Former British finance minister Geoffrey Howe died after suffering a heart attack. Photo: Reuters

Former British chancellor Lord Geoffrey Howe has died at the age of 88, the BBC reported yesterday.

Howe, who was also a former foreign secretary, died late on Friday after suffering a suspected heart attack, the BBC said, citing his family.

Prime Minister David Came­ron paid tribute to Howe, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1979 to 1983, saying he was “the quiet hero” of Margaret Thatcher’s first government.

“His time as Chancellor of the Exchequer was vital in turning the fortunes of our country around, cutting borrowing, lowering tax rates and conquering inflation,” he said.

“Lifting exchange controls may seem obvious now, but it was revolutionary back then.”

Howe served as foreign secretary from 1983 to 1989 and deputy prime minister from 1989 to 1990.

His resignation speech in 1990 is widely seen as having contributed to Margaret Thatcher’s downfall later that year.

Howe disagreed with many of Thatcher’s policies on Europe.