Ex-UK Foreign Secretary Francis Pym Dies

LONDON — Francis Pym, an antagonist of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who served as her foreign secretary during the Falklands War, died Friday after a long illness, his family said. He was 86.

Pym served as defense secretary in Thatcher's first term as prime minister. In 1982, he was elevated to foreign secretary during the Falkland Islands war after the resignation of Peter Carrington.

Thatcher fired Pym after winning the 1983 election, and he became increasingly critical of her policies. Unwisely, he had said during the campaign that he hoped the Conservative Party would not win an overwhelming majority.

Thatcher won in a landslide.

Her biographer, the late Hugo Young, had described Pym as "perhaps the most perfect epitome of the kind of Conservative politician Mrs. Thatcher detested."

He was a pro-European moderate, one of the so-called "wets" she disparaged, and a critic of the government's economic policies.

But as foreign secretary, he gave crucial support during the most difficult days of her three terms.

"During the war, on numerous testing occasions, his parade-ground bark and military bearing produced a more incisive appearance than some of the prime minister's own appearances," Young wrote.

Pym was awarded the Military Cross and earned praise as a captain in the 9th Royal Lancers during the African and Italian campaigns in World War II.

He was elected to the House of Commons in 1961, becoming the fifth member of his family going back to the 17th Century to win a seat.

Pym was appointed Northern Ireland secretary in 1973-74 in Edward Heath's government.

After Thatcher won power in 1979, she appointed Pym as defense secretary. Increasingly unhappy with Thatcher's plans to cut defense spending, he lasted only two years in the job.

Later, once dismissed as foreign secretary, Pym became more outspoken in opposition to Thatcher.

In 1985, he launched the Conservative Center Forward group in the House of Commons, which aimed to "recapture the Conservative Party for the traditional brand of Toryism."

Pym is survived by his wife Valerie, two daughters and two sons.

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