Nigel Lawson was a leading advocate for privatization in several vital sectors, laying the groundwork for the sale of British Airways, British Telecom, and British Gas and the liberalization of gas and electricity.

Under Margaret Thatcher as prime minister, Lawson's support for a low-tax, limited-government agenda helped define the British state during the 1980s. Conservative politicians still hold him up as an example today. 

This is why his resignation in 1989, one of the critical events in the Margaret Thatcher period, was seen as a turning point in her downfall. One of his celebrated accomplishments was reducing the top rate of tax over the same period from 60% to 40% while lowering the base rate of income tax from 30% at the beginning of his tenure in 1983 to 25% by 1988. 

In addition, Lawson was a leading advocate for privatization in several vital sectors, laying the groundwork for the sale of British Airways, British Telecom, and British Gas and the liberalization of gas and electricity.

Despite being attributed with improving the country's economic performance, his detractors claim that his adopted policies only served to further inequality and poverty.

The politician was one of the first significant parliamentarians to advocate for leaving the EU and served as chair of the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. Both contributed to her being hailed as "instrumental to Brexit" by prominent Eurosceptics.

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The tributes were headed by former prime minister Boris Johnson, who collaborated with Lawson on Vote Leave." Nigel Lawson was an original and fearless flame of free market Conservatism," he wrote. He was a tax-cutting and simplifying figure who changed the economic environment and enabled millions of Britons to fulfill their aspirations.

He was an advocate of mainland Europe and a Brexit prophet. He was enormous. His family is in my prayers and consideration. According to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, one of his first actions as Chancellor was to hang a photo of Nigel Lawson above his desk.

"He was a president who transformed the university and inspired me and many others. At this moment, my thoughts are with his family and friends. Lawson, a former Financial Times journalist who represented Blaby as an MP from 1974 to 1992, entered the Margaret Thatcher Cabinet in 1981 as energy minister.

He was promoted to Chancellor two years later, a position he would occupy for six years. It is believed that his departure in 1989 due to disputes with Mrs. Thatcher's economic adviser Alan Walters and apparent differences over the exchange-rate mechanism was a critical turning point in her downfall.

A year before the plan to depose Margaret Thatcher, the departure started a series of events that resulted in the first leadership challenge against her.  Mrs. Thatcher's private rage at his demands, which she called "absurd" and "reprehensible," was disclosed in 2019 previously sealed documents.

When the former Chancellor was elected to the House of Lords in 1992, he left the Commons. Before the 2016 EU vote, he led the pro-Brexit campaign organization Conservatives for Britain. He assisted in the founding of Vote Leave.

He also served as the chairman of a contentious think tank that advocated against net zero and climate change policies, earning him the label "climate denier." After nearly five decades in politics, he left the Lords in 2022. His six offspring, including the well-known chef Nigella Lawson, live.

As tributes from across the party poured in on Monday, it was evident that he continues to have an impact on Conservative thinking."He was a giant who changed the political climate, a lodestar for Conservatives, and a kind man always generous with his wisdom," said deputy prime minister Dominic Raab. His family is in my prayers and consideration.

James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, continued, "Sad to hear about Nigel Lawson's passing. Real leader. We will never forget his services to this country. Greg Hands, the leader of the Tory party, wrote: "Am saddened to hear of Nigel Lawson's death.

He was involved in Conservative politics up until very recently. His ability to reason clearly and his dedication to free market economics will be remembered.

Sajid Javid, a former governor, expressed his sadness at the news—one of the best public servants in Britain, particularly in his capacity as Chancellor.