Denis Healey is a former British politician who served as Prime Minister (1983 - 1990). Healey was first elected as an MP at the 1945 election, and entered cabinet in 1959. Healey was one of only a few Labour heavyweights to serve throughout the 1959 - 1975 Labour government, holding the Aviation (1959 - 1962), Defence (1964 - 1970) and Treasury (1970 - 1973) portfolios. Healey ran in the 1973 Labour leadership election, and came a close third. He was sacked by Roy Jenkins shortly after he came to office, a controversial move at the time and for no apparent reason.