ABSTRACT
Whether one admires or abhors the ‘Thatcher years’ there is no denying their centrality to any analysis of contemporary British politics, particularly that of foreign policy. Likewise, one cannot gainsay the pivotal role of Geoffrey Howe in this putative Thatcherite revolution. Howe was her ‘right-hand man’ as Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1979-83 and the longest serving Foreign Secretary, from 1983 to 1989, since Ernest Bevin in the immediate post-war years. He then went on to serve as Lord President and Leader of the House (Deputy Prime Minister) until 1 November 1990, but by that time Mrs Thatcher had him firmly located ‘on her immediate left’.1 Unfortunately, posterity may recall Geoffrey Howe more for his role in the eventual demise of Mrs Thatcher, particularly for his devastating resignation speech on 13 November 1990, than for any notable achievement at the Foreign Office or even at the Exchequer. However, this chapter sets out to examine and assess not only the personality and style of Howe as Foreign Secretary but more importantly the contemporary foreign-policy issues that he faced when in office. We begin by examining Howe’s formative background: it will be shown that his early life is very relevant in any explanation of his personality, style and what may be termed his ‘classical liberal’ approach to foreign affairs.
