Former British chancellor Geoffrey Howe dies aged 88

British prime minister David Cameron has led tributes to former chancellor Geoffrey Howe, who has died aged 88.

The Tory grandee was Margaret Thatcher’s longest-serving Cabinet minister — but was widely held to have ended her premiership with a devastating resignation speech in 1990.

A statement issued by his family said: “It is with deep sadness that the Howe family today announced that Geoffrey Howe died suddenly late yesterday evening, aged 88, at his home in Warwickshire, of a suspected heart attack, after enjoying a local jazz concert with his wife Elspeth.

“There will be a private family funeral, followed by a memorial service in due course. The family would be grateful for privacy at this time.”

Mr Cameron described Lord Howe as a “kind, gentle and deeply thoughtful man” who had “never stopped giving strong and sound advice”.

“The Conservative family has lost one of its greats,” the he added.

"His time as Chancellor of the Exchequer was vital in turning the fortunes of our country around, cutting borrowing, lowering tax rates and conquering inflation. Lifting exchange controls may seem obvious now, but it was revolutionary back then. He was the quiet hero of the first Thatcher government. "He loved his politics and never stopped giving strong and sound advice. George Osborne and I benefited greatly from his wisdom and determination to improve the state of the country. The Conservative family has lost one of its greats. Our thoughts are with his family."

Lord Howe was the man whose devastating resignation speech was the catalyst which ultimately destroyed Mrs Thatcher. In just 18 almost unbearable minutes, MPs gasped with amazement and Mrs Thatcher herself sat white with fury and trembling, as the colleague who had served with her in the Cabinet throughout her premiership delivered a clinically cold but savage denunciation of her attitude to Europe.

Lord Howe, who had been abruptly dismissed as Foreign Secretary in 1989 and who resigned from the unreal post of deputy prime minister the following year, became increasingly exasperated at her so-called “foghorn diplomacy” towards Europe.

Born Geoffrey Richard Edward Howe on December 20th 1926 in Port Talbot, Wales he was educated at Winchester College, then Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

He was married with three children.

He contested Aberavon in 1955 and 1959 and became MP for Bebington between 1964 and 1966. He was elected MP for Reigate in 1970 and represented East Surrey from 1974 following boundary changes. During the Ted Heath Government he held the post of Solicitor General and then became minister for trade and consumer affairs. He went on to contest the Conservative Party leadership in 1975 but it was Mrs Thatcher who won the party's support.

He became a QC in 1965 and was knighted in 1970. He was made a life peer in 1992 and retired from the House of Lords in May — more than 50 years after entering Parliament, under legislation passed last year. He last spoke in the chamber in February during a question about the Gurkhas.

PA