Nigel Lawson, former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, died yesterday, Monday, at the age of 91. A member of the Conservative Party, Lawson was a minister during the days of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted a photo of him with the caption: “One of the first things I did as a minister was to hang his photo over my desk.”

One of the first things I did as chancellor was to hang a picture of Nigel Lawson over my desk.

He was a transformational chancellor and an inspiration to me and many others.

My thoughts at this time are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/SPwcnoUFnQ

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 3, 2023

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Lawson “a fearless and original flame of free market conservatism who helped millions of Britons realize their dreams”.

Prior to entering politics, Lawson was a successful financial reporter and continued to contribute regularly to the Telegraph and Spectator until November last year.

He became one of the most prominent members of the Thatcher Cabinet, serving as the MP for Blaby from 1974 to 1992.

Thatcher appointed him head of the Treasury in 1983, where he cut income tax and the public debt. As minister, he modernized financial markets through the introduction of electronic commerce, which helped London become a major global financial center.

His management of the economy helped Thatcher win a third term. He resigned as an MP in the 1992 election before entering the House of Lords, only to resign last December.

In 2016, he became chairman of Vote Leave, the group that led the campaign for the UK to leave the EU. He called Brexit a “historic opportunity” to finish the job that Thatcher started.

Source: BBC