Labour stalwart and former deputy leader, Roy Hattersley, has passed away at the age of 93. Born in Sheffield in 1932, Hattersley, a prominent Labour figure, entered Parliament in 1964 as the MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook, securing a notable victory by defeating a Tory majority of 900 with a 1,200-vote margin.
Over his tenure spanning 33 years, Hattersley successfully defended his seat through eight general elections. He held various governmental roles, including minister of state for defense administration and minister of state at the Foreign Office under Harold Wilson. In James Callaghan’s administration, he assumed the position of secretary of state for prices and consumer protection in 1976.
Despite an unsuccessful leadership bid in 1983, Hattersley served as Neil Kinnock’s deputy from 1983 to 1992, including two terms as shadow Home Secretary. Notably, he embraced the humor of his portrayal on ITV’s Spitting Image, where a puppet caricatured his distinctive lisp.
Transitioning from the right-wing faction of the Labour party, Hattersley openly criticized Tony Blair’s New Labour, accusing it of forsaking the quest for social equity. Following his retirement from the Commons in 1997, after 33 years as an MP, he was ennobled as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook. Hattersley went on to author more than 20 books and establish himself as a respected columnist and broadcaster.
Hattersley’s personal life saw him marry Molly Loughran, with whom he later divorced in 2013. Subsequently, he tied the knot with his literary agent, Maggie Pearlstine, who survives him. Labour leader Keir Starmer paid tribute to Hattersley, hailing him as an emblematic figure of the Labour movement who steadfastly championed a fairer Britain throughout his extensive career.
“My thoughts are with his wife Maggie and his family,” stated Starmer in a heartfelt post mourning the loss of the esteemed politician.