Francis Pym - Definition and Overview

Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym, PC, (born February 13, 1922) is a UK politician and former member of the Cabinet.

Educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, he entered parliament in 1961 as Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire, retaining the post until 1983, and was MP for Cambridgeshire South East 1983-1987. He served under Edward Heath as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1973–1974), and Margaret Thatcher as Defence Secretary (1979–1981), Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council (1981–1982) then Foreign Secretary (1982–1983). He was regarded as a leading member of the Wets during the Thatcher administration. During the 1983 general election campaign he publicly stated that he didn't think a landslide majority would produce a good government; this was publicly repudiated by his party leader, Margaret Thatcher. After winning a landslide she sacked him. He stood down at the 1987 election and was given a life peerage as Lord Pym.