Michael Heseltine had to abandon his long-held ambition to lead the Conservative Party due to ill-health in 1997. He brought down the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when he contested her leadership in 1990. He missed out, but was brought back to the cabinet as John Major's deputy from 1995-97. He remains MP for the safe Conservative seat of Henley and has more than thirty years experience of the Commons. He gained wide ministerial experience under three prime ministers, mainly in defence, environment and trade. Back in 1986 he had walked out of a Cabinet meeting over the sale of Westland helicopters. Nicknamed 'Tarzan', he was the Defence Secretary who brought Cruise missiles to Greenham Common. And the Environment Secretary who repealed the poll tax and helped to secure the 1992 election victory for Mr Major. On the backbenches he renewed his involvement in his business interests in property and publishing. With his stake in Haymarket Publishing Group he has assets of some £150m and was the only MP to appear in the Sunday Times' 1999 Rich List, at 143rd. He is one of the few heavyweight, Tory Euro-supporters.