Former Labour deputy leader Roy Hattersley dies aged 93 | UK | News
Former Labor Party deputy leader Roy Hattersley has died aged 93. Known as Labour’s “almost man”, he failed to win the leadership of his beloved party and spent more than two decades on the opposition benches in his 33 years as an MP.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote of
Mr Hattersley was credited with helping to steer the party away from policies that had made it unelectable in the eyes of many voters, including its support for unilateral nuclear disarmament and opposition to the European Community.
But when Tony Blair, who had once worked for him, finally managed to regain the No 10 seat in the Labor Party, she became one of his most outspoken critics, accusing him of abandoning socialist principles.
After leaving the House of Commons in 1997, Sparkbrook ascended to the House of Lords as Baron Hattersley. Besides his political career, he was a prolific writer; He had published more than 20 books, including biographies, histories, and memoirs.
Mr Hattersley was born in Sheffield. He became MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook in 1964 and served as a cabinet minister under James Callaghan in 1970.
Lord Kinnock, who led the party from 1983 to 1992, said: “Roy was a deeply convinced socialist, a committed democrat, who believed that freedom should not be limited by anything other than responsibility and should never depend on history or chance. “He believed that freedom should be made real and secure by collective action and contribution, by accountability and equality.
“He was fluent and courageous in expressing these beliefs verbally and in writing, writing numerous columns and publishing 20 books. He was never serious or respectful, and his common sense, sense of humor and endless stories made him an excellent companion.
“All this made him a valued comrade and a unique asset to the Labor Party, British democracy and wider humanity.”
Nigel Evans, the former Tory deputy speaker of the House of Commons, wrote: “Roy Hattersley was one of the true old Labor politicians – deeply academic, with real roots supporting working people – whose last term I was lucky enough to spend in the House of Commons.”
