The former Labour Chancellor Denis Healey has died – at the age of 98. His family said Lord Healey passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Sussex after a short illness.
Tributes have been paid to Lord Healey calling him a “giant” of Westminster.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Denis Healey was a Labour giant whose record of service to party and country stands as his testament. All our thoughts are with his family.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said Lord Healey was a “huge figure” in British politics and highlighted his military service during the Second World War. The current chancellor, George Osborne, described his predecessor as a “giant of the Labour movement”.
Lord Healey served in Number 11 during the 1974-79 government and became the party’s deputy leader in 1980 during a career on the frontline of British politics which began in 1952.He was often described as “the best prime minister the party never had”.
He served as a major in the Royal Engineers in North Africa and Italy and during the Anzio landings he was a beach master, received the MBE, and was mentioned in despatches.
Lord Healey was in Number 11 when the government was forced to go to the International Monetary Fund for a loan as the UK economy teetered on the brink of collapse in 1976.
Mr Osborne said Lord Healey had been in office “in the most difficult circumstances”.