LONDON – Norman Tebbit, a former British Cabinet minister and staunch ally of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has died at the age of 94. Known for his fierce conservatism, Tebbit played a prominent role in shaping the UK’s right-wing political narrative during the 1980s.
Tebbit was a key figure in Thatcher’s administration and helped secure the Conservative Party’s 1987 landslide victory, which gave her a third term in office. His political career was marked by unwavering loyalty to Thatcher, a hardline stance on trade unions, immigration, and law and order, and a memorable personal resilience.
He was the most prominent survivor of the 1984 IRA bombing at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where the Conservative Party was holding its annual conference. Trapped for hours in the rubble, Tebbit suffered serious injuries while his wife, Margaret Tebbit, was left permanently paralysed. She passed away in 2020 at the age of 86.
“Norman Tebbit was an icon in British politics and his death will cause sadness across the political spectrum,” said Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch in a tribute posted on X.
A former RAF and commercial airline pilot, Tebbit entered politics in 1970 and rose quickly through the ranks. He was known for his direct rhetoric, especially on social and economic issues. His infamous “cricket test” in 1990 – a controversial metric for evaluating the loyalty of British Asians based on their support for England’s cricket team – drew sharp criticism and accusations of racism. The phrase “Tebbit Test” has since become part of Britain’s political lexicon.
He also stirred debate during a Conservative Party conference in the early 1980s when he urged the unemployed to emulate his father, saying: “He didn’t riot. He got on his bike and looked for work.”
Tebbit was born on March 29, 1931, in Enfield, north London. His father, once a jeweller and pawnbroker, struggled during the Great Depression, taking up work as a builder. Tebbit’s humble beginnings and wartime service shaped his views on personal responsibility and resilience.
Following the 1987 election, Tebbit retired from frontline politics to care for his wife. He remained an influential figure in Conservative circles and was appointed to the House of Lords, where he served until retiring in 2022. Tebbit’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with the Thatcher era—admired by many for his commitment to conservative values, yet often criticised for his polarising rhetoric and combative style.