On this day

in 1989, Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson resigned over policy differences with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. John Major replaced him.

I had always admired Lawson. Although not an economist I felt there was something behind his drive to simplify the tax regime.

John Major always struck me as an odd person, in the political and leadership sense. I couldn't understand how he rose so high as he struck me as what is known in military terms as a NEWT (not employable with troops). His ;lacklustre premiership demonstrated that and he was lucky that Kinnock blew the 1992 election.