Key facts
- Roy Hattersley, former Labour deputy leader, has died at the age of 93.
- He served in various ministerial roles, including Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.
- Hattersley was a Member of Parliament for Birmingham Sparkbrook from 1964 to 1997.
- He was a prolific author, publishing over 20 books.
- He was a staunch supporter of the Labour Party and Britain's role in the European Economic Community.
Roy Hattersley, a significant figure in the Labour Party and former deputy leader, has died at the age of 93. His family announced his passing, prompting tributes from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed Hattersley as a "giant of the Labour movement," acknowledging his decades of service and unwavering belief in a more equal Britain. Hattersley's political career began early; he was a councillor at 23, an MP at 31, and a minister by 33, serving in both Harold Wilson's and Jim Callaghan's governments.
He represented Birmingham Sparkbrook in the House of Commons from 1964 until his retirement in 1997. During his tenure, he held positions such as employment minister, deputy to Denis Healey in defence, and minister of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs. He was appointed a privy councillor in 1975 and later served as secretary of state for prices and consumer protection from 1976 to 1979.
Under Neil Kinnock, Hattersley became deputy leader of the Labour Party. He was made a life peer in 1993, becoming Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook. Kinnock remembered Hattersley as a "socialist of deep conviction" and a "dedicated democrat" who believed in making freedom real through collective action and equality. He was also recognized for his fluency, courage, common sense, and humour in expressing his beliefs through numerous columns and 20 published books.
Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell stated that Hattersley "shaped the Labour Party and British politics," calling him a "giant of our movement." His literary contributions included works like "The Edwardians," "Borrowed Time: the Story of Britain between the Wars," and acclaimed biographies of John Wesley, Lloyd George, and the Devonshires. Alastair Campbell described him as "Labour through and through, a fine mind and gifted writer, a loyal and hard working deputy to Neil at a vital time in Labour history, and a critical friend to New Labour."
Hattersley's brother-in-law, Norman Pearlstine, highlighted his intellectual curiosity. One of his more whimsical works, "Buster's Secret Diaries," written from the perspective of his dog, became a bestseller. After the 2010 general election, Hattersley advised new MPs that the House of Commons is a "workshop, not shrine," emphasizing the importance of clear convictions for a "great and glorious adventure."
Born in Sheffield in 1932, Hattersley had strong Yorkshire roots and supported Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He studied economics at the University of Hull and was involved in student politics. He also worked for a Sheffield steelworks and the Workers’ Educational Association. His mother, Enid, a Labour city councillor and mayor of Sheffield, was a significant influence on him, described as a "dominant, very positive, aggressive figure."
Hattersley was a longstanding supporter of the Common Market and Britain's membership in the European Economic Community. In 1981, he founded Labour Solidarity to prevent the party's fragmentation, notably declining to join the MPs who formed the Social Democratic Party. In 2017, he expressed concern that the Labour party faced its "greatest crisis in its history" due to the influence of Momentum.
He was a visiting fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics and Nuffield College, Oxford, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Hattersley often stated that his happiest moments were spent writing, particularly in Derbyshire where he lived with his wife, Maggie Pearlstine.