17 Facts About Nicholas Budgen

Thirty-seven years later Budgen would succeed Powell as the Conservative member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South West.

Nicholas Budgen was educated at St Edward's School in Oxford and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Nicholas Budgen was raised by his grandfather after his father George had been killed at Tobruk on 16 June 1942, one of his uncles having been killed during the First World War and another during the second at Burma in March 1945.

Nicholas Budgen became a barrister at Gray's Inn in 1962.

Nicholas Budgen said that Budgen said he supported a firm immigration policy, but when pushed to agree that all immigrants should be sent home, he forcefully defended their right to be in Britain.

Nicholas Budgen had a contemptuous attitude towards both party and his leaders, having the second most rebellious voting record in the House of Commons for the period from 1979 to 1997.

Nicholas Budgen is quoted as saying, "you know, this is a government you can push" and was acutely aware that John Major's government was reliant upon the right wing of its party because of its small majority in the House of Commons.

Nicholas Budgen was popular with right-wingers not only for his intelligence but because he had been campaigning against the UK's gradual European drift since he resigned as a Whip in 1983.

Nicholas Budgen was a leading member of the Treasury Select Committee, who questioned every tax rise and attacked Kenneth Clarke as being "intellectually dishonest".

Nicholas Budgen was vociferous in protecting the rights of gun owners following the Dunblane massacre.

Nicholas Budgen's speech was described in The Guardian by columnist Simon Hoggart as "one of the last great parliamentary speeches".

Nicholas Budgen had in fact suggested to the seatless former Conservative Government minister Alan Clark that he should stand for the Referendum Party.

Nicholas Budgen had said that the Conservatives "in the West Midlands will be running on alternative manifesto", presumably meaning with other local Maastricht Rebels, Christopher Gill and Richard Shepherd.

Whilst Nicholas Budgen was in favour of limiting immigration and opposed a ban on handguns, he voted against capital punishment.

Nicholas Budgen had hunted in 29 of the UK's counties, and in his youth was well known as a particularly fearless rider; he wrote regularly for Horse and Hound and occasionally for the Wall Street Journal, The Times, Daily Mail, Glasgow Herald and The Irish Times.

Nicholas Budgen seemed to take great joy in continuing Wolverhampton South West's feud with Edward Heath, heckling him at any opportunity.

Nicholas Budgen died of liver cancer at Stafford General Hospital on 26 October 1998.