HOWE'S THAT?
Geoffrey Howe resignation speech – what did he say and when did Margaret Thatcher resign as Prime Minister?
THE news that Boris Johnson was set to make a bombshell resignation speech to the House of Commons led many to hail it his potential "Geoffrey Howe moment".
But what happened in the 1990 speech – delivered from a spot close to where Johnson delivered his address – that precipitated the downfall of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister?
2
When did Geoffrey Howe make his resignation speech?
Sir Geoffrey Howe gave his iconic resignation statement on November 13, 1990.
On November 1, he had resigned as the Deputy Prime Minister over differences with Margaret Thatcher towards Europe.
It made him the fourth member of her Cabinet to walk out in rebellion over the issue.
Symbolically, Howe was the final member of Thatcher's original 1979 Cabinet to leave – he had served as Chancellor and Foreign Secretary before becoming Deputy PM.
His speech came after Downing Street had argued with some success that Howe's departure was based on style, rather than political issues of substance.
During his devastating address to a packed House of Commons, Thatcher's longest-serving lieutenant tore into this assessment.
Howe delivered a famous cricket metaphor for the British negotiations on Europe: "It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find, as the first balls are being bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain."
The Tory veteran offered a damning indictment of Thatcher's dealings towards Europe, which he described as a "tragedy" for himself and the PM.
He said: "The Prime Minister's perceived attitude towards Europe is running increasingly serious risks for the future of our nation.
"It risks minimising our influence and maximising our chances of being once again shut out."
His powerful speech ended with a poignant nod to his long service: "The time has come for others to consider their own response to the tragic conflict of loyalties, with which I myself have wrestled for perhaps too long."
2
When did Margaret Thatcher resign as Prime Minister?
Geoffrey Howe's speech was seen by many as a key catalyst for Michael Heseltine launching a Tory leadership bid just a few days later.
Thatcher subsequently won the most votes in the leadership election – however, she crucially failed to secure the margin required for outright victory.
The blow was enough to prompt the UK's longest-serving Prime Minister to withdraw from the contest and her post on November 22, just nine days after Howe delivered his statement.
John Major, the Chancellor, was elected Tory leader, and won the 1992 General Election.
LATEST BIG POLITICS NEWS
When did Boris Johnson resign as Foreign Secretary?
Boris Johnson quit on July 9 over Theresa May's plan for Brexit.
The Prime Minister's bid is centred on remaining closely aligned to EU rules on manufactured goods.
Shortly after May revealed her plans at Chequers, Johnson backed the plans but later said his support for it was like "polishing a turd".
It was claimed that the PM and Boris had a series of "big rows" in the days leading up to the now infamous Chequers meeting.
In a statement, Boris declared he was "proud" to serve in May's government and thanked the Met Police for looking after him and his family during "demanding circumstances".
However, he blasted his former boss for leading Britain to a "semi-Brexit".
Some, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, backed Johnson, with the backbench Tory saying he would make a "brilliant" prime minister.
However, others slammed him, with Lib Dem MP Layla Moran branding Boris a "poundshop Churchill impressionist" over staged photos of him signing his resignation letter.
Boris Johnson quits as Foreign Secretary following David Davis's resignation in wake of PM Theresa May's Brexit plan
Topics