Michael Heseltine, the former Conservative deputy prime minister and long-serving cabinet member, reflects on his political career and his enduring passion for horticulture at his Northamptonshire estate. Now 93, Heseltine spent over six decades in public life, holding key positions including defence secretary, environment secretary, and president of the board of trade, and serving under three prime ministers. Though remembered for his vigorous political style, including his dramatic resignation during Margaret Thatcher’s leadership leading to her eventual ousting, Heseltine believes his lasting legacy lies not in politics but in the extensive arboretum he and his wife have cultivated at Thenford House.
The palladian estate, purchased in 1976, is home to 3,000 species of trees and shrubs, including an exceptional collection of 300 oak varieties spread over 70 acres, alongside some 1,200 kinds of snowdrops. Heseltine and his wife Anne manage the grounds with precision, employing geostationary mapping technology to track the location of plants to the nearest square meter and maintaining the garden through regular inspections by golf cart. Inspired in part by renowned horticulturist Harold Hillier’s advice in 1978, Heseltine embraced arboreal collecting, acquiring species worldwide, including oak acorns from South America.
Reflecting on the parallels between politics and gardening, Heseltine notes the importance of ruthlessness and pruning in both fields to achieve desired outcomes. His interest in cultivation began early; as a boarding school boy, he was assigned a small plot of soil which he tended diligently.
Despite his extensive political career, Heseltine expresses a somewhat unromantic view of politics today, acknowledging current challenges faced by the Labour leader Keir Starmer, whom he believes is grappling with multiple domestic and international pressures including Brexit, the Ukraine conflict, and complex relations with the United States. Heseltine also comments on internal party dynamics, warning that former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham might face difficulties transitioning his leadership style to the national stage without being pulled to the political left.
Heseltine remains critical of recent government defence policies, particularly funding based on GDP percentages rather than strategic capability, highlighting the rapid technological changes in warfare. He also voices concern over Britain’s post-Brexit positioning, describing Brexit as a self-inflicted separation from Europe’s political and economic mainstream, which he sees as detrimental to the country’s future. While Starmer has begun moving towards closer ties with Europe, Heseltine laments the rise of divisive political forces such as Reform and the persistence of antisemitism and anti-immigrant sentiment within parts of the political landscape.
Recalling his role in urban regeneration projects, including London’s Docklands and Liverpool, Heseltine expresses frustration with what he views as diminished ambition in Westminster. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about the resilience of British governance, emphasizing the quality of the civil service but stressing the need for clear ministerial leadership.
On the Conservative Party, Heseltine supports the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, praising her ability to make an impact, and condemns potential alliances with parties like Reform, which he considers incompatible with moderate conservatism. He mourns the loss of his contemporary Roy Hattersley, recalling his principled stance during turbulent political times.
As our conversation moves through Thenford’s formal gardens, Heseltine points to symbolic features such as a massive bronze bust of Lenin, acquired after the Cold War, illustrating his enduring engagement with history and art. While he regrets not having become prime minister, he acknowledges the fullness of his life and career and continues to follow political developments closely, reading multiple newspapers daily.
Despite his age, Heseltine remains active and engaged, combining a lifelong enthusiasm for both politics and gardening with a commitment to preserving what he describes as a unique living legacy.