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| Thatcher leads tributes to Biffen | Thatcher leads tributes to Biffen |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Baroness Thatcher has led tributes to Lord Biffen, a key member of her first Cabinet, who has died at the age of 76. | Baroness Thatcher has led tributes to Lord Biffen, a key member of her first Cabinet, who has died at the age of 76. |
| The former PM said: "John was an outstanding Parliamentarian, a widely respected Leader of the House of Commons and a great British patriot." | The former PM said: "John was an outstanding Parliamentarian, a widely respected Leader of the House of Commons and a great British patriot." |
| Lord Biffen served in the first two Thatcher governments but was sacked in 1987, when her press secretary famously described him as "semi-detached". | Lord Biffen served in the first two Thatcher governments but was sacked in 1987, when her press secretary famously described him as "semi-detached". |
| He died on Tuesday in Shrewsbury after being admitted to hospital on Saturday. | He died on Tuesday in Shrewsbury after being admitted to hospital on Saturday. |
| Tory leader David Cameron described Lord Biffen as a "thoughtful and principled politician". | Tory leader David Cameron described Lord Biffen as a "thoughtful and principled politician". |
| Mr Cameron added: "He was also a great House of Commons man and was liked and respected across all parties." | Mr Cameron added: "He was also a great House of Commons man and was liked and respected across all parties." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown also praised his contribution to parliament, saying he brought "eloquence, modesty and humour to the debates of the Commons". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown also praised his contribution to parliament, saying he brought "eloquence, modesty and humour to the debates of the Commons". |
| 'Fine mind' | 'Fine mind' |
| Lord Heseltine, a friend since the 1950s, praised Lord Biffen as a balanced and reasonable politician, who was liked by all parties. | |
| "John was not what you'd call a sort of party politician. | "John was not what you'd call a sort of party politician. |
| Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet | Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet |
| "He wasn't in the business of scoring the easy points. He was a very cerebral politician, he had a very fine mind and he thought a great deal - and a very original mind," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "He wasn't in the business of scoring the easy points. He was a very cerebral politician, he had a very fine mind and he thought a great deal - and a very original mind," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| A Eurosceptic and early disciple of Enoch Powell, Lord Biffen had a reputation as an honest and independent-minded figure. | A Eurosceptic and early disciple of Enoch Powell, Lord Biffen had a reputation as an honest and independent-minded figure. |
| His opposition to state intervention in economic policy and championing of tight fiscal policy prevented his advancement under Edward Heath but helped his promotion under Margaret Thatcher, who made him a key part of her first Cabinet in 1979. | His opposition to state intervention in economic policy and championing of tight fiscal policy prevented his advancement under Edward Heath but helped his promotion under Margaret Thatcher, who made him a key part of her first Cabinet in 1979. |
| He had been the MP for Oswestry from 1961 to 1983 when he won a by-election, then for Shropshire North from 1983 to 1997 when he was given a peerage. | He had been the MP for Oswestry from 1961 to 1983 when he won a by-election, then for Shropshire North from 1983 to 1997 when he was given a peerage. |
| He became chief secretary to the Treasury in 1979, moving on to be trade secretary in 1981 and then leader of the House of Commons until 1987. | He became chief secretary to the Treasury in 1979, moving on to be trade secretary in 1981 and then leader of the House of Commons until 1987. |
| 'Clear opinions' | 'Clear opinions' |
| Lord Biffen was famously called a "semi-detached" member of the Cabinet by Margaret Thatcher's press secretary Bernard Ingham after he criticised some policy decisions and called for a "balanced ticket" at the next election. | Lord Biffen was famously called a "semi-detached" member of the Cabinet by Margaret Thatcher's press secretary Bernard Ingham after he criticised some policy decisions and called for a "balanced ticket" at the next election. |
| He was dropped from the front bench after the 1987 general election. | He was dropped from the front bench after the 1987 general election. |
| He was always prepared to put his principles before his political ambitions Nicholas WoodLord Biffen's stepson Obituary: Lord Biffen | He was always prepared to put his principles before his political ambitions Nicholas WoodLord Biffen's stepson Obituary: Lord Biffen |
| Current Leader of the House Harriet Harman also remembered Lord Biffen - who took up the post in the year she was elected to Parliament - as a "great" leader of the house. | Current Leader of the House Harriet Harman also remembered Lord Biffen - who took up the post in the year she was elected to Parliament - as a "great" leader of the house. |
| "Despite being Leader of the House at the height of Thatcherism, he made all Members of Parliament - even those of us in opposition - feel he was our Leader of the House too." | "Despite being Leader of the House at the height of Thatcherism, he made all Members of Parliament - even those of us in opposition - feel he was our Leader of the House too." |
| North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson also paid tribute to his predecessor, saying "he had clear opinions...fluently expressed, and a glorious sense of humour even in his last few years. | North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson also paid tribute to his predecessor, saying "he had clear opinions...fluently expressed, and a glorious sense of humour even in his last few years. |
| "He was proud of being called 'semi-detached' by Bernard Ingham, retained his independence, and was true to his principles and core beliefs." | "He was proud of being called 'semi-detached' by Bernard Ingham, retained his independence, and was true to his principles and core beliefs." |
| 'Sensitive man' | 'Sensitive man' |
| Lord Biffen suffered kidney problems and had been on dialysis. He had been hospitalised with septicaemia on Saturday. | Lord Biffen suffered kidney problems and had been on dialysis. He had been hospitalised with septicaemia on Saturday. |
| Since 2005 he had been vice-chair of the All-party Parliamentary Kidney Group and was also a patron of the National Kidney Foundation. | Since 2005 he had been vice-chair of the All-party Parliamentary Kidney Group and was also a patron of the National Kidney Foundation. |
| He is survived by his wife Sarah, stepson Nicholas Wood and stepdaughter Lucy Eggleton. | He is survived by his wife Sarah, stepson Nicholas Wood and stepdaughter Lucy Eggleton. |
| Mr Wood said: "I think he was, unusually perhaps for a politician, an extremely sensitive man. | Mr Wood said: "I think he was, unusually perhaps for a politician, an extremely sensitive man. |
| "He was respected by people from all political backgrounds. | "He was respected by people from all political backgrounds. |
| "For somebody who had risen so high, he was not very ambitious. He was always prepared to put his principles before his political ambitions." | "For somebody who had risen so high, he was not very ambitious. He was always prepared to put his principles before his political ambitions." |