Nigel Lawson Biography and Timeline

Birth of Nigel Lawson

Nigel Lawson is born on 11 March 1932.

Financial Times Editorial Career

Joins the Financial Times editorial staff and begins a professional journalism career focused increasingly on economics and financial affairs.

Sunday Telegraph City Editorship

Becomes City Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, taking responsibility for coverage and commentary on business and financial affairs.

Douglas-Home Political Appointment

Serves as a special assistant to Conservative Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home and gains direct experience of national government and party policy.

BBC Broadcasting Work

Works as a broadcaster for the BBC and extends his public commentary beyond print journalism.

Financial Times Columnist Role

Works as a Financial Times columnist and contributes economic and financial commentary to the newspaper.

Editor

Nigel Lawson becomes editor of The Spectator in 1966, a post he holds until 1970.

Eton and Slough Election Contest

Contests the Eton and Slough constituency for the Conservative Party at the 1970 general election but does not enter Parliament at that election.

Evening Standard Contributions

Contributes journalism to the Evening Standard during the period between his Spectator editorship and later political appointments.

Sunday Times Contributions

Contributes journalism to the Sunday Times after leaving the editorship of the Spectator.

Times Contributions

Writes as a contributor to The Times while continuing to develop his public profile as an economic and political commentator.

Conservative Party Policy Adviser

Works at Conservative Party headquarters as a special policy adviser before winning election to the House of Commons in 1974.

Member of Parliament

Nigel Lawson is elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Blaby at the February 1974 general election.

Nigel Lawson Maiden Speech

Delivers his maiden speech in the House of Commons during debate on the Budget and addresses economic policy, trade unions and inflation.

Blaby Re-election October 1974

Wins re-election as Conservative Member of Parliament for Blaby at the second general election held in 1974.

Conservative Opposition Whip

Serves as an Opposition Whip as the Conservative Party develops its parliamentary strategy under Margaret Thatcher's leadership.

Conservative Treasury Spokesman

Moves into a Conservative Treasury spokesman role and takes a more prominent part in opposition economic and fiscal policy.

Public Accounts Committee Membership

Begins service on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee while also entering the Treasury as Financial Secretary.

Blaby Re-election 1979

Wins re-election as Conservative Member of Parliament for Blaby at the 1979 general election that brings Margaret Thatcher to government.

Financial Secretary of Treasury

Nigel Lawson is appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 6 May 1979.

Role range: 1979-1990

Economy of Great Britain

As Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Lawson helps develop the Medium Term Financial Strategy announced in 1980, linking monetary and fiscal policy to the Government's anti-inflation programme.

Role range: 1979-1990

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

Lawson helps develop the Medium Term Financial Strategy announced in 1980, which sets medium-term objectives for monetary growth, borrowing and fiscal policy.

Role range: 1979-1990

Secretary

Nigel Lawson is promoted to Secretary of State for Energy on 14 September 1981.

Role range: 1979-1990

Privatization

Lawson announces plans to transfer BNOC's oil-producing business to the private sector and to dispose of selected British Gas Corporation oil interests as part of wider energy-market reform.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1981-1983

Public Accounts Committee Service Ends

Ends his recorded membership of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee after serving during the early years of the Conservative government.

Privatization

The Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill is published on 17 December 1981, providing for the transfer of BNOC's oil-producing business and wider private-sector participation in oil and gas.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1981-1983

Privy Council

Nigel Lawson becomes a member of the Privy Council in 1981.

Role range: 1979-1990

Economy of Great Britain

As Secretary of State for Energy, Lawson promotes greater competition and private-sector participation in energy, helping establish policies that precede later gas and electricity privatisations.

Role range: 1979-1990

Nationalization

As Energy Secretary, Lawson oversees contingency planning for the possibility of a major coal dispute while the Government considers the future of uneconomic pits.

Role range: 1979-1990

Privatization

Lawson's energy policy promotes competition and asset sales that help establish the policy framework later used for major gas and electricity privatisations.

Role range: 1979-1990

Strike

Lawson oversees preparations for the possibility of a national coal dispute while serving as Secretary of State for Energy.

Role range: 1979-1990

Britoil Privatisation Statement

Announces to the House of Commons that the Government intends to offer 51 percent of Britoil shares for sale as part of the transfer of BNOC's oil-producing business to the private sector.

Privatization

Lawson announces the terms of the Britoil share tender, with 51 percent of the former BNOC oil-producing business offered for sale and the issue underwritten at a minimum tender price.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1981-1983

Britoil Tender Announcement

Announces the terms of the Britoil share tender, including arrangements intended to allow small investors to participate in the privatisation.

Legislation

The Energy Act 1983 receives Royal Assent, facilitating private generation and supply of electricity and extending competition in the electricity sector.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1981-1983

Reform of Industry

The Energy Act 1983 receives Royal Assent and creates a statutory framework intended to encourage private electricity generation and competition.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1981-1983

Blaby Re-election 1983

Wins re-election as Conservative Member of Parliament for Blaby at the 1983 general election before beginning his period as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Nigel Lawson is appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 June 1983.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1989

Privatization

Lawson supports the sale of additional government-held BP shares as part of efforts to reduce public borrowing and continue the privatisation programme.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1989

Public Expenditure

Lawson agrees measures to restrain departmental cash limits, including reductions in the pay bill and other cash-limited expenditure.

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1983-1989