Labour stalwart and former deputy leader, Roy Hattersley, has passed away at the age of 93. Born in Sheffield in 1932, Hattersley began his political career in 1964 by winning the MP seat for Birmingham Sparkbrook. He held this position for 33 years, navigating through eight general elections. During his tenure, he served in various governmental roles, such as minister of state for defense administration and minister of state at the Foreign Office under Harold Wilson’s administration. In 1976, he became the secretary of state for prices and consumer protection in James Callaghan’s Cabinet.
Although he unsuccessfully vied for party leadership in 1983, Hattersley served as Neil Kinnock’s deputy from 1983 to 1992, including two terms as shadow Home Secretary. Despite being famously caricatured for his lisp on ITV’s Spitting Image, he embraced the portrayal, stating it added character to the show. Departing from his traditional stance within the Labour party, Hattersley criticized Tony Blair’s New Labour, accusing it of deviating from the core values of social equality.
Upon leaving the Commons in 1997, after over three decades as an MP, he was honored with a life peerage as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook. Hattersley continued his prolific career by authoring over 20 books and transitioning into a columnist and broadcaster. His personal life saw him marry Molly Loughran before later tying the knot with his literary agent, Maggie Pearlstine, who survives him.
In a tribute post, X Kier Starmer hailed Hattersley as a significant figure in the Labour movement, emphasizing his unwavering dedication to a more egalitarian Britain. Starmer expressed condolences to Maggie, Hattersley’s wife, and his family.
