Lord Armstrong was Cabinet Secretary between 1979 and 1987, working throughout Margaret Thatcher’s premiership.
In this interview with historian Lord Hennessy, he talks about his service under Margaret Thatcher.
Lord Armstrong biography
The Rt Hon Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, GCB, CVO entered the Civil Service in 1964.
After a three-year period in the Cabinet Office, he joined the Treasury in 1967, becoming Under Secretary the following year.
In 1970 he was appointed Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Edward Heath.
He then moved to the Home Office, becoming Permanent Under Secretary in 1977.
He was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 1979 and served throughout Margaret Thatcher’s premiership until 1987.
Former Cabinet Secretaries
View the photos of other former Cabinet Secretaries in our Flickr gallery.
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About Cabinet Confidential
The Cabinet Confidential series was funded by Queen Mary, University of London’s Centre for Public Engagement. It was produced by academics and students from the Mile End Group, Queen Mary's forum for government and politics, in partnership with Mile End Films the University’s in-house production unit.
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