Man who challenged Thatcher dies
The first Conservative MP to challenge Margaret Thatcher for the leadership of the Conservative Party has died.
Sir Anthony Meyer, whose 1989 ‘stalking horse’ challenge gave the first dent to Mrs Thatcher’s perceived political invulnerability, died over Christmas at the age of 84.
A liberal Tory during his years in Parliament, he voted against the capping of councils, for the abolition of the death penalty and sought to advance the pro-European cause whenever possible.
He will be best remembered though for his 1989 challenge to Mrs Thatcher, coming after the resignation of Chancellor Nigel Lawson and jitters about the poll tax.
Though Sir Anthony was defeated by 314 votes to 33, with 24 spoiled ballot papers, his action exposed dissent on the Tory backbenches and preceded more devastating challenges the following autumn.
Then, John Major emerged as the man to lead the party after Michael Heseltine lost the first round of the leadership contest.
Sir Anthony, educated at Eton and Oxford, was deselected by his North West Clwyd constituency party for his action after more than 20 years of service.
He first served as an MP for Eton and Slough in 1964, winning the election by 11 votes. Labour won the seat back two years later. As his liberal views has alienated a number of constituency parties, Sir Anthony had to wait until 1970 for a return to Parliament for the Welsh fishing constituency of West Flintshire, which later became North West Clwyd.
He served in the Scots Guards from 1941 to 1945 and was wounded during WWII.
Sir Anthony is survived by wife, Barbadee Knight, and four children.
