Haymarket group. His family owns 50 per ceno a conDas currenlly worth more than £50 million.
But Heseltine's wealth is a kev to his politics more fundamenstill his career.
Heseltine was appointed minister of defence in January 1983 with a very specitic purpose. His assigned goal CND in the was to utical run-up to the election. Mersey Heseltine was well equipped for the dirty tricks brief he was given. During his period minister tor ine environ ment, immediately following 1979 Heseltine had started the local UII ment and the cutbacks in government rate support grants to local councils.
Despite this however had deliberately cultivated a 'liberal' image particularly when ap pointed minister for Merseyside in 1981 following the Toxteth riol. He made long visits there, and loudly proclaimed his anguish' over the state of the city while continuing 1o cut back the funding of the big cities.
In Heseltine, likes to present the Illaze of a 'bleeding heart' liberal while in practice pushing through harsh unrelenting ruling class policies.
This was the policy he continued in the ministry of defence. 'The Guardian Heseltine was fanatical supporter of every torm oi military cooperation, advocated high military spending to this end.
He strongly supported the reactivation Western dependent European Pra Defence Union. body for defence collaboration), and he took Britain back into the European Space Agency: he wagea a ma jor battle in the cabinet in ensure support for the $40 billion European fighter project decided on earlier this year.
Heseltine's advocacy of high military spending led the press to accuse him of financial recklessness following his resignation.
In line with his military spending policy Heseltine ser abou autoessiv alack' ing CND on his appointHasci defence. He immediately established Defence Secretariat 19. antiall CND propaganda department staffed by officials of the defence ministry AcCathy Massiter, Meseine also usca inor mation from MIS about CND for purposes. This is in direct violation of MIS's legal charter.
Having achiered its purpose of political campaigning Defence Seiretarial 19 was dishanded immediately after the 1983 CICLON. But Hescitind Kepi up the scistained campaign against CND — inROLOHOU.
Molesworth episode when appeared a flak acket evict the demonstralor: he saw to it that Sarah Tisdall was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act TOr making it known when cruise missiles would arrive in Britain As well as his sustained campaign against nuclear alsarlament, Heseltine directly organised other of the ment's activities in the military field most notably the cover-up over the sinking of the Belgrano. He played direct role in misleading the House of Commons select committee on the Belgrano sinkingar ine end of the 1984.
Heseltine also insisted Clive Ponting for his leaks to the press exposing the government cover-up on The Belgrano. Ponting was acquitted.
Last Thursday Heselune casos secoesat out within a week, when he refused appear Channel Neurs programme because Ponting was He forced the ting's appearance that night.
The originator of the attack local government, te orcaniser or enc dirty tricks brigade against military spending; organiser of the Belgrano cover-up — Heseltine is a vicious and ruthiess runng class politician:
Socialist Action 24 January 1986