Leon Brittan, a former home secretary under Margaret Thatcher, has died aged 75 following a long battle with cancer. He first entered Parliament in 1974 as the MP for Cleveland and Whitby before representing Richmond until 1988. After serving as home secretary from 1983-1985, Brittan had a brief spell as the secretary for trade and industry before resigning over the Westland affair.
He also served as vice president of the European Commission, where he discovered a young Nick Clegg. After returning from Brussels, he entered the House of Lords in 2000 and was most recently appointed a trade adviser to the coalition government.
In a statement today, his family said:
‘It is with great regret that we announce the death of Leon Brittan. As a family, we should like to pay tribute to him as a beloved husband to Diana and brother to Samuel, and a supportive and loving stepfather to Katharine and Victoria, and step-grandfather to their children.
‘We also salute his extraordinary commitment to British public life as a member of parliament, minister, cabinet minister, European commissioner and peer – together with a distinguished career in law, and latterly in business.
‘Leon passed away last night at his home in London after a long battle with cancer. We shall miss him enormously. There will be a private funeral service for family only, and a memorial service to be announced.’
William Hague, who succeeded Brittan as the MP for Richmond, has paid tribute to him in the House of Commons:
‘Many of us who have known him a long time know he’s been ill for many months but it is a sad moment to receive this news. The house will understand my predecessor as Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorkshire), which is why I particularly want to pay tribute to him as a former member of this House and former home secretary.
‘He was a kind, assiduous and brilliant man. I know the whole House will join me in sending our deepest condolences to his wife Diana at this difficult time.’
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