Sir Jeremy Hanley death: Former Tory party chairman dies after short illness, aged 80
Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jeremy Hanley has died aged 80.
His family confirmed his death after a short illness on Friday and thanked staff at Torbay Hospital for their dedication and care.
A leading figure in Conservative politics, Sir Jeremy was party chairman for a year from July 1994 and held various ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.
He represented Richmond and Barnes as an MP for 14 years, starting in 1983. He failed to win Richmond Park in the 1997 general election after his seat was abolished.
He subsequently failed to be selected by the London Conservatives as a candidate for the 1999 European Parliament elections. Sir Jeremy later headed Brain Games Network, an internet company for chess and drafts.
In a statement, his family said: “The Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley KCMG died on 22 May 2026 after a short illness. Sir Jeremy’s family would like to thank the staff at Torbay Hospital for their dedication and care in his final days.”
Sir Jeremy was the son of Railway Children actress Dinah Sheridan and actor Jimmy Hanley.
His sister, Jenny Hanley, was the host of the children’s show in the 1970s. Magpie.
He is survived by his wife, three children and five grandchildren.
