1 Jan 1985 Jahr - Westland Affair

Beschreibung:

Westland was the only British company that made helicopters. In need of financial support, Westland entered negotiations with US firm Sikorski.

Secretary of State for industry, Leon Brittan, agreed with this negotiation believing companies have a right to deal with their own affairs without the governments input.
However, defence secretary Michel Heseltine, thought that Westland should be integrated in a European consortium.

This disagreement was more about what the government stood for rather than Westland's stability. Should the government be involved with company affairs of should manangement take care of it's self? It was also a fight over USA and Europe.

Thatcher sided with Brittan. This caused Heseltine to resign as he felt his views were not being listened to.