abstract
| - Denis Healey (born August 30, 1917) is a British Labour party politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1981 - 1989), he previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer (1974 - 1981) and Defence Secretary (1964 - 1970). Healey's tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer was the longest continuous tenure since Nicholas Vansittart nearly two centuries before, during one of the most turbulent periods in British political and economic history. In 1981 Callaghan retired from the premiership and Healey won the leadership contest to be his successor. Healey's premiership coincided with the commencement of the revenue windfall from North Sea Oil, allowing Labour to spend unprecedented amounts on the Welfare State, and assuring low unemployment rates through the mid 1980's. He led Labour to a landslide election victory in 1983. In Foreign affairs he was a staunch supporter of the NATO alliance, despite a famously icey personal relationship with US President Ronald Reagan. His government brought about the beginnings of the Northern Ireland peace process as well as the end of Apartheid in South Africa in 1989. Labour was reelected in 1987, but with a reduced majority. During Healey's final term in office divisions emerged within the Labour Party between the right led by David Owen, and the left led by Neil Kinnock. He resigned in 1989, stressing the need for new leadership. He remains the longest serving Labour Prime Minister, and behind Herbert Asquith and Winston Churchill, the third longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th century.
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