Michael Heseltine Biography

Born in Swansea, South Wales, into a relatively prosperous middle-class family.

Joins the City of Oxford Conservative Association while developing his political interests as an undergraduate.

Joins the Oxford Union on arriving at Oxford and becomes heavily involved in student debating and politics.

Enters Pembroke College, Oxford, where he studies Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Helps establish the Blue Ribbon Club, a Conservative student group whose emblem links the United States, Commonwealth and Europe.

Wins election to the Oxford Union standing committee and develops experience in political organisation and debate.

Is elected President of the Oxford Union for Michaelmas term after earlier service as secretary and treasurer.

Serves as Oxford Union treasurer and pursues a growth strategy intended to increase membership and revenue rather than rely only on spending cuts.

Begins accountancy articles with Peat Marwick & Mitchell while also developing property interests in London.

Forms the property venture Michian with Oxford friend Ian Josephs, combining their first names in the company name.

Uses inherited capital and borrowing with Ian Josephs to acquire a lease on the Thurston Court Hotel property near Notting Hill.

Sells an early London property investment at a profit, increasing the capital available for further property purchases.

Expands the property venture by acquiring houses in Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, for conversion into a larger boarding-house operation.

Joins Clive Labovitch in the publishing venture that becomes Cornmarket Press and later develops into Haymarket.

The publishing venture produces the Directory of Opportunities for Graduates, its early business publication aimed at graduate recruitment.

The publishing business acquires Man About Town and develops the title into a more ambitious men's magazine.

Undertakes National Service in the Welsh Guards after postponing military service while establishing his business career.

Marries Anne Harding Williams, who later shares his long-term work developing Thenford House and its gardens.

The publishing company is reorganised under the Haymarket name after investment by its printer.

Haymarket develops Management Today as an important business publication during the expansion of its specialist magazine portfolio.

Haymarket launches Campaign, strengthening its position in specialist publishing for the advertising and marketing industries.

Haymarket launches Accountancy Age, adding a successful specialist business title to its expanding professional publishing portfolio.

Supports Britain's continued membership of the European Community during the 1975 referendum era as part of his long-standing pro-European Conservatism.

Adds more than 400 acres of agricultural land around Thenford to the horticultural and agricultural assets associated with Haymarket.

Michael and Anne Heseltine purchase Thenford House and begin the long-term restoration of its house, woodland and gardens.

Appointed Secretary of State for Environment.

Speaks in the Commons on housing and local government shortly after taking office.

Answers a parliamentary question on the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning public-sector land.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning wildlife policy within his departmental responsibilities.

Answers a parliamentary question on the operation of planning inquiries.

Answers a parliamentary question on inner-city policy.

Addresses Commons questions on local-authority expenditure.

Answers Commons questions concerning relations with local-authority representatives.

Addresses Commons questions on urban partnership schemes.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning redevelopment of London Docklands.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning radioactive-waste disposal.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning finance for home ownership.

Uses urban-development mechanisms that become central to docklands regeneration.

Promotes the Right to Buy policy through the Housing Act 1980.

Takes part in Commons proceedings concerning the rate support grant.

Addresses Commons questions on the Department's anti-waste programme.

Addresses Commons questions involving the Building Societies Association and housing finance.

Addresses Commons questions on the Government's inner-city policy.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning controls on local-authority expenditure.

Addresses Commons questions on regeneration of London Docklands.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning the Property Services Agency.

Addresses the Commons on the proposed use of urban development corporations.

Sees the Housing Act 1980 receive Royal Assent.

Sees the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 receive Royal Assent.

Supports a new approach at the deeply troubled Cantril Farm estate involving private financial institutions, new management and mixed-tenure housing.

Advances the London Docklands Development Corporation, giving a dedicated development body substantial planning and land powers to accelerate regeneration.

As Environment Secretary, advances the creation of the Merseyside Development Corporation to regenerate extensive redundant dockland through land reclamation and private investment.

