Three Men Who Would Be British Prime Minister

Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd and treasury chief John Major jumped into the contest for Conservative Party leader against Michael Heseltine. THE OUTSIDER

Michael Heseltine--Born in Wales 57 years ago, he is a self-made man who became a millionaire in publishing . . . Nicknamed “Tarzan” in the tabloids because of his height, his flowing locks and his theatrical outburst against Laborites in Parliament in 1976 . . . An effective speaker, he often overshadowed Thatcher at the annual Conservative Party conferences . . . As defense minister, he walked out of the Cabinet in 1986 in a controversy over bailing out a defense firm . . . He is popular among Tory voters, long seen as the leading man waiting in the wings for Thatcher to step aside . . . Was first to announce candidacy for party leadership and ran strongly in first ballot against Thatcher on Tuesday . . . He favors Britain playing a stronger role in Europe and criticized Thatcher’s coolness to European Community . . . Says that he would review controversial poll tax . . . Has supported Thatcher’s strong military support for the U.S. in Persian Gulf . . . He calls for “caring capitalism” to contrast his position with totally free-market approach of Thatcher . . . He lives in the country with wife, Anne; they have three children. THE INSIDER

Douglas Hurd--An old Etonian who served in Foreign Office before joining Parliament . . . Son and grandson of Conservative members of Parliament, he attended Cambridge University after Eton, wrote mystery novels in spare time . . . White-haired, bespectacled Hurd, 60, entered Thatcher Cabinet in 1984 in arduous job of Northern Ireland minister, switching to Home Office in 1985 . . . Shifted to post of foreign secretary in 1989, widely considered a success there . . . Has been praised for tough but measured approach to gulf crisis, known as a man “with a safe pair of hands,” a cricket term meaning he will not panic . . . Much more of a Europeanist than Thatcher, he is popular among colleagues for his sharp mind, straight-forward style . . . He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and perhaps most experienced all-around minister in the Thatcher Cabinet . . . Considered the man Thatcher supporters would most like to see succeed her . . . “I believe I can unite the party,” he said when announcing he would run for party leadership . . . He and his second wife, Judith, his former secretary, have two small children; he has three adult sons by a previous marriage. THE NEWCOMER

John Major--At 47, the bright young man in Thatcher’s Cabinet, which he joined as chief secretary of the treasury in 1987 . . . Named foreign secretary in major Cabinet shake-up in 1989, when Thatcher fired Geoffrey Howe . . . Three months later, was shifted to chancellor of the exchequer, equivalent to U.S. Treasury secretary, when Nigel Lawson resigned . . . A high school dropout, he is the son of a circus performer and went to work early in a bank, rising to executive ranks . . . Began political career on local neighborhood council in tough South London district of Lambeth . . . Lost two elections for Parliament before winning a seat in 1979 . . . A personal favorite of Thatcher, well regarded by colleagues, with few enemies . . . His articulate style and relative youth are thought to appeal to younger voters . . . More pro-European than Thatcher, he was partly responsible for taking Britain into Europe’s exchange-rate mechanism (ERM) . . . In a popular measure, he recently reduced Britain’s high interest rates . . . He and his wife, Norma, have been married for 20 years; they have a son and daughter.