Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey, , was a British Labour Party politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979 and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1980 to 1983.
He was a Member of Parliament for 40 years and was the last surviving member of the cabinet formed by Harold Wilson after the Labour Party's victory in the 1964 general election. A major figure in the party, he was defeated for the party leadership in 1976 and 1980.
To the public at large, Healey became well known for his bushy eyebrows and his creative turns of phrase. Wikipedia
“Squeeze property speculators until the pips squeak”
Speech in Lincoln (18 February 1974), quoted in The Times (19 February 1974), p. 4. Misreported as "tax the rich until the pips squeak". "The pips squeak" metaphor was originated by Sir Eric Campbell-Geddes and later used by David Lloyd-George.
1970s
On the 1983 general election (The News of the World, 19 June 1983).
1980s
On BBC Television's Panorama programme (22 January, 1968).
1960s
The London Standard (30 September 1986).
1980s
Explaining Labour's defeat in the 1983 election in an interview in Marxism Today (April 1986) http://banmarchive.org.uk/collections/mt/pdf/86_04_24.pdf <br class="br">1980s
Interview for La Stampa (5 April 1986), quoted in The Times (7 April 1986), p. 2
1980s
Interview https://www.channel4.com/news/by/michael-crick/blogs/healey-case-for-leaving-europe-stronger-than-staying with Michael Crick (9 May 2013) <br class="br">2010s
1970s
Source: Speech to the East Leeds Labour Club (10 January 1975), quoted in The Times (11 January 1975), p. 1
Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1969/mar/05/defence in the House of Commons (5 March 1969). <br class="br">1960s
Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1975/dec/17/employment in the House of Commons (17 December 1975) <br class="br">1970s
“It has never been my nature, I regret to admit to the House, to turn the other cheek.”
Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1974/dec/18/the-economy in the House of Commons (18 December 1974) <br class="br">1970s
Speech in Birmingham (1 June 1983), quoted in The Times (2 June 1983), p. 1. Healey withdrew the remark "glories in slaughter" the next day and claimed he should have said "conflict" rather than "slaughter" (The Times (3 June 1983), p. 1)
1980s
“By the end of next year, we really shall be on our way to that so-called economic miracle we need.”
In an Ministerial broadcast on the Budget (6 April 1976).
1970s
Speech to the twelfth congress of the Confederation of Socialist Parties of the EEC in Paris (12 November 1982), quoted in The Times (13 November 1982), p. 3
1980s
Answering a suggestion that the Soviets would prefer a Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher than a Labour government headed by Neil Kinnock at a press conference in Moscow after a meeting with Anatoly Dobrynin (11 May 1987), quoted in E. B. Geelhoed, Margaret Thatcher: In Victory and Downfall, 1987 and 1990 (Greenwood, 1992), pp. 120-1.
1980s
Source: Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1978/jun/14/economic-situation in the House of Commons (14 June 1978) on Sir Geoffrey Howe
Speech at the Labour Party Conference (30 September 1976), quoted in Labour Party Annual Conference Report 1976, p. 319. Healey had been forced to abandon plans to attend an international finance ministers' conference in order to speak to the conference because of a run on the pound.
1970s
On unilateral nuclear disarmament. (The Guardian, 15 September 1981).
1980s
Speech to the Labour Party Conference at Blackpool (1 October 1973).
1970s
Speech in York (2 June 1973), quoted in The Times (4 June 1973), p. 2.
1970s
“He must be out of his tiny Chinese mind.”
Attacking Ian Mikardo, a left-wing critic of spending cuts, using a phrase of the comedienne Hermione Gingold (The Daily Telegraph, 24 February, 1976), quoted in Denis Healey The Time of My Life (Penguin, 1990), p. 444
1970s
Remark at a meeting in No. 10 Downing Street (2 May 1977), quoted in Bernard Donoughue, Downing Street Diary, Volume Two: With James Callaghan in No. 10 (2008), p. 182
1970s
“The owl of Minerva only flies abroad when the shades of night are gathering.”
Source: 'The Owl and the Bulldog: Reflections on Conservatism and Foreign Policy', Twentieth Century, Volume 155 (1954), p. 107
Context: Speaking for Conservatism, Hegel was right. And nothing proves it better than the post-war crop of Tory intellectuals, sprouting like mushrooms in the damp cellars of Abbey House. Not until the stimuli which originally conditioned Conservative reflexes have finally disappeared can the intellectual emerge to provide a rationale for Conservative behaviour. So Conservative theory must always base itself on some form of historical restorationism. The moderate seeks the world of Joseph Chamberlain—or if he is daring, of Disraeli. The really advanced radical looks still further back, to Prince Rupert, or the Middle Ages, particularly if he is a Catholic.
“The borrowing requirement was 'terrifying.'”
Source: Remarks to Barbara Castle (9 April 1975), quoted in Barbara Castle, The Castle Diaries, 1974–76 (1980), p. 359
Context: He just had to cut back public expenditure. The Social Contract wasn't working. Inflation was getting out of control.
1970s
Source: Remarks to the Liaison Committee with the Trades Union Congress at Congress House (20 January 1975), quoted in Barbara Castle, The Castle Diaries, 1974–76 (1980), pp. 284-285
“We did not want middle class.”
Source: On Tony Benn; remark to the Shadow Cabinet (31 July 1972), quoted in Tony Benn, Office Without Power: Diaries 1968–72 (1988), p. 441
