Lord Haskins, Blair's Rural Tsar and Business Titan, Dies at 88
Chris Haskins, known as Lord Haskins, has passed away at the age of 88. He was a prominent business figure and a key supporter of Tony Blair's New Labour project, serving as an advisor on cutting red tape and later as the "rural tsar" following the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak. Blair praised Haskins for his invaluable "no nonsense approach," a trait honed over 40 years building Northern Foods into Britain's leading food manufacturer.
From Business Success to Political Disillusionment
Haskins combined entrepreneurial acumen with a socialist conscience, but his outspoken nature often led to difficulties. He distanced himself from the Labour government after criticizing what he called the "disgrace" of anti-terrorist legislation in the early 2000s and the Iraq war. In a candid interview, he remarked of Blair, "He wants everyone to love him," and of former home secretary David Blunkett, "You have to watch him like a hawk."
Champion of European Unity and Regional Devolution
An Irishman born in Dublin, Haskins was a passionate advocate for causes such as European monetary union and English regional devolution. His political activism began with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's Aldermaston marches in the 1950s and 60s. He described participating in these marches as "a compelling moment – democracy was alive and well," marking his shift from a conventional right-of-center youth to a radical thinker.
Building Northern Foods into a Powerhouse
After moving to England in 1959 and marrying Gilda Horsley, Haskins joined Northern Dairies, which later became Northern Foods. He played a crucial role in its growth, notably establishing a symbiotic relationship with Marks & Spencer. This partnership began accidentally on a flight to Belfast and eventually led to annual sales of half a billion pounds to the high-street store. Under his leadership, the company expanded to supply products like Goodfella's pizzas for Tesco and salmon dishes for Waitrose, with turnover peaking at £2 billion in 1998.
Modest Lifestyle and Strong Opinions
Haskins lived modestly, often dressing in jumpers rather than suits and driving battered cars. He was critical of excessive executive salaries in Britain and the US. In 2003, his rural recovery report for Defra after the foot and mouth epidemic proposed shifting agriculture towards environmental concerns and reducing subsidies, earning him the title "Villain of the Year" from Country Life.
Later Years and Legacy
He accepted a life peerage in 1998 but later sat as a crossbench peer after being expelled from the Labour Party in 2005 for funding a Liberal Democrat campaign. In his later years, he focused on local affairs in Yorkshire, advocating for regional devolution, though he faced disappointment as government bodies were wound down. Haskins once wrote, "Most of the campaigns of my life have failed, largely, I comfort myself, because I have been ahead of my time." He is survived by his wife Gilda, five children, nine grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
