Former Tory leadership contender Mr Michael Heseltine announced yesterday that he would not stand at the next general election, thus bringing down the curtain on one of the most turbulent British political careers of recent years. The flamboyant former deputy prime minister, who is 67, said he was resigned to never serving again in a Conservative government and did not relish the prospect of another term as backbench "lobby fodder". "When a man's got to go, he's got to go," he declared.
It was a typical flourish from a man who was never forgiven by many Tories for bringing down Margaret Thatcher but who never quite achieved his own vaulting ambition to enter Number 10.
Also typical was the way he chose to announce his decision on BBC Radio 4's Today programme before telling Tory leader Mr William Hague, although he did notify his local party officials.
He claimed he feared the information would leak out if he told Conservative Central Office first.
As one of the champions of the Tory pro-Europeans, he had been increasingly at odds with Mr Hague over the Euro-sceptic drift of policy since he took over from Mr John Major in 1997.
He infuriated the Conservative leader by appearing, together with Tory ex-chancellor Mr Kenneth Clarke, on a platform with Mr Tony Blair for the launch of the Britain in Europe campaign.
Even yesterday, he warned that his departure from Parliament did not mean that he would be giving up his pursuit of the European cause. "I intend to play an active part in the overarching debate of our time, which is Europe and Britain's relationship with Europe," he said.
Despite their differences and the way he made his announcement, Mr Hague paid him a generous tribute, describing him as an "immensely distinguished politician". "We have had a disagreement over Europe, but we haven't had many other disagreements. We have had very good personal relations and we have not let the disagreement over one matter create bad relations," he said.