William (Willie) Whitelaw, former deputy prime minister, addresses Southend Conservative Club in March 1985.
By then, as Lord Whitelaw of Penrith, he was Leader of the House of Lords.
Margaret Thatcher, a friend and admirer of Lord Whitelaw, famously asserted: “Every prime minister needs a Willie.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel