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Former minister Lord Gilmour dies Former minister Lord Gilmour dies
(about 2 hours later)
The former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Gilmour has died aged 81.The former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Gilmour has died aged 81.
His eldest son David Gilmour said he died at the West Middlesex Hospital following a short illness.His eldest son David Gilmour said he died at the West Middlesex Hospital following a short illness.
Lord Gilmour served as defence secretary in Edward Heath's Cabinet before becoming Lord Privy Seal in Margaret Thatcher's first government.Lord Gilmour served as defence secretary in Edward Heath's Cabinet before becoming Lord Privy Seal in Margaret Thatcher's first government.
He was sacked in 1981 and went on to the back benches where he remained until he went to the House of Lords as Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar in 1992. He was sacked by Mrs Thatcher in 1981 and remained a prominent critic of what he regarded as extreme Thatcherite policies.
He went on to the back benches where he remained until he went to the House of Lords as Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar in 1992.
Thatcher critic
Pro-Europe, against hanging, opposed to the poll tax and unhappy with monetarist economics, Lord Gilmour was a leading Conservative wet who became a persistent and outspoken critic of Thatcherism.Pro-Europe, against hanging, opposed to the poll tax and unhappy with monetarist economics, Lord Gilmour was a leading Conservative wet who became a persistent and outspoken critic of Thatcherism.
He served as deputy foreign secretary in Margaret Thatcher's first administration, playing a big role in securing a settlement on Zimbabwe. He became the first minister to be sacked by Margaret Thatcher and responded by issuing a statement declaring that she was steering "full speed ahead for the rocks".
From 1962 to 1974, he was Conservative MP for Norfolk Central and Chesham and Amersham from 1974 to 1992. He was Conservative MP for Norfolk Central from 1962 to 1974 and Chesham and Amersham from 1974 to 1992.
Wealthy, aristocratic and well connected, he was editor and proprietor of the Spectator magazine for a time in the 1950s. Wealthy and well connected, he was editor and proprietor of the Spectator magazine for a time in the 1950s.
He retired from the Commons in 1992 and was given a peerage. Peerage
He was once quoted as saying: "Socialists may look forward to some grim Utopia. Conservatives have no such illusions about the future or the past.
"For them there has never been a 'golden age' and there never will be. Similarly there is no fixed or golden policy to which the Conservative Party could or should turn."
Lord Gilmour retired from the Commons in 1992 and was given a peerage.
The leader of the Conservatives in the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde said: "Sir Ian Gilmour had a lifetime of service to the public and the Conservative Party.
"He will be greatly missed by his friends from all sides of the political spectrum."
He leaves four sons and a daughter.