Leon Brittan: A Politician's Rise and Fall

Leon Brittan was a British politician who rose to prominence in the 1980s. He was a key figure in the Thatcher government.

Brittan's early life was marked by his education at the University of Cambridge, where he studied law. He went on to become a lawyer and later entered politics.

In 1976, Brittan was elected as the Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorks), a seat he held for 30 years.

Leon Brittan was born in London, the son of Rebecca (née Lipetz) and Joseph Brittan, a doctor. His parents were Lithuanian Jews who had migrated to Britain before the Second World War.

Brittan was educated at the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was President of the Cambridge Union Society and Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association.

Brittan then studied at Yale University on a Henry Fellowship, which provided him with a valuable opportunity to further his education.

Leon Brittan was born in London to Rebecca (née Lipetz) and Joseph Brittan, a doctor. His parents were Lithuanian Jews who had migrated to Britain before the Second World War.

Brittan was educated at the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School.

He then went on to attend Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was quite active in student politics, serving as President of the Cambridge Union Society and Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association.

Brittan also studied at Yale University on a Henry Fellowship.

Leon Brittan's determination to make a career in politics is a fascinating story. He relentlessly pursued a parliamentary seat and finally won Cleveland and Whitby in 1974.

Brittan's parliamentary career spanned over two decades, with him serving as a member of Parliament from 1974 to 1986. He was a Conservative MP and held various positions, including Minister of State at the Home Office and Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

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Brittan's cabinet career was marked by controversy, particularly during the Westland affair in 1986. He authorized the leaking of a letter that accused Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine of inaccuracies, leading to his resignation.

Here's a brief overview of Brittan's cabinet positions:

Brittan's resignation in 1986 marked the end of his cabinet career, but he continued to serve as a backbench MP. He spoke out on various issues, including sanctions against South Africa, and was a prominent Europhile.

Leon Brittan's resignation from the position of Trade and Industry Secretary in January 1986 was a direct result of the Westland affair.

Brittan authorized the leaking of a letter from the Solicitor General, which accused Michael Heseltine of inaccuracies in his campaign to rescue Westland.

The rest of the government, led by Margaret Thatcher, supported a deal with the American business Sikorsky Fiat, which was in opposition to Heseltine's plan.

Jonathan Aitken wrote that Brittan's resignation was a combination of a witch hunt and a search for a scapegoat, tainted by an undercurrent of anti-Semitism.

Brittan had attempted to persuade British Aerospace and General Electric Company (GEC) to withdraw from the European consortium.

In October 1986, Brittan made a bitter attack on Michael Heseltine in a House of Commons debate, accusing him of "thwarting the Government at every turn" in its handling of the Westland affair.

Brittan claimed that government decisions should have the support of all its members and should not be undermined from within.

In 1989, Brittan revealed that two senior Downing Street officials, Bernard Ingham and Charles Powell, had approved the leaking of the letter from the Solicitor General, leading to calls for a new inquiry into the Westland affair.

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Brittan was made European Commissioner for Competition at the European Commission early in 1989, resigning as an MP to take the position.

He accepted the post reluctantly, as it meant giving up his British parliamentary ambitions.

Brittan passed the merger regulation in 1989, which enabled him to ban the ATR/De Havilland planned merger in 1991.

He became European Commissioner for Trade in 1993 and European Commissioner for External Affairs in 1995, also serving as a Vice-President of the European Commission.

Sir Leon Brittan, a former European Commissioner, passed away in 2015. He was knighted in the 1989 New Years Honours List.

Brittan held several positions within the European Commission, including European Commissioner for Competition, Trade, and External Affairs. He served as a Vice-President of the European Commission.

One notable member of Brittan's office was Nick Clegg, who later became leader of the Liberal Democrats and deputy prime minister. Brittan resigned from his position in 1999 amid accusations of fraud.

In 2014, Brittan was interviewed under caution by police regarding an alleged rape in 1967. He denied the claims and was not told by the police that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him.

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Brittan was created a life peer (Baron Brittan of Spennithorne, of Spennithorne in the County of North Yorkshire) on 9 February 2000.

He was a vice-chairman of UBS AG Investment Bank and a non-executive director of Unilever.

In August 2010, Brittan was appointed a trade adviser to the UK government, a job that was scheduled to last for six months.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Brittan had "unrivalled experience" for the role.

