Norman Tebbit, a towering figure in British politics and a staunch ally of Margaret Thatcher, passed away peacefully at his home in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Monday at the age of 94, his son William confirmed. No cause of death was disclosed. A key architect of Thatcherism, Tebbit was instrumental in reshaping Britain’s economy and curbing trade union power in the 1980s.

Born in 1931 in Ponders End, north London, to working-class parents, Tebbit’s early life was marked by the hardships of the Great Depression. His father’s struggle inspired his famous 1981 “on your bike” remark, urging the unemployed to seek work proactively—a phrase often misquoted but reflective of his belief in personal responsibility. Elected MP for Epping in 1970 and later Chingford until 1992, Tebbit served as Employment Secretary (1981-1983), Trade and Industry Secretary (1983-1985), and Conservative Party Chairman (1985-1987), steering Thatcher to a third election victory in 1987. His 1982 Employment Act, which limited union immunities, was pivotal in weakening their influence during strikes like the 1984-85 miners’ dispute.

Tebbit’s combative style earned him nicknames lika “Chingford skinhead” and Michael Foot’s “semi-house-trained polecat.” His controversial 1990 “cricket test” suggested immigrants’ loyalty to Britain could be gauged by their support for England’s cricket team, sparking debate on integration. A Eurosceptic, he championed Brexit, opposing closer EU ties.

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The 1984 IRA bombing of Brighton’s Grand Hotel, which killed five and aimed at Thatcher, left Tebbit with severe injuries and his wife Margaret paralyzed. His stoic response and devoted care for her until her death in 2020 earned widespread respect, even from critics. He left the Cabinet in 1987 to focus on her care and later joined the House of Lords in 1992, retiring in 2022.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch hailed Tebbit as an “icon” of Thatcherism, praising his “unstinting service” and courage. Former Tory figures like Boris Johnson and Nadhim Zahawi lauded his role in Britain’s revival and mentorship of younger Conservatives. Critics, however, noted his policies deepened inequality, with some on X calling his legacy divisive. Tebbit is survived by two sons and a daughter.

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