£3m will of top Tory Jim

THE ex-Northern Ireland secretary Jim Prior, one of the leading Tory “wets” during the Thatcher era, left £3,041,141 in his will.

Lord Prior, who died aged 89 last December, was employment secretary after Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979.

But she grew frustrated at his failure to press ahead with her union reforms and he was moved to Northern Ireland in 1981.

The dad of four left the bulk of his money to his family, but also left cash to staff on his Suffolk estate.