Diana Brittan, his wife, was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2004 Birthday Honours "for public service and charity".

Leon Brittan's impressive career in the Commonwealth was marked by numerous honours. He was appointed as a Queen's Counsel in 1978, a title he held until 2015.

This prestigious title is often abbreviated as QC, and it's a testament to Brittan's exceptional legal skills.

As a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Brittan was part of the UK's highest advisory council, a position he held from 1981 to 2015.

Here's a breakdown of Leon Brittan's Commonwealth honours:

In 1988, Brittan was knighted, becoming a Knight Bachelor, a title that reflects his outstanding contributions to society.

Leon Brittan's career was marred by several controversies and allegations, particularly surrounding child abuse claims.

In October 2014, Labour MP Jimmy Hood used parliamentary privilege to refer to claims that Brittan had been linked to child abuse.

The Metropolitan Police launched Operation Midland to investigate these claims, but the operation was closed in 2016 without any charges being brought.

Brittan's widow received substantial compensation from the Metropolitan Police for the unjustified searches of their home.

Carl Beech, whose claims spurred Operation Midland, was convicted of perverting the course of justice in 2019.

A 50-page dossier of allegations about a paedophile ring, compiled by the late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens, was handed to the Home Office, but Brittan claimed he couldn't remember it.

This incident raised questions about the handling of the dossier and Brittan's involvement.

Lord Lamont, a close friend and colleague of Brittan's, denied any wrongdoing and praised Brittan's integrity.

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In October 2014, Labour MP Jimmy Hood used parliamentary privilege to refer to claims that Brittan had been linked to child abuse.

Labour MP Tom Watson accused Brittan of "multiple child rape" in January 2015, stating he had spoken to two people who claimed they were abused by Brittan.

Convicted fraudster Chris Fay alleged that he had seen a photograph of Brittan with a child at Elm Guest House in mid-1982.

Detectives from Operation Midland visited and searched two homes in London and Yorkshire formerly owned by Brittan in March 2015.

One of Brittan's accusers later told the BBC's Panorama that he originally named Brittan as a joke and told the Metropolitan Police that two well-known campaigners may have led him into making false claims.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Operation Midland had been closed without any charges being brought on 21 March 2016.

The Metropolitan Police paid substantial compensation to Brittan's widow for having raided the Brittans' home "after accepting that the searches had been unjustified and should never have taken place" on 1 September 2017.

Carl Beech, whose claims spurred Operation Midland, was convicted of perverting the course of justice in July 2019.

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Lord Brittan's involvement with a missing 50-page dossier of allegations about a paedophile ring was a major controversy. The dossier was compiled by the late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens.

He claimed not to remember being handed the dossier, but it was later revealed he had been at a meeting where it was presented to the Home Office. He said "appropriate action" had been taken, but the extent of his involvement remains unclear.

Lord Brittan's social contact with Fiona Woolf, the former Lord Mayor of London, also raised concerns. They had supper together five times since 2008, which eventually led to her stepping down as head of an inquiry into historic child abuse.

Lord Lamont, a Conservative peer, defended Lord Brittan, saying he handled the dossier "with integrity." However, child abuse campaigner Mark Williams-Thomas questioned this, pointing out that the police had investigated Lord Brittan as part of Operation Yewtree in 2013.

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Leon Brittan's death was a significant loss, he passed away in 2015. He was 76 years old at the time of his death.

His death was due to cancer, specifically a rare type that affects the blood.

Here are the positions he held in his later life:

Brittan died at his London home in Pimlico on 21 January 2015, aged 75. He had been ill with cancer for some time.

Leon Brittan's coat of arms features a Wensleydale sheep guardant Argent unguled Or and supporting a quiver Vert banded Or with arrows Gules. This unique design is a reflection of his heritage and accomplishments.

The crest of his coat of arms is a Wensleydale sheep, which is a nod to his Yorkshire roots. The sheep is depicted in a regal pose, with its dexter forefoot supporting a quiver filled with arrows.

The motto of his coat of arms is Ne Umquam Desistas, which is Latin for "Never Give Up". This motto reflects Leon Brittan's determination and perseverance throughout his life.

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Here is a breakdown of the key elements of Leon Brittan's coat of arms: