orthodox Jewish family. He studied at Westminster School before attending Oxford, where he graduated with a first-class degree in philosophy, politics and economics.
Lawson completed his national service in the Royal Navy, before beginning a career in journalism. He worked for the Financial Times, the Sunday Telegraph and became the editor of The Spectator.
He then entered politics, representing the former Leicestershire constituency of Blaby in the Commons from 1974 until 1992, when he was made a life peer. He sat in the House of Lords until he retired in January 2023.
What roles did he serve under Thatcher?
Joining Margaret Thatcher’s newly elected government in 1979, he first served as financial secretary to the Treasury from 1979 until 1981, and energy secretary from 1981 until 1983.
Lawson then served as her chancellor from 1983 to 1989, until he quit over Thatcher’s refusal to sack her economics adviser, Professor Sir Alan Walters, whom he accused of undermining his position.
His decision came as a heavy blow to Thatcher and began a chain of events that led to her downfall the following year.
Who are his family members?
Nigel Lawson was married to Vanessa Salmon, with whom he had four children, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, journalist Dominic Lawson, Horatia and Thomasina, who died at age 32 from breast cancer.
Lawson and Salmon divorced and he married Thérèse Maclear, with whom he had two children, Eastbourne College headmaster Tom Lawson and TV producer Emily Lawson.
