Michael Heseltine

Michael Heseltine (Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001) left the political arena once, only to be called back by David Cameron to advise the government. Here he shares a potpourri of reminiscences of his youth, early adulthood and previously unexplored aspects of his political career with the BBC’s Europe editor. He recounts finding his home, creating his garden and renowned arboretum, and regenerating his village. He looks back on the fundamental changes he was able to mastermind while in power and sets out the policies that he believes are still urgently needed to unite the country.

Lord Heseltine privatised more parts of the public sector than any other minister and strongly supports the concept of an industrial strategy and a competitiveness agenda. Above all, he is determined not to give up trying to restore Britain’s position at the heart of Europe after the self-inflicted harm of Brexit.