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22/09/2003
Leader of House of Lords dies aged 62
Tributes have been flooding in for the Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Williams of Mostyn, who died on Saturday aged 62.
Lord Williams collapsed and died suddenly at his home in Gloucestershire on Saturday. No further details have been released.
A Cabinet minister, QC and former chair of the Bar Council, Lord Williams had been a member of the Blair government since 1997. He held various government posts and moved from the Home Office to become Attorney General. After the 2001 election, he moved on to the Upper House and became Leader of the House of Lords.
Paying tribute to Lord Williams, the Prime Minister said: "I am profoundly shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Gareth Williams. He was a fine politician with excellent judgment who earned the respect of colleagues of all parties. But he was also a kind and generous man who sparked huge affection in all who knew him.
"A superb and entertaining speaker, he used his wit and gentle humour time and time again to defuse difficult situations in the Lords. He was a politician at the height of his powers who played, as always, a full role in Cabinet discussions on Thursday. It will be hard for his Cabinet colleagues, and his many friends within and outside politics, to accept we will not see him again.
"My thoughts at this distressing time are with his family."
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain described Lord Williams as “one of Wales’s favourite sons”.
Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords, Baroness [Shirley] Williams, said: "Parliament and the country have suffered a huge blow in the untimely and sudden death of Lord Williams of Mostyn. A brilliant barrister, he never lost his humanity or his humour.
"Lord Williams had a silver eloquence, immense charm and a kindly and open personality. He showed commitment and determination in modernising the House of Lords."
The Tory Shadow leader of the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said Lord Williams death had “cast a long shadow” over the House.
Lord Williams was working on the proposed restructuring of the House of Lords. Last week the government announced the abolition of the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the Lords.
(SP)
Lord Williams collapsed and died suddenly at his home in Gloucestershire on Saturday. No further details have been released.
A Cabinet minister, QC and former chair of the Bar Council, Lord Williams had been a member of the Blair government since 1997. He held various government posts and moved from the Home Office to become Attorney General. After the 2001 election, he moved on to the Upper House and became Leader of the House of Lords.
Paying tribute to Lord Williams, the Prime Minister said: "I am profoundly shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Gareth Williams. He was a fine politician with excellent judgment who earned the respect of colleagues of all parties. But he was also a kind and generous man who sparked huge affection in all who knew him.
"A superb and entertaining speaker, he used his wit and gentle humour time and time again to defuse difficult situations in the Lords. He was a politician at the height of his powers who played, as always, a full role in Cabinet discussions on Thursday. It will be hard for his Cabinet colleagues, and his many friends within and outside politics, to accept we will not see him again.
"My thoughts at this distressing time are with his family."
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain described Lord Williams as “one of Wales’s favourite sons”.
Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of Lords, Baroness [Shirley] Williams, said: "Parliament and the country have suffered a huge blow in the untimely and sudden death of Lord Williams of Mostyn. A brilliant barrister, he never lost his humanity or his humour.
"Lord Williams had a silver eloquence, immense charm and a kindly and open personality. He showed commitment and determination in modernising the House of Lords."
The Tory Shadow leader of the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said Lord Williams death had “cast a long shadow” over the House.
Lord Williams was working on the proposed restructuring of the House of Lords. Last week the government announced the abolition of the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the Lords.
(SP)
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