After the Toxteth disturbances, develops a sustained ministerial focus on Merseyside and argues for stronger coordination of government action in major urban areas.

Changes the emphasis of inner-city policy toward strengthening local economies, improving the environment and attracting private investment alongside public programmes.

Sets out increased inner-city regeneration provision, including major funding for the urban programme and the new development corporations.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning a ministerial visit to Liverpool.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the planning appeals system.

Addresses Commons questions on policy and expenditure for the new towns.

Addresses Commons questions on inner-city partnership committees.

Addresses the Commons concerning the Canvey Island planning inquiry.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on transfer of Greater London Council housing.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning vacant and under-used land.

Takes part in a substantial Commons debate on local-authority expenditure.

Addresses Commons questions on increasing private-enterprise involvement in inner-city areas.

Addresses the Commons on the Merseyside Development Corporation.

Addresses the Commons on review of the domestic rating system.

After the Toxteth riots, becomes closely involved in developing a programme of regeneration for Liverpool.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Local Government Finance (No. 2) Bill.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning voluntary organisations in Liverpool.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning Toxteth and the Government's urban response.

Addresses Commons questions on Liverpool and inner-city policy.

Addresses Commons questions on vacant and derelict land.

Addresses the Commons on derelict-land reclamation policy.

Addresses Commons questions on the London Docklands Development Corporation.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the Urban Development Grant Scheme.

Reviews the post-war defence posture for the Falkland Islands as Secretary of State for Defence.

Takes ministerial responsibility for defence policy during the Trident procurement programme.

Appointed Secretary of State for Defence.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the Franks Report on the Falklands conflict.

Addresses Commons questions on deployment of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning British defence capability and deployment.

Answers a parliamentary question on the continuing British military presence in the South Atlantic.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning Government publicity on nuclear weapons.

Answers Commons questions on the estimated cost of a British dual-key control arrangement for cruise missiles.

Leads for the Government in Commons debate on intermediate nuclear forces and NATO policy.

Makes a Commons statement on preparations for operational deployment of cruise missiles at RAF Greenham Common.

Addresses Commons questions concerning battlefield nuclear weapons.

Addresses Commons questions concerning NATO defence policy.

Oversees defence policy while planning proceeds for the Vanguard-class submarines intended to carry Trident missiles.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Bill.

Defends Government cruise-missile policy during Commons questioning.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the Statement on the Defence Estimates.

Makes and defends proposals concerning organisation of the Ministry of Defence.

Addresses Commons questions on defence expenditure.

Addresses Commons questions concerning defence of the Falkland Islands.

Addresses Commons questions concerning the Trident programme.

Announces a further phase of plans to expand and reorganise the Territorial Army.

Defends Trident as the planned successor to Polaris in Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.

Addresses Commons questions concerning orders for Royal Navy frigates.

Addresses Commons questions concerning chemical weapons and arms-control policy.

Defends the Trident programme during Commons questioning.

Makes and defends Government policy concerning RAF Molesworth.

Takes part in a major Commons debate concerning the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War.

Addresses Commons questions on the European Fighter Aircraft programme.

Addresses Commons questions on British policy toward the United States Strategic Defence Initiative.

Announces his resignation after walking out of a Cabinet meeting during the Westland dispute.

Resigns from the Cabinet during the Westland helicopter crisis.

Announces his challenge for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

In the first Conservative leadership ballot Thatcher receives 204 votes and Heseltine 152, forcing a second ballot under the party rules.

Argues during the Conservative leadership contest that Britain should remain part of the core of European political and economic cooperation.

In the second leadership ballot Major receives 185 votes, Heseltine 131 and Hurd 56; Heseltine and Hurd then withdraw.

Appointed Secretary of State for Environment for a second term.

Leads the new Major government's fundamental review of the community charge and its relationship with local-government structure and finance.

Introduces City Challenge, offering competitive five-year regeneration packages to local authorities that produce integrated neighbourhood plans.

Requires successful City Challenge schemes to establish focused management arrangements capable of coordinating public, private and community contributions.

