From Acorns to Oaks

When Michael Heseltine wrote his acclaimed autobiography, Life in the Jungle, he assumed his political career was over. He returned to Haymarket, his publishing business, and, with his wife, Anne, intended to explore more of the world and pursue more vigorously his passions outside politics. The assumption was wrong. David Cameron called him, tentatively at first but gradually with increased responsibility, back to the corridors of power. This second memoir is a pot pourri of reminiscences of Heseltine's youth, early adulthood and previously unexplored aspects of his stellar political career. Among much else, his account of finding his home, creating his garden and his renowned arboretum and regenerating his village makes fascinating and compelling reading. But the main reason for Heseltine taking up his pen again has been to look back on the fundamental changes he was able to mastermind while in power and to set out clearly and forcefully the policies that are still urgently needed to continue to unite the country by driving growth, increasing prosperity and restoring hope. He contributed to the creation of directly elected mayors in our biggest cities and to the regeneration of Merseyside, central Manchester and London's East End. He privatised more parts of the public sector than any other minister and strongly supported the essential concept of an industrial strategy and a competitiveness agenda. Here is evidence of what works, offering a way forward that any government should adopt. Heseltine was one of two Cabinet ministers who resigned over the seismic Westland affair, a scandal the establishment had tried desperately to cover up. He now reveals new details of the disgraceful and dishonest behaviour of some of those involved in the criminal conspiracy. Above all, the memoir emphasises his passionate determination not to give up after what he considers to be the grievous act of political self-harm inflicted on Britain by Brexit. He deplores the conspiracy of silence that has allowed the two major parties to avoid the subject under the delusion that it is a done deal and irreversible. His message is crystal clear: we must restore Britain's position at the heart of Europe.