Brian Mulroney obituary

Brian Mulroney achieved the rare distinction of being the most popular prime minister in Canadian history — and the least popular.

In the 1984 general election he led his Progressive Conservative Party to a record-breaking victory. Nine years later he had the lowest approval ratings of any Canadian prime minister and resigned as party leader: at a general election shortly afterwards the PCs were crushed, losing all but two of their seats in a defeat of historic proportions.

Mulroney was a complicated figure. He had an easy charm, combined with square-jawed good looks and abundant confidence, but his many enemies considered him smooth, showy, manipulative and self-regarding. He left office reviled, and was subsequently revealed to have accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from an arms