Requires City Challenge bids to involve local authorities, businesses, voluntary organisations, government agencies and local residents in regeneration partnerships.

Makes consultation with residents and tenants an important condition of successful City Challenge regeneration proposals.

Leads extensive Commons questioning on local-government finance in England.

Addresses the Commons on environmental damage and oil pollution arising from the Gulf conflict.

Addresses Commons questions on reform of local-government finance.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning energy-efficiency policy.

Meets local-authority associations and opposition parties while considering alternatives to the existing community-charge system.

Takes part in a Commons debate specifically addressing abolition of the community charge.

Announces that the community charge is to be replaced as part of a wider reform of local-government finance.

Provides for central support toward additional local-authority administrative costs arising from reissuing reduced community-charge bills.

Supports an additional £4 billion transfer from national taxation to finance the £140 reduction in community-charge bills.

Requires councils that have already issued 1991-92 community-charge demands to issue revised bills reflecting the £140 reduction.

Provides for government grants to compensate charging authorities for income lost through the statutory reduction in community charges.

Announces that the community charge will be replaced by a new system of local taxation because the public has not accepted it as fair.

Announces that 1991-92 headline community charges in England will be reduced by £140.

Announces proposals for a review of the structure and finance of local government in England.

Announces the Government's intention to replace the poll tax with a new council tax.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on legislation reducing community-charge bills.

Publishes consultation proposals for the council tax and for reform of local-government structure.

Publishes consultation proposals for a new council tax and for review of local-government structure.

Designs the proposed council tax so that no register equivalent to the community-charge register is required.

Proposes that the council tax combine a property element with a personal element based on an assumed two-adult household.

Proposes a replacement council tax in which liability varies according to the value band assigned to each property.

Proposes a 25 percent council-tax discount for households containing only one countable adult.

Proposes broad property-value bands so homes need not undergo precise individual valuation for council-tax purposes.

Announces the City Challenge approach to neighbourhood regeneration through local public-private partnerships.

Answers Commons questions on evaluation of City Challenge bids.

Addresses Commons questions on the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Addresses Commons questions on urban development corporations.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning pollution control.

Introduces legislation providing for abolition of the community charge from 1 April 1993 and its replacement by council tax.

Introduces legislation providing for council-tax benefit, including rebates of up to 100 percent for qualifying households.

Leads Commons proceedings on the Local Government Finance Bill providing for council tax.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning British Waterways.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning development of the East Thames Corridor.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning the Local Government Commission.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Local Government Bill.

Addresses Commons questions concerning the Environment Business Forum.

Addresses Commons questions concerning European Regional Development Fund support.

Appointed President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Answers a parliamentary question concerning company takeovers.

Addresses Commons questions on regeneration and industrial policy.

Addresses Commons questions on recession and industrial conditions.

Announces and answers questions on reorganisation of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Addresses Commons questions concerning the engineering industry.

Sets out Government support available to British exporters and links it to restructuring of the DTI.

Publicly defends ratification of the Maastricht Treaty and challenges Conservative Eurosceptic arguments against European integration.

Makes a major Commons statement on contraction and proposed closures in the coal industry.

Faces Commons debate on proposed pit closures and the Government review of the coal industry.

Addresses the Commons on the GATT Uruguay Round and British trade interests.

Announces a strategy for one-stop business support centres offering small and medium-sized firms advice on skills, exporting, technology, innovation and design.

Designs the one-stop business-support programme with chambers of commerce, training bodies, business organisations, local authorities and other partners.

Announces a strategy for one-stop shops providing advice and support to small and medium-sized businesses.

Addresses Commons questions on British Coal and the future of the coal industry.

Updates the Commons on the Government energy review and the forthcoming coal review White Paper.

Addresses Commons questions on the DTI's Industrial Competitiveness Division.

Addresses Commons questions concerning European regional development funding.

Addresses Commons questions concerning industrial strategy.

Addresses Commons questions on attracting inward investment to the United Kingdom.

