trenchard

Monday, April 03, 2023

The Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC 1932-2023

 The Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC, who died 3 April, 2023, aged 91, was a Conservative party politician, and leading member of Margaret Thatcher's administration, Chancellor of the Exchequer for six years.

Lord Lawson of Blaby served as Conservative MP for Blaby from 1974 to 1992, and served in Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet from 1981 to 1989. Prior to entering the Cabinet, he served as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from May 1979 until his promotion to Secretary of State for Energy. He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in June 1983, and served until his resignation in October 1989. In both Cabinet posts, Lawson was a key proponent of Thatcher's policies of privatisation of several key industries.

Nigel Lawson was a backbencher from 1989 until he retired in 1992, and was raised to the peerage for life in that year as Baron Lawson of Blaby, of Newnham in the County of Northamptonshire.

Nigel Lawson was born 11 March, 1932, the only son of Ralph Lawson, and was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (BA 1954); Fellow of Nuffield College Oxford 1972-73; on the editorial staff of the Financial Times 1956-60, City Editor of the Sunday Telegraph 1961-63; Editor of The Spectator 1966-70; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) 1963-4 and Special Political Adviser, Conservative HQ 1973-74; a Director of Barclays Bank; &c.

He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1981.

He married firstly 1955 (div 1980) Vanessa Mary Addison Salmon (who died 1985), daughter of Felix Addison Salmon, of Ham Common, Surrey; married 2ndly 1980, Therese Mary, daughter of Henry Charles Maclear Bate, of Putney, London.

From his first marriage he leaves a son, Dominic Ralph Campden (born 1956), and daughters, Nigella (b 1960), Thomasina (b 1961), and Horatia (b 1966); and from his second marriage a son, Thomas (b 1976), and daughter, Emily (born 1981).

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