Michael Heseltine at Europe House, Westminster

Thursday 13 November 2025, 6.00–7.30pm (with reception to follow)
Europe House, 32 Smith Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3EU

Join us in London to mark the 35th anniversary of Sir Geoffrey Howe’s landmark resignation speech, a pivotal moment in British political history that precipitated the fall of Margaret Thatcher.

This special seminar will assess Howe’s contribution to public life as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and Deputy Prime Minister, and reflect on his enduring influence on British politics, Europe, and government.

Lord Michael Heseltine will deliver the keynote address, exploring the impact of Howe’s resignation and his defining conflict with Mrs Thatcher over Britain’s place in Europe — a debate that continues to shape political discourse today.

Lord Heseltine’s remarks will be complemented by personal reflections from:

• Lord John Kerr, who worked with Geoffrey Howe at the Treasury and Foreign Office

• Sir Peter Riddell, author of Howe’s entry in the Dictionary of National Biography

• Dame Arabella Warburton, who served as his parliamentary aide in the late 1980s and early 1990s

The discussion will be chaired by Anthony Teasdale, Howe’s former special adviser.

The evening begins with a screening of Howe’s powerful 19-minute resignation speech, delivered in the House of Commons on 13 November 1990.

This event is organised by the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation, in cooperation with the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK, which is kindly hosting the event.

The event is free to attend, but you must register in advance.
Screening at 5.30pm | Seminar 6.00–7.30pm | Reception 7.30pm
Nearest stations: St James’s Park and Westminster