Chancellor Geoffrey Howe warned he could be ‘for the chop’

PRIME minister Margaret Thatcher warned chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe that he could be “for the chop” in February 1981, files reveal.

Sir Geoffrey, now Lord Howe, also served as foreign secretary and was a major figure in the Conservative government during the Thatcher years.

He disagreed with Mrs Thatcher over the government’s attitude to Europe and his resignation in 1990 is thought to have triggered her downfall.

Sir Geoffrey is mentioned in 1981 diary entries written by Mrs Thatcher’s economic adviser, Alan Walters.

In a 6 January entry, Mr Walters describes a meeting with Mrs Thatcher and includes the note: “What should she do about Geoffrey. Who could she promote [to replace him]. No-one.”

On 23 February, Mr Walters notes how she warned Sir Geoffrey “that he must get the PSBR (Public Sector Borrowing Requirement) down or ‘you are for the chop’.”