Badenoch leads tributes to Norman Tebbit, ‘icon’ of Thatcherism, praising his ‘stoicism and courage’
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has issued this tribute to Norman Tebbit.
Our Conservative family mourns the loss of Lord Tebbit today and I send my sincerest condolences to his loved ones.
Norman Tebbit was an icon in British politics and his death will cause sadness across the political spectrum.
He was one of the leading exponents of the philosophy we now know as Thatcherism and his unstinting service in the pursuit of improving our country should be held up as an inspiration to all Conservatives.
As a minister in Mrs Thatcher’s administration he was one of the main agents of the transformation of our country, notably in taming the trade unions.
But to many of us it was the stoicism and courage he showed in the face of terrorism which inspired us as he rebuilt his political career after suffering terrible injuries in the Brighton bomb, and cared selflessly for his wife Margaret, who was gravely disabled in the bombing – a reminder that he was first and foremost a family man who always held true to his principles.
He never buckled under pressure and he never compromised.
Our nation has lost one of its very best today and I speak for all the Conservative family and beyond in recognising Lord Tebbit’s enormous intellect and profound sense of duty to his country.
May he rest in peace.
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Good morning. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is starting his state visit to the UK today, three of the most senior cabinet ministers are giving evidence to select committees, and the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry is publishing the first volume of its final report. And it has just been announced that Norman Tebbit, one of the most controversial, and consequential, figures from Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, has died. It will be a busy day.
This is what PA Media is reporting about Lord Tebbit’s death.
Tory former cabinet minister Lord Norman Tebbit has died aged 94, his son said.
The Conservative grandee was one of Margaret Thatcher’s closest political allies and played a key role in Tory politics for a generation.
As employment secretary he took on the trade unions, and as chairman of the Conservative Party from 1985 to 1987 he helped Mrs Thatcher secure her third general election victory.
He suffered grave injuries in the 1984 Brighton bombing, which left his wife, Margaret, paralysed from the neck down.
Tebbit’s son, William, issued this statement.
At 11.15pm on 7th July 2025 Lord Tebbit died peacefully at home aged 94.
His family ask that their privacy is respected at this time and a further statement regarding funeral arrangements will be made in due course.
Nigel Huddleston, the co-chair of the Conservative party, has issued this tribute.
Very sad to hear about the passing of Norman Tebbit. A true ‘Tory grandee’ who achieved great political heights from a modest background under the aspirational and meritocratic environment of the Thatcher era – and who suffered greatly for his prominence in the IRA Brighton bombing. He will be missed.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Keir Starmer chairs cabinet.
9.30am: The Office for Budget Responsibility publishes a report on fiscal risks.
9.30am: The Department for Education publishes provisional national headline results for this year’s key stage 2 Sats exams in primary schools in England.
9.30am: The Office for National Statistics publishes healthy life expectancy figures for England and Wales.
10.30am: Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, gives evidence to the Commons defence committee on the UK contribution to European security.
Noon: The Post Office Horizon IT inquiry publishes volume one of its final report, covering the impact on victims and compensation.
12.30am: Sir Wyn Williams, the chair of the Post Office inquiry, gives a statement on his report.
1pm: Angela Rayner, the deputy PM and housing secretary, gives evidence to the housing committee on the spending review.
1.30pm: David Lammy, the foreign secretary, gives evidence to the foreign affairs committee.
2pm: Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, gives evidence to the Lords justice and home affairs committee.
4.15pm: President Macron gives a speech to MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery in the House of Lords.
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