Takes part in a substantial Commons debate on manufacturing industry and unemployment.

Suffers a heart attack while on a private visit to Venice.

Sets an objective of developing around 200 Business Link outlets within several years to broaden access to business advice.

Expands the Business Link concept toward a national network of local outlets providing coordinated support services for firms.

Addresses Commons questions concerning the Business Links network.

Addresses Commons questions on implementation and implications of the GATT negotiations.

Addresses Commons questions concerning manufacturing performance.

Leads Commons proceedings on the Coal Industry Bill.

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

Publishes the White Paper Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win, setting out a cross-government programme intended to strengthen British industrial competitiveness.

Refuses to rule out eventual British participation in a European single currency if the necessary economic conditions are met.

Addresses Commons questions on regional development policy.

The Government abandons plans for full Post Office privatization after Cabinet consideration.

As Deputy Prime Minister, takes a central role in coordinating government work on competitiveness and industrial performance across departments.

Argues that Britain should participate in preparations for a possible European single currency rather than exclude itself from the process.

Addresses Commons questions on inward investment and the Invest in Britain effort.

Presents the Government's second competitiveness White Paper and reports on measures to improve UK industrial performance.

Appointed First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister.

Answers Commons questions concerning coordination of departmental priorities.

Addresses Commons questions concerning presentation and coordination of the Government's competitiveness policy.

Addresses Commons questions concerning the European Social Chapter and Government policy.

Answers Commons questions concerning Cabinet committees and coordination of Government policy.

Addresses Commons questions concerning regional policy and competitiveness.

Opposes using referendums as a routine mechanism for resolving major European policy questions, fearing they could intensify Conservative divisions.

Uses his senior government role to help drive preparations for the Millennium Exhibition and secure cross-party continuity for the project.

Answers Commons questions on arrangements for coordinating Government business during the summer recess.

Answers Commons questions on the potential impact of European monetary union on UK competitiveness.

Leads a Commons motion opposing a proposed windfall tax on privatised utilities.

Reaffirms the Government's commitment to a politically impartial home civil service.

After leaving government, returns greater attention to Haymarket and supports expansion into websites and digital publishing.

Deputises for Prime Minister John Major at Commons questions while Major is returning from an overseas visit.

Becomes a prominent Conservative supporter of the cross-party Britain in Europe campaign advocating a strong British role inside the European Union.

Becomes chairman of Haymarket after Lindsay Masters retires, increasing his direct involvement with the publishing group.

Criticises the Conservative leadership's increasingly Eurosceptic stance and argues that withdrawal from European influence would damage British interests.

Presents his support for Europe as part of a Conservative tradition stretching from Churchill and Macmillan through Heath and later Conservative governments.

Continues to stress after the referendum that British prosperity is closely connected to European markets and that withdrawal creates major investment uncertainty.

Works with the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign and supports efforts to persuade major companies to explain the business risks they associate with Brexit.

Criticises Boris Johnson's decision to support Leave, arguing that uncertainty about such a fundamental choice favours remaining in the European Union.

Attends a Britain Stronger in Europe fundraising event alongside business and political figures supporting continued European Union membership.

Argues during the referendum campaign that younger pro-European voters need to be mobilised to participate in the vote.

Condemns Boris Johnson's comparison between European integration and Hitler's ambitions, calling the analogy irresponsible and damaging to serious referendum debate.

Emphasises that European cooperation transformed relations among democratic states after repeated continental wars and should not be compared with coercive empire.

Campaigns for continued British membership of the European Union as a senior Conservative figure.

Joins senior politicians from different parties in a late referendum appeal urging voters to reject division and isolation and remain in the European Union.

Campaigns for and votes for continued British membership of the European Union in the referendum held on 23 June.

Calls for a cross-party parliamentary effort to examine the available options and articulate a case for reconsidering Brexit once the proposed terms become clear.

After the Leave victory, argues that Parliament should examine the actual withdrawal terms before treating the referendum as settling every detail of Britain's future